Explanation

Allah, Blessed and Exalted, said: {So do not attribute to Allah equals while you know} [Sūrat al-Baqarah: 22]. He prohibited people from taking partners and rivals alongside Him with their worship, when they know that Allah alone is the Creator and the Provider. These partners and rivals are helpless and incapable of doing anything. Ibn ‘Abbās defined Al-‘Andād as rivals and mentioned some examples of how people take others as rivals alongside Allah. Polytheism is to swear or take an oath by other than Allah and it is subtler than the footsteps of an ant on a flat black stone in the darkness of the night. What is even more severe is to equate a rival with Allah, e.g. “By Allah and my life,” or to depend on a cause without depending on the one who caused it. Any issue must be referred to Allah. Examples of things forbidden to say are: “Had it not been for this dog protecting us, thieves would have broken in.” or: “Had it not been for this duck in our house to warn us if a stranger enters, thieves would have broken in.” Additionally, polytheism takes the following forms: “What Allah wills and you as well.” And: “If it weren't for Allah and so-and-so.” Don't make so–and-so equal to Allah. He then emphasized that these are all forms of minor polytheism, but if one were to believe that the person, the duck, or the dog have a role without Allah, this amounts to major polytheism.