Then, their only trial was to say, "By God, our Lord, we did not set up partners!"
Translation endnotes
[6:22-24] Those who associate manmade religious teachings and the opinions of their religious scholars with God's word and judgment are mushriks (polytheists), and yet they deny their shirk (polytheism). The relationship between the verses is obvious (Also, see 3:80; 6:148; 16:35; 53:19- 23).