A summary of what was mentioned regarding the reality of tawhid (the oneness of Allah), the meaning of the phrase "La ilaha illa Allah" and its conditions, and the warning against shirk (associating partners with Allah).

The Shaykh : So, we must know two very important things here: the meaning of "La ilaha illa Allah," which, as you have heard, is: "There is no deity worthy of worship in existence except Allah." The second thing is to know the meaning of worship so that we do not direct worship to other than Allah, thereby making a partner for Allah in worship. So, worship is everything by which a Muslim draws near to Allah. If one directs this worship to other than Allah (Mighty and Majestic), he has made that other a partner for Allah, and he has disbelieved in his saying "La ilaha illa Allah." The mere utterance of the phrase and speaking it does not benefit him as long as he has disbelieved in it practically. From this detail, you can know the condition I mentioned at the beginning of the general discussion on tawhid. I said: "La ilaha illa Allah" must have three conditions. First: the correct understanding of this phrase. The correct understanding is "There is no deity worthy of worship in existence except Allah," and the correct understanding is not "There is no Lord except Allah," because that is tawhid al-rububiyyah (oneness of lordship), which is not sufficient. It is necessary that tawhid al-uluhiyyah (oneness of worship) be added to it. This is the correct understanding, which is the first condition.
The second condition: firm belief in this correct meaning. Otherwise, knowing a thing without believing in it is not faith. Allah (Mighty and Majestic) mentioned in the Noble Qur'an, regarding the Jews and perhaps the Christians as well: ; Did this knowledge benefit them in any way? The answer is: No. Why? Because firm belief in what they knew was not accompanied by their knowledge. They did not believe in the Messenger even though they knew him. Similarly, the case of the disbelievers who are eternally in the Fire is that they know the truth and then deny it. This is the meaning of the saying of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) in the Noble Qur'an regarding their like: ; that is, by knowledge. So they knew this reality, but they did not believe in it. Likewise, everything in faith must be:
First: faith based on correct knowledge. So correct knowledge is the first condition.
Then, firm belief in this correct knowledge is the second condition.
The third and final condition: that this believer does not do anything that contradicts his faith, such as acts of shirk (associating partners with Allah) or idolatry.
So, if we assume that a person knows the meaning of "La ilaha illa Allah," that is, "There is no deity worthy of worship in existence except Allah," and he knows that this is the case, and then he believes in it with firm belief, but on the other hand, he worships other than Allah, his worship of other than Allah through slaughtering, vows, and calling upon them invalidates his saying "La ilaha illa Allah," and his claim that he understood it correctly and believed in it with firm belief are two opposites that cannot coexist. It is one of two things: either he is lying in his claim that he knew the meaning of "La ilaha illa Allah" and that this meaning is "There is no deity worthy of worship in existence except Allah," or he knew it but is lying in his claim that he believed in what he knew. Otherwise, how can he truly believe that there is no deity and that no one deserves worship except Allah, and then he worships other than Allah? They are two opposites that cannot coexist.
Therefore, we firmly believe that most of the Muslims who testify to "La ilaha illa Allah" do not actually know the correct meaning. Otherwise, they would have adhered to their faith and avoided compromising it. That is, they would have avoided associating with Allah in His worship by worshipping other than Allah, as we have explained to you with many examples. I do not think there is anyone among you who is ignorant of these realities and that Muslims are falling into them, except whom Allah wills, and they are few.
That is, none of you is ignorant that there are Muslims who pray and fast, yet they go to such-and-such a grave and slaughter there. They make vows, saying, "If Allah (Mighty and Majestic) heals my son, I will slaughter an animal for so-and-so or for such-and-such a woman, or the like." This is one of the meanings of the previous verse: ; so they are believers on one hand, and polytheists on the other. Therefore, do not think that shirk (associating partners with Allah) does not coexist with faith; shirk does coexist with faith. Therefore, complete faith is that which is not mixed with any of the acts of shirk or idolatry.
I hope you will listen, for this topic is very important. It is not enough for just me and you to understand it; rather, we must all convey this to the people. Because, as we mentioned at the beginning of this speech: Allah (Mighty and Majestic) did not send the Messengers and did not reveal the Books except for His worship alone, with no partner for Him, ; so that I may be worshipped alone, with no partner for Me. And now, Muslims, and others besides them, worship other gods along with Allah. Why? Because they are ignorant. So, when we learn, it is upon us to convey, , and the Messenger (peace be upon him) in turn commands us, saying: So let the one who is present convey to the one who is absent. Let none of you be content with just hearing the sermon and benefiting from it, and then thinking, "I am fine, praise be to Allah, I have known faith and the correct tawhid (the oneness of Allah)." Poor are these ignorant people! These ignorant people are sick and must be treated. We must be gentle and compassionate with them, not angry with them, because, unfortunately, there is no one to admonish and remind them. So let each one of you be a bringer of good news and a warner to them, so that you may attain the virtue of his saying (peace be upon him): .