A Summary of the Concepts of Ahl al-Sunnah
The Etiquette and Controls of Dialogue
In the Book of Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, there is a verse that encompasses three principal etiquettes.
Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, admonished us with them.
And dialogue should stem from them,
so that its fruit may be fruitful and beneficial.
Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, said:
"Say, 'I only advise you with one [thing]:' [It is that] you rise for Allah, [in pairs] and individually,
then give thought."
The first etiquette is in His saying, "that you rise for Allah."
And "rising for Allah" means being detached and sincere in seeking the truth,
submitting to it, and ridding oneself of defending the self and being fanatically attached to desires.
The second etiquette is in His saying, "in pairs and individually."
This means that dialogue and reflection should be between a person and himself, individually,
or between one party and another, in pairs.
And the dialogue should not be in a gathering of people,
because the truth is lost in general atmospheres,
and it is difficult for the self to submit to the truth in front of people.
However, between two individuals, it is more conducive to submitting to the truth.
The third etiquette is in His saying, "then give thought."
This means that each party should use their intellect after detachment,
and reflect on what they have and what the other party has in terms of evidence,
and which of them is more deserving of being correct.
This necessitates that one does not speak in support of what they hold except with knowledge,
and that one does not accuse their companion of error except with knowledge.