(Related by Imam Ahmad, A lTabarany and AlBayhaqy on the authority of Mahmud Ibn Labid AlAnsary may Allah be pleased with him with a good chain of narrators. Also, it was related by AlTabarany with a good chain of narratorson the authority of Mahmud Ibn Labid, on the authority of Rafi` Ibn Khadij) Also, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "He who swears by anything other than Allah is committing an act of polytheism''. (Releated by Imam Ahmad with a sound chain of narrators,on the authority of `Umar Ibn AlKhattab may Allah be pleased with him)Also, Abu Dawud and AlTirmidhy related with a sound chain of narrators,on the authority of Ibn `Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, He who swears by anyone but Allah is a disbeliever or a
In addition, he (peace be upon him) said, Do not say, "What Allah wills and so and so wills," but say: "What Allah wills and afterwards so and so wills. (Related by Abu Dawud with a sound chain of narraorson the authority of Hudhayfah Ibn Al-Yaman, may Allah be pleased with him)
This type of polytheism does not take a person out of the fold of Islam, nor does it cause those who commit it to abide in Hell-Fire forever. Rather, it goes against the ideal principles of Tawhid.
The evidence for the third category of polytheism, namely hidden polytheism, comes from the Prophet (peace be upon him) who said, Should I not inform you of the what I fear more for you than Al-Masih Ad-Dajjal (Antichrist)? The people said: Yes O Messenger of Allah. He (peace be upon him) said: It is hidden Shirk. A person stands up in prayer and tries to make it perfect when he realizes that others are looking at him. (Related by Imam Ahmad in his Musnadon the authority of Abu Sa`id Al-Khudry, may Allah be pleased with him)
Polytheism can also be divided into two categories only: First: Major polytheism. Second: Minor polytheism. Hidden polytheism can occur in them both. It can be found in major polytheism, like the type of polytheism committed by the hypocrites, who reveal belief while entertaining false beliefs for fear of being killed. It can also occur in the case of minor polytheism in the form of showing off, as evidenced by above-mentioned Hadith reported on the authority of Mahmud Ibn Labid Al-Ansary and Abu Sa`id Al-Khudry.