Explanation of the author's statement: It contains issues. The first: The interpretation of his saying: (Indeed, you cannot guide whom you love, but Allah guides whom He wills) (62).

The Shaykh : Now, it contains issues:
The first: The interpretation of his saying: the verse. Yes, and we clarified that if the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) cannot guide a person while he is alive, how can he be able to guide a person while he is dead? And it is as Allah the Exalted said regarding him: .
The second: The interpretation of his saying: the verse. Its interpretation has been mentioned previously, and we clarified that it indicates the prohibition of believers seeking forgiveness for polytheists, even if it is their father, or even if it is their father and mother; it is forbidden. And we clarified the danger in the saying of some of these people who, when a major leader of disbelief dies, say to him: "The deceased, the deceased." For this is forbidden and not permissible; it is not permissible to pray for mercy for him, because it is a contradiction of Allah - may Allah have mercy on you. And from this is also displaying grief and sorrow over their deaths through mourning or otherwise, for this is not permissible, because the believers rejoice at the death of the leaders of disbelief. Indeed, if they had the power, they would fight them, and Allah would punish them at the hands of the believers. Yes, yes.
The student: ... .

The Shaykh : Yes, we mentioned with you: Say: "O Allah, if he was a believer, then forgive him and have mercy on him." Yes.
The student: Shaykh.

The Shaykh : Yes.
The student: ... .

The Shaykh : Yes. If it becomes clear to him that he should seek forgiveness.
The student: How does it become clear to us?

The Shaykh : What?
The student: How does it become clear to us?

The Shaykh : Ask... there is a doubt hovering around it; it is said, for example, that he does not pray, or it is said, for example, that he is a denier of Islam, but it has not become clear to him. So this... that we seek forgiveness for him. But if the indications become strong, then we seek forgiveness for him: "O Allah, if he was a believer, then forgive him." And for the disbelieving polytheist, we do not say "if he was a believer," because we know that he is not a believer.
The student: ... distant lands.

The Shaykh : Not distant lands; as long as you are upon disbelief in this world, we treat them with the treatment of... and we do not rule that they are Muslims, nor do we pray for mercy for them .
"The third: And this is the major issue, the interpretation of his saying:

Say: La ilaha illallah

قل : لا إله إلا الله

Sahih al-Bukhari 6681

". Meaning, the major issue in this chapter is the interpretation of the saying of whom? The saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) to his uncle: . He knew the meaning and knew that its meaning is disavowal of every god other than Allah. For this reason, he refused to say this, while he knew its meaning, knew its implications, and knew its necessary consequences. For this reason, he denied and refused to say "There is no god but Allah," refuge with Allah, contrary to what those who claim knowledge are upon. "Contrary to what those who claim knowledge are upon" means where they interpreted "There is no god but Allah" with other than its meaning. And it seems the author is pointing to the interpretation of the theologians (mutakallimun) of the meaning of "There is no god but Allah," where they say: "The god is the one capable of creation, and there is no one capable of bringing into existence and creating except Allah." And this interpretation is, in reality, a false interpretation; a false interpretation. It is true that there is no one capable of creation except Allah, and no creation except Allah. But it is not the meaning of "There is no god but Allah," because its meaning is "There is no worshipped entity with truth except Allah." Because if we said "There is no god but Allah" means "There is no one capable of creation except Allah," then the polytheists whom the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) fought, and whose women, offspring, wealth, and blood he made lawful, would have become sincere Muslims, because... there is no one capable of creation and the creation of the heavens and the earth except Allah.