Difference Between A Mushrik (idolator) And A Kafir
Kufr means deliberately denying a truth. A Mushrik believes in something for which he has no grounds, no proof that there is more than one God. When he is reminded that his beliefs are false and he refused to comply, the becomes kafir. So kafir and Mushrik are not two different people. if a Muslim practices shirk, the same punishment will apply to him too. The Muslims in the time of the prophet were forbidden from making or maintaining a friendship with mushrik (kafir) because Huuajat has been completed on them and God had announced that they deliberately denied the truth after it had come to them and they were going to be perished by the swords of the companions of the prophet. This does not apply to the modern Musrik because to know for sure that he or she has realized the truth and still denying it deliberately is about intention, and intention is known only to God. and we have no way after the prophet to know the verdict of God in this regard. All we can do is to tell the truth of Islam to the best of our knowledge and rest the result with God.