Kulaybah: the diminutive of kalbah; here it means the small dog kept to guard livestock and the like.

Al-luṣūṣ: the plural of luṣṣ, i.e., thieves.

Al-baṭṭ: the plural of baṭṭah, a waterfowl (duck) often kept in houses; when someone other than its owners enters, it is alarmed and quacks.

“Do not insert So-and-so into it”: that is, do not include him in your statement by saying, “Were it not for Allah and So-and-so”; rather say, “Were it not for Allah alone.”

“All of this contains shirk”: the expressions just mentioned, and whatever resembles them, constitute shirk with Allah—specifically, minor shirk.

Overall meaning of the verse: Allah, exalted be He, forbids people to set up for Him equals or peers to whom they direct any part of their worship, even though they know that He alone is the Creator and Provider and that these supposed rivals are powerless and needy, possessing nothing at all. The examples cited by Ibn ʿAbbās illustrate the taking of rivals, for the wording of the verse embraces them even though they are minor shirk, whereas the verse was revealed about major shirk. The early scholars would employ what was revealed concerning major shirk as evidence against minor shirk as well.

Benefits derived from the verse:

1. A stern warning against shirk in worship.
2. The polytheists concede the oneness of Lordship.
3. Minor shirk is extremely subtle, and few people notice it.
4. One must avoid expressions that contain shirk, even if one’s heart does not intend it.
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