What is the ruling on the one who says, "If it were not for the ducks in the house, the thief would have entered"?

Question : Honorable Shaykh! Peace be upon you, and Allah's mercy and blessings. Imam Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-Wahhab said that if a person says, "If it were not for the ducks or geese in the house, the thief would have entered," that this is shirk (associating partners with Allah), even though he is alive. What is the answer to that?

Answer : There is a report (athar) to this effect. That if a person says, "If it were not for the ducks in the house, the thieves would have come," or something similar, this is the case if the person believes that this cause, which is the ducks, is independent of Allah the Exalted. But if he believes that the cause is merely a means of connection, and that the one who brings about the effect is Allah the Exalted, then there is no shirk in that.