Taking equals besides Allah and the types of shirk (associating partners with Allah)

Question:
We are a group of military students, numbering about four hundred, and we are studying tawhid (the oneness of Allah). Our instructor mentioned that shirk (associating partners with Allah) has three types: major shirk, which is directing any type of worship to other than Allah; and minor shirk. He gave as an example of minor shirk the taking of equals besides Allah. I argued with the teacher that this is incorrect, and he said that this is in the book, which is approved by the Council of Senior Scholars, and that the one who authored this book is one of the officers we know who teaches us. Is his statement correct?

Answer:
Yes, taking equals besides Allah includes major shirk and includes minor shirk. Therefore, when Ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) interpreted the saying of Allah the Exalted, , he said it is the statement of a man: "Were it not for Allah and you, were it not for this dog, the thieves would have come to us," "Were it not for Allah and you," and similar phrases. He gave these phrases as an example of minor shirk and interpreted with them His saying, . So "equals" includes major shirk, which takes one out of the religion, and it also includes minor shirk. Yes, and shirk is major shirk and minor shirk. Minor shirk is divided into categories: shirk in words, such as saying "Were it not for Allah and you," "I have no one but Allah and you," and "What Allah willed and you willed"; and shirk in intentions, such as riya' (showing off), such as performing a deed to show off to people. This is shirk in intentions, and it is minor shirk. Minor shirk has types. Yes. And Allah the Exalted knows best, and may Allah send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon his family and his Companions.