A summary of the concepts held by the Ahl al-Sunnah.
The paths that lead to the knowledge that there is no god but Allah.
Allah the Exalted says: "Know, therefore, that there is no god but Allah."
There are various paths and means to attain this knowledge of this magnificent statement, the most important of which are:
First: Contemplating the names and attributes of Allah the Exalted, which indicate His perfection and greatness.
For this yields a beautiful sense of devotion and worship to Allah, to whom belongs all praise, glory, majesty, and beauty.
Second: Knowledge of the Lordship of Allah and His uniqueness in creation and governance.
This yields the realization of His uniqueness in deserving to be worshipped.
Third: Knowledge that He is the Bestower of all blessings, both religious and worldly, manifest and hidden alike.
This yields the attachment of the heart to Allah and the love for Him.
Fourth: Knowing the characteristics of idols and rivals worshipped besides Allah.
And realizing that they are deficient in every respect and inherently needy.
They possess no power for themselves or their worshippers to bring benefit or harm, nor to cause death, life, or resurrection.
Knowledge of all this yields the realization that there is no god but Allah and the invalidity of everything else.
Fifth: Constantly contemplating the Book of Allah the Exalted.
This yields complete knowledge of the oneness of Allah and His singularity in worship.
Sixth: Examining the guidance of the messengers and prophets and their sincerity in the oneness of Allah and His worship.
Seventh: Observing the signs of Allah manifest within ourselves and in the horizons.
For they all point to the oneness of Allah with the greatest clarity and bear witness to the unity of the Creator and the wonder of His craftsmanship in the universe.
Every one of these paths leads to the knowledge that there is no god but Allah.
How much more so when they are combined and coincide, for then faith becomes firmly rooted in the heart of the believing servant.
And knowledge of the meaning of the word of monotheism.