Explanation of the author's statement: Chapter: The saying of Allah the Exalted: "So do not set up rivals for Allah while you know."
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The Shaykh :"Chapter: The saying of Allah the Exalted: [Al-Baqarah 2:22]" [Al-Baqarah 2:22], recite the beginning of the verse: [Al-Baqarah 2:21-22] When Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) mentioned what these people acknowledge regarding His actions that no other has done—He who created you and those before you, He who made the earth a bed for you and the sky a structure, and He who sent down water from the sky and thereby brought forth for you fruits as provision for you—these are actions that no other does, (Glorified and Exalted is He). Do they not acknowledge this? They acknowledge that He has no peer in this, and that He alone is the Doer of this. They acknowledge this. Whoever acknowledges this is bound to worship none but Him, because one who does not do these things does not deserve worship, and worship is not negated from one who does do them. For this reason, the letter "fa" (so) was used, indicating the cause and the reason. So do not make for Allah any peers. This is a prohibitive command. "Andad" is the plural of "nidd," which means a peer or a likeness. Do not make for Him any peers in lordship, correct? They say, "We did not make a peer," because they did not make for Allah any peers in lordship. But yes, we say, "Do not make for Allah any peers in lordship" to one who denies lordship. But as for these people, do not make for Him any peers in worship, just as you did not make for Him any peers in lordship. For this reason, He said: .
Do not set up rivals for Him in His names and attributes?
The student: Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes, because they may attribute to other than Allah the attributes of Allah, Mighty and Majestic. For example, they derived the name "Al-'Uzza" from "Al-Aziz" (The Mighty), and they also named the idol of al-Yamamah "Ar-Rahman," thereby giving it an attribute that is not fitting for anyone but Allah.
And His saying: The phrase here is a circumstantial clause in the accusative case, describing the subject of "set up." It means: and the state is that you know. The meaning is: you know that you are setting up rivals for Allah, or do you know that He has no rival?
The student: Both.
The Shaykh : There is no difference between the two. So do not set up rivals for Allah while you know that you are setting up rivals for Him. But if you set up rivals while you are ignorant of that, then do it?
The student: No.
The Shaykh : Then the meaning does not hold, does it? It does not hold? Well, "while you know" what? That He has no rivals. Because this is the point of condemnation for these people: that they set up rivals while they know that He has no rivals. In what?
The student: In lordship.
The Shaykh : In lordship. As for divinity, they do set up rivals for Him. For this reason, they said to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) And in their talbiyah they say: "Here I am, no partner do You have, except a partner that is Yours, You control him and what he controls" What is this nonsense? "Except a partner that is Yours, You control him and what he controls." Well, if he is controlled, how can he be a partner? For this reason, Allah censured their intellects in His saying: [Al-Baqarah 2:22].
So "rivals" in the general sense, regardless of the fact that He is addressing people who acknowledge lordship, includes rivals in lordship, divinity, and names and attributes. Well, "while you know that He has no rival."
So do not attribute to Allah equals while you know [that there is nothing similar to Him].
فلا تجعلوا لله أندادا وأنتم تعلمونSo do not attribute to Allah equals
فلا تجعلوا لله أندادا(21) O mankind, worship your Lord, who created you and those before you, that you may become righteous - (22) [He] who made for you the earth a bed [spread out] and the sky a ceiling and sent down from the sky, rain and brought forth thereby fruits as provision for you. So do not attribute to Allah equals while you know [that there is nothing similar to Him].
يا أيها الناس اعبدوا ربكم الذي خلقكم والذين من قبلكم لعلكم تتقون الذي جعل لكم الأرض فراشا والسماء بناء وأنزل من السماء ماء فأخرج به من الثمرات رزقا لكم فلا تجعلوا لله أندادا وأنتم تعلمونWhile you know [the truth].
وأنتم تعلمونDo not set up rivals for Him in His names and attributes?
The student: Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes, because they may attribute to other than Allah the attributes of Allah, Mighty and Majestic. For example, they derived the name "Al-'Uzza" from "Al-Aziz" (The Mighty), and they also named the idol of al-Yamamah "Ar-Rahman," thereby giving it an attribute that is not fitting for anyone but Allah.
And His saying:
While you know [the truth].
وأنتم تعلمونThe student: Both.
The Shaykh : There is no difference between the two. So do not set up rivals for Allah while you know that you are setting up rivals for Him. But if you set up rivals while you are ignorant of that, then do it?
The student: No.
The Shaykh : Then the meaning does not hold, does it? It does not hold? Well, "while you know" what? That He has no rivals. Because this is the point of condemnation for these people: that they set up rivals while they know that He has no rivals. In what?
The student: In lordship.
The Shaykh : In lordship. As for divinity, they do set up rivals for Him. For this reason, they said to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)
"Shall we make the gods one God? Indeed, this is something most extraordinary."
أجعل الآلهة إلها واحدا إن هذا لشيء عجابSo do not attribute to Allah equals while you know [that there is nothing similar to Him].
فلا تجعلوا لله أندادا وأنتم تعلمونSo "rivals" in the general sense, regardless of the fact that He is addressing people who acknowledge lordship, includes rivals in lordship, divinity, and names and attributes. Well, "while you know that He has no rival."