Why we need to stress more on learning the Correct `Aqeedah:

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

In the Hadeeth it is mentioned that the very first question that will be asked in the grave will be: “Who is your Lord?”

The believer will reply: “Allaah is my Lord.”

As for the disbeliever, he will be in the state of shock and will say: “Hah! Hah! I don’t know.”

So, the believer will be able to answer the question, but not the disbeliever.

Now contemplate on this: among the disbelievers there is a large number of Arab Christians – those who pronounce the name of their Lord as “Allaah” in the same way as the Muslims do. And the same name is used over and over again in their Arabic Bible. Furthermore, they also say: “Alhamdulillaah”.

So then, why won’t they be able to answer the question?!

It is well known that the god which they refer to as Allaah, they also ascribe many deficiencies to Him as well. Part of their belief is that “God” gets tired, “God” begets a son, “God” makes mistakes and regrets, “God” is weak, and “God” can die and so on.

This is why in the Qur’aan Allaah تعالى negated all this and freed Himself of all the deficiencies that were/are ascribed to Him. He تعالى mentioned that He does not get tired, He does not sleep, He does not beget nor is He begotten, He does not forget, He does not oppress, He does not break His promise, He does not deceive, He is the ever living and does not die, and so on.

So, merely knowing Allaah by His Name is not sufficient. We have to know Him the way He تعالى has described Himself – we have to affirm for Him what He تعالى has affirmed for Himself in His Book and through His Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم; and we have to negate for Him what He تعالى has negated for Himself in His Book and through His Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم. After knowing all this, we have to convert our knowledge into action by Worshiping Him Alone, without associating any partners with Him in His worship. And these acts of worship should be upon the Sunnah (teachings) of the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم. ONLY THEN WILL WE BE ABLE TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS IN THE GRAVE.

And this is a clear warning to those deviants (the Jahmies, the Ash`arees, the Sufees and their likes) who ascribe deficiencies to Allaah – those who deny that which Allaah تعالى has affirmed for Himself, like denying the Face, the Hand, the Sight, the Hearing, the Speech. These deviants have trodden the path of the Christians in ascribing deficiencies to Allaah. As the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم had mentioned that people from this Ummah will follow and emulate the Jews and Christians – inch by inch and step by step.

As for Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jamaa`ah, when they hear the Names and Attributes, they simply believe in them the way they befits His Majesty:

a) without Takyyeef (without describing the HOW of it),

b) without Tamtheel (without equating them with the creation),

c) without Tashbeeh (without comparing them with the creation),

d) without Ta`teel (without denying them),

e) and without Tahreef (without changing their meaning).