Summary of Sunni concepts | 34- Concepts about debate | Concepts (519-526)

0:01 A summary of the concepts held by the Ahl al-Sunnah.

0:09 The definition of debate (munazara).

0:13 Debate is a dialogue and argumentation between two parties regarding a specific subject.

0:19 Each party holds a viewpoint that differs from the other.

0:23 Each party attempts to prove their own viewpoint and invalidate the viewpoint of the other.

0:30 Or, through the debate, to reach the conclusion that the issue in question

0:35 is among the matters of ijtihad, which allows for disagreement and does not necessitate division.

0:41 This is accompanied by a sincere desire for the truth to emerge and to acknowledge it when it appears.

0:49 Regarding whom to debate:

0:52 The priority is to seek debate with scholars and to avoid debating the ignorant.

0:57 This is because such debates are not based on principles to which one can return in the event of a disagreement.

1:02 Rather, they are built upon whims, which only increase people in ignorance and confusion.

1:07 The ignorant person might even overcome their opponent and silence them through stubbornness, not through the strength of evidence.

1:14 Imam al-Shafi'i spoke the truth when he said:

1:17 "I debated a scholar and defeated him, but an ignorant person debated me and defeated me."

1:24 How to argue with the stubborn:

1:28 If a stubborn person argues about certain things, they cannot argue about everything.

1:35 Therefore, one who is forced to debate them should be keen

1:38 to shift from what they are arguing about to that which they cannot argue against,

1:44 so that through that, one may compel them to acknowledge the truth.

1:48 This is as Ibrahim, peace be upon him, did with the one who argued with him about his Lord.

1:53 Allah the Almighty said:

1:55 “Bethink thee of him who had an argument with Abraham about his Lord, because Allah had given him the kingdom; how, when Abraham said: My Lord is He Who giveth life and causeth death, he answered: I give life and cause death. Abraham said: Lo! Allah causeth the sun to rise in the East, so do thou cause it to come up from the West. Thus was the disbeliever abashed. And Allah guideth not wrongdoing folk.” (2:258)

2:02 “Bethink thee of him who had an argument with Abraham about his Lord, because Allah had given him the kingdom; how, when Abraham said: My Lord is He Who giveth life and causeth death, he answered: I give life and cause death. Abraham said: Lo! Allah causeth the sun to rise in the East, so do thou cause it to come up from the West. Thus was the disbeliever abashed. And Allah guideth not wrongdoing folk.” (2:258)

2:07 “Bethink thee of him who had an argument with Abraham about his Lord, because Allah had given him the kingdom; how, when Abraham said: My Lord is He Who giveth life and causeth death, he answered: I give life and cause death. Abraham said: Lo! Allah causeth the sun to rise in the East, so do thou cause it to come up from the West. Thus was the disbeliever abashed. And Allah guideth not wrongdoing folk.” (2:258)

2:10 “Bethink thee of him who had an argument with Abraham about his Lord, because Allah had given him the kingdom; how, when Abraham said: My Lord is He Who giveth life and causeth death, he answered: I give life and cause death. Abraham said: Lo! Allah causeth the sun to rise in the East, so do thou cause it to come up from the West. Thus was the disbeliever abashed. And Allah guideth not wrongdoing folk.” (2:258)

2:17 “Bethink thee of him who had an argument with Abraham about his Lord, because Allah had given him the kingdom; how, when Abraham said: My Lord is He Who giveth life and causeth death, he answered: I give life and cause death. Abraham said: Lo! Allah causeth the sun to rise in the East, so do thou cause it to come up from the West. Thus was the disbeliever abashed. And Allah guideth not wrongdoing folk.” (2:258)

2:23 Principles to observe before debating to ensure it is for the sake of truth:

2:29 Before debating, a scholar must examine the person they are debating.

2:35 Do they believe in the definitive and self-evident truths, or do they argue about those as well?

2:41 If they do not believe in them, there is no benefit in debating them on subsidiary issues.

2:47 That would be a waste of time.

2:49 Furthermore, the debaters must

2:52 agree upon a methodology of reasoning,

2:55 otherwise, the chasm of disagreement will only widen,

2:58 and they will not reach a result.

3:01 Defining the point of contention:

3:05 It is also necessary, before the debate, to define the point of contention,

3:11 so that time is not wasted on matters upon which both parties already agree,

3:17 or so that the discussion does not branch out

3:20 and lead to arguing about matters outside the intended scope,

3:23 or matters of a lower priority than what the opponent is denying.

3:27 For example, you might be debating someone about the prohibition of gender mixing,

3:31 while they believe in the permissibility of a woman’s display of adornment (tabarruj),

3:34 or a man being in seclusion with her, for instance.

3:37 The correct approach in that case is

3:39 to shift from discussing gender mixing

3:42 to debating the prohibition of display of adornment and seclusion.

3:47 On the etiquette of debate:

3:50 Among the etiquettes of debate that are hoped to be beneficial, by the permission of Allah,

3:54 is to present what is agreed upon between the two parties before what is disagreed upon.

4:00 This is more conducive to softening the heart of the opponent and making them receptive to the truth.

4:05 Allah the Almighty said:

4:07 “Say (unto the People of the Scripture): Dispute ye with us concerning Allah when He is our Lord and your Lord? Ours are our works and yours your works. We look to Him alone.” (2:139)

4:12 “Say (unto the People of the Scripture): Dispute ye with us concerning Allah when He is our Lord and your Lord? Ours are our works and yours your works. We look to Him alone.” (2:139)

4:16 "...and we are sincere to Him."

4:19 He prioritized the agreement on the Oneness of the Lord

4:22 over their differences in action.

4:25 Debating the People of the Scripture:

4:29 Debating the People of the Scripture should only be done in the best manner.

4:36 As Allah the Almighty said:

4:39 “And argue not with the People of the Scripture unless it be in (a way) that is better, save with such of them as do wrong; and say: We believe in that which hath been revealed unto us and revealed unto you; our Allah and your Allah is One, and unto Him we surrender.” (29:46)

4:44 Among this is that we should not reject everything they have

4:48 simply because they are the ones saying it.

4:51 Rather, we accept whatever of it aligns with the truth.

4:54 As for the obstinate and arrogant among the People of the Scripture,

4:58 the stance toward them is to turn away from them.

5:03 Whatever contradicts the truth is false, regardless of what it is.

5:09 Whatever has been proven by evidence to be the truth, and which the servant is certain of,

5:15 necessitates that everything contradicting it is false.

5:19 Every doubt raised against it is invalid,

5:22 even if the person of truth is unable to refute it

5:26 and respond to it in detail.

5:29 Their inability to refute it does not cast doubt

5:32 upon the truth they are certain of and for which evidence has been established.

5:36 Because whatever contradicts the truth is false, regardless of what it is.

5:41 Allah the Almighty said:

5:43 “Such then is Allah, your rightful Lord. After the Truth what is there saving error? How then are ye turned away!” (10:32)

5:47 Through this magnificent principle,

5:50 all the problems and doubts raised by the theologians (mutakallimun)

5:54 are resolved for a person,

5:56 even if they do not know the answer to them in detail.

5:59 Their primary duty

6:01 is to clarify the truth with its evidence and call people to it.

Summary of Sunni concepts | 34- Concepts about debate | Concepts (519-526)

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