Exegesis of the saying of Allah the Exalted: “So worship what you will besides Him. Say: ‘Indeed, the losers are those who have lost themselves and their families on the Day of Resurrection. Will not they see that it is a clear loss?’”

This can be understood as a threat, or it can be understood as a challenge. The author says: “It contains a threat” It contains a threat, and it can also be a challenge. As for it being a threat, that is apparent because He said after it: to the end of it. As for it being a challenge, that is because when He mentioned that he worships Allah alone with sincere devotion, He challenged them, saying: I do not care if you worship what you will, and I do not care about you. I will not associate anything with Allah; I will worship Allah alone with sincere devotion. The principle in our exegesis is that if a verse can be understood in two meanings that do not contradict each other, does it apply to Allah?
The student: ..

The Shaykh : Does it apply?
The student: … To both of them.

The Shaykh : It applies to both of them. Perfect. Allah the Exalted said: meaning what you will, that is, other than Him. Worship what you wish other than Him: a king, a deity, a tree, a stone, the sun, the moon, or whoever you seek. It does not concern me. I will remain sincere to Allah, and you worship what you will.