Advice of Scholars - AS-SIFÂT ADH-DHÂTIYYA
The ’ulamâ’ of Islam said that every discreet male or female Muslim, who has reached the age of puberty, ought to know and believe in the as-Sifât adh-Dhâtiyya and as-Sifât ath-Thubûtiyya of Allâhu ta’âlâ correctly. It is this which is primarily obligatory (fard) for everybody. Not to know is not an excuse but a sin.
As-Sifât adh-Dhâtiyya of Allâhu ta’âlâ are six:
al-Wujûd, existence
al-Qidam, being without beginning, and eternal in the past
al-Baqâ’, being without end, and eternal in the future
al-Wahdâniyya, having no partner or match
al-Mukhâlafatu li-l-hawâdith, being dissimilar to every creature in every respect
al-Qiyâmu bi nafsihi, self-existence or being unneedy of anything for His existence.
No creature has any of these six attributes, nor any relation with them. They belong to Allâhu ta’âlâ exclusively. Some ’ulamâ’ said that al-Mukhâlafatu li ’l-hawâdith and al-Wahdâniyya were the same and that as-Sifât adh-Dhâtiyya are five.