[ibnIslam]

Why is the issue of Allah's Names and Attributes such an important part of Tawheed (Monotheism)?

1. It represents half of Imaan in Allah
2. It is without exception, the most noble and most important branch of knowledge
3. It is the origin of all religious knowledge
4. Knowledge of Allah's Names and Attributes is an essential part in the approach of the Sahaabah
5. Knowing them opens the door to knowing Allah
6. Having sound knowledge is impossible without believing in Allah and His Names and Attributes.
7. Knowing His Names and Attributes is life to the hearts
8. Knowledge of them bears many fruits
9. It is important to swerve away from falsehood and not to oppose the truth in this issue

[ibnIslam]

This Tawheed represents Half of Imaan in Allah

• Belief in Allah is the first and greatest article of faith. The others are only its offspring.
• Belief in Allah is why we were created, the messengers were sent and the books were revealed
• Belief in Allah is the foundation of all good, source of all guidance and reason for every success.
• There is no substitute for Allah, so we cannot get any good or success except by knowing Him and worshipping Him. If we achieve this, then anything else is just extra benefit or an insignificant harm.
• Singling out Allah in His Names and Attributes is one half of belief in Allah, and the other half is to worship Him alone. This is why Rasoolullah(S) would recite Surah Ikhlaas and Kaafiroon in the sunnah prayers of Fajr, Maghrib and Isha in order to begin and end the day with Tawheed.

[ibnIslam]

Tawheed of Allah's Names and Attributes is Without Exception the Most Noble and the Most Important Branch of Knowledge

• The excellence of knowledge depends on the excellence of what is known
• Allah is the Most Excellent
• Therefore, knowledge of Allah is the most excellent knowledge
• Some knowledge is acquired for the sake of action, but knowledge of Allah is so excellent that it is sought after in itself!
• An example is the command: "So KNOW that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah..." [47:19]. This knowledge is an objective by itself, but something else is needed.
• The two objectives are: 1) to know the Lord by His Names, Attributes, Actions and Laws and 2) to worship Him in accordance and on the basis of this knowledge. Knowledge of Allah is one main intention and worshipping Him is the other.