Is teaching the Oneness of Allah regarding His Names and Attributes among the sciences that should be started with when teaching the common people, or should they be left to their natural inclination, and what is the importance of that?

The call to monotheism (Tawhid) and the warning against polytheism (Shirk) are the foremost concerns of callers (to Islam), as this is the path of the Prophets. As Allah Almighty said: "And We certainly sent into every nation a messenger, [saying], 'Worship Allah and avoid Taghut (false deities).'" and His saying: "And We sent not before you any messenger except that We revealed to him that, 'There is no deity except Me, so worship Me.'" The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, sent Mu'adh to Yemen, saying: "Indeed, you are going to a people from the People of the Book, so let the first thing you invite them to be the worship of Allah."

The Oneness of Allah's Names and Attributes (Tawhid al-Asma wa al-Sifat) is to affirm for Allah alone those names and attributes mentioned in the Qur'an and Sunnah. This is one of the noblest branches of knowledge, and people's need for it is greater than their need for food. The successful caller is one who connects people to Allah and introduces them to His names and attributes, such as Him being the All-Knowing (Al-Alim), the All-Wise (Al-Hakim), the All-Hearing (Al-Sami'), the All-Seeing (Al-Basir), the Responsive (Al-Mujib), the Forgiver (Al-Ghafur), the Most Merciful (Ar-Rahim), the Acceptor of Repentance (At-Tawwab), the Generous (Al-Karim), and the Compeller, the Great (Al-Jabbar Al-Azim). And that He descends to the lowest heaven, and He will honor the believers by allowing them to see Him in Paradise, and that the entire earth will be in His grasp on the Day of Resurrection, and the heavens will be rolled up in His right hand, and that He will come to judge. This should be based on the principle of Ahl as-Sunnah: affirmation without resemblance (tashbih) and transcendence without nullification (ta'til), "[There is] nothing like unto Him, and He is the Hearing, the Seeing."

The creed should not be presented in philosophical frameworks. Instead, the caller should follow the method of the Companions and the Tabi'un (their successors) by interpreting a verse or explaining a hadith, or by presenting Allah's established ways (sunan) and manifestations of His power, or by speaking about Paradise or Hellfire. This monotheism yields reliance on Allah (tawakkul), turning to Him (inabah), humility (khushu'), and contentment with Allah, His religion, and His law. This is the natural disposition (fitra) upon which people were created.