Is it permissible to say "La ilaha illa ghayruhu" (There is no god except other than Him) using the exclusive "illa," or is the word "ghayruhu" (other than Him) alone sufficient, as it inherently implies exclusion?

The word "غير" (ghayr) in Arabic carries two meanings, and here it is used for exception. Therefore, it is incorrect to say: "لا إله إلا غيره" (there is no god except other than Him), because this implies affirming divinity for other than Allah and negating it from Him, which is a grave act of disbelief (kufr). The correct statement for the speaker is: "لا إله إلا الله" (there is no god except Allah), or "لا إله غيره" (there is no god other than Him).