What is the difference between the glorious name "Allah" and His Beautiful Names, and why is "Allah" mentioned in the two declarations of faith (Shahadatayn) instead of one of His Beautiful Names? Is the belief that everything other than Allah Almighty is created and sustained a sound belief? And what is the explanation of the points mentioned regarding doctrinal ambiguities, especially concerning Allah Almighty being the First, and His being eternally and everlastingly described with attributes of perfection, and that everything else is created by Him and sustained by Him?

The majestic name "Allah" is a proper noun for the Divine Being, signifying all the Beautiful Names and Exalted Attributes through its three connotations, and it encompasses the perfect attributes of divinity, far removed from any imperfections. It is the only name Allah has chosen exclusively for Himself, and no one among His creation has ever been named with it. With it, the declaration of Islam becomes valid, affirming the absolute divinity and servitude to Allah alone.

For faith to be sound, one must believe that everything besides Allah is created by Him, and that He is to be singled out in worship, without directing any act of worship to other than Him. Faith is a statement, an action, and a conviction that increases with obedience and decreases with disobedience.

It is obligatory to believe that Allah is the First, without beginning, and eternally and everlastingly characterized by attributes of perfection, actively doing what He wills, and never ceasing from any of His perfect attributes. He is the Lord, the Creator, the Disposer of affairs, and everything else is created and subjected to Him.

An ordinary Muslim should believe that Allah is characterized by attributes of perfection and majesty, free from any imperfection, that there is nothing whatsoever like unto Him, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing, while affirming what Allah has affirmed for Himself or what His Messenger has affirmed, and negating what He has negated. A Muslim must not delve with his intellect into matters of the unseen, as this may lead to doubt and confusion. He should also know that any whisperings he finds in his heart about the essence of Allah are a sign of clear faith, as long as his heart rejects them and does not believe in them.