The ruling on saying "were it not for so-and-so" in matters of causation

Question:
He says: Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success. In the hadith in Sahih Muslim, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said within the hadith, "Were it not for me," is it permissible for a Muslim to say the same in matters of causes and effects?

Answer:
Yes, this indicates that it is permissible, though it is disliked. It is disliked for one to say "were it not for so-and-so" because the hadiths prohibit saying "were it not for so-and-so," or "were it not for the cat in the house," or "were it not for the dog, the thieves would have come." This is disliked and is among the things that diminish tawhid (the oneness of Allah); it is among the diminishing factors, not among the negating factors. Yes.