What is the difference between hidden shirk and minor shirk?
Short answer
Hidden shirk is a description relating to the concealment of the act or belief from people, and it may be major or minor; as for minor shirk, it is what the Shari'ah indicates is shirk but does not take one out of the religion.
Evidence and explanation
The Shaykh distinguished between the description of concealment and the rank of the shirk, and mentioned showing off as an example of hidden minor shirk.
Scholar referenced
This editorial summary is based on the original source linked below and is not presented as a verbatim quotation from the scholar.
From the text of the answer (Arabic, with an English translation)
Original answer — Shaykh Muhammad ibn Salih al-‘Uthaymin
ما هو الشرك الخفي وما الفرق بينه وبين الشرك الأصغر وكيف يتخلص منه المسلم ؟ — محتوى ٨٢١٩- Question
«يقول في سؤال الأول: ما هو الشرك الخفي؟ وما الفرق بينه وبين الشرك الأصغر؟ وكيف يمكن أن يتخلص منه المسلم؟»
English translation (unreviewed): He says in his first question: What is hidden shirk? What is the difference between it and minor shirk? And how can a Muslim rid himself of it?
- From the text of the answer
«الشيخ: الحمد لله رب العالمين، وأصلي وأسلم على نبينا محمد، وعلى آله وأصحابه أجمعين. الشرك: شرك أكبر وشرك أصغر وشرك خفي.»
English translation (unreviewed): The Shaykh: Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and I send blessings and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his family and companions. Shirk is major shirk, minor shirk and hidden shirk.
The Arabic excerpts matched the original page word for word by an automated check and have not had human scholarly review. The English translations are unreviewed translations made for this site; they are not an approved Shari‘ah translation. Rely on the Arabic original.
Source
What is hidden shirk and what is the difference between it and minor shirk?
Title of the original page (Arabic): ما هو الشرك الخفي وما الفرق بينه وبين الشرك الأصغر؟
Shaykh Muhammad ibn Salih al-‘Uthaymin, may Allah have mercy on him