Summary of what preceded.

The Shaykh : The summary of this lesson and the previous one is that shirk (associating partners with Allah) is divided in its reality into three categories, and in this regard it is like tawhid (the oneness of Allah), which is also divided into three categories. Whatever contradicts any of these categories is shirk: tawhid al-rububiyyah (oneness of lordship), tawhid al-uluhiyyah (oneness of worship), and tawhid al-asma' wa al-sifat (oneness of the names and attributes). A second division is: the first is the division of shirk of the heart and belief, and shirk or kufr (disbelief) in words. If it is shirk in belief, it is riddah (apostasy) from the religion. If it is shirk in words, it is haram (forbidden), and its matter does not reach the point where its owner becomes a disbeliever. So when the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said in this hadith that is before us: Which type of the two categories did he intend? Shirk of the heart or shirk of the words? Shirk of the heart; because this is the greatest of the major sins, this is the first type of the major sins mentioned in this hadith.