Explanation of the author's statement and his saying: “((They took their rabbis and their monks as lords besides Allah))” the verse.

The Shaykh : He said: “And his saying:

They have taken their scholars and monks as lords besides Allah

اتخذوا أحبارهم ورهبانهم أربابا من دون الله

[At-Tawbah 9:31]

the verse” They took their rabbis as lords. It is known that the verb *ittakhadha* (took) takes two objects; the first is the subject and the second is the predicate. So its first object is *ahbarahum* (their rabbis)... conjoined, and its second object is *arbaban* (as lords), meaning these Jews and Christians made their rabbis and monks lords. *Al-Ahbar* is the plural of *hibr*, which is the scholar. A scholar is called a *hibr*, and also a *bahr* (sea). He is called a sea because of the abundance... of knowledge, and a *hibr* because he gathers knowledge. It is said *hibr* and *hibr* with a kasrah. Yes, the monks are the worshippers. The monks are the worshippers. *Arbaban* is the plural of *rabb*, meaning they made them lords besides Allah. As for the rabbis, they made them lords because they obey their commands in opposing the command of Allah, so they obey them... in disobedience to Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He. As for the monks, they took them as close friends of Allah, worshipping them with worship, saying, “This is a close friend of Allah,” so they worship him and call upon him. So they took the rabbis and the monks as lords. And his saying: meaning other than Allah. Yes. is conjoined to *ahbarahum*, meaning they also took Jesus, the son of Mary, as a Lord, where they said that he, peace and blessings be upon him, is the third of three. Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, except to worship, meaning to humble themselves in obedience to one God, who is Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, who created Jesus, created the rabbis, created the monks, created the heavens and the earth, and Mary. There is no deity but He, meaning there is no worshipped entity that deserves to be worshipped except Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, purifying Him from what they associate with Him and what they have associated with Him. So He is purified from it because He is the One, the Unique, so it is not here... what is it? ... due to old age, but I do not think you consider leaning on the pillar.
The student: No, no...

The Shaykh : Yes
The student: ...

The Shaykh : Except for... the predicate. What is the aspect of this verse being an explanation of the testimony that there is no deity but Allah? Because Allah, the Exalted, denied upon them taking the rabbis and monks as lords, and this defect will be fully translated in the author's words.