Question: Which is a greater sin: atheism or polytheism?

Contemporary atheism is a denial of the Creator's existence, whereas polytheism involves belief in God alongside belief in a partner to Him in creation or worship. The atheist is more disbelieving and misguided than the polytheist, because he denies the existence of God, His messengers, and the Last Day, while the polytheist believes in God but associates partners with Him. Scholars have unanimously agreed that the disbelief of atheists who deny God's existence is more severe than the disbelief of polytheists.