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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Abd Allah Ibn Saba Myth Exploded Preface Every Shi’i who seeks to debate a Sunni must insist on certain ten principles: Both parties must swear before Allah to pursue, defend and follow the truth alone. Both parties must agree on a specific topic, and also set the boundaries of the discussion. Each party must declare beforehand what exactly must be proved by the other party in order to win the debate.

Each side must swear before Allah to strictly stay on the topic of the debate, and not deviate, digress or venture into any other throughout the discussion. Each party must swear before Allah to present only authentically transmitted reports from both the Sunni books and the Shi’i books. The Sunni party must always present reports with reliable chains from the Shi’i books only in order to convince the Shi’i on any point.

In the same manner, the Shi’i must always present reports with reliable chains from the Sunni books in order to convince the Sunni on any point. Authenticity of the reports is determined primarily through the chains of narration. Each party must either present the opinions of the relevant leading rijal experts on each riwayah or do a thorough rijal breakdown of its narrators using the strictest appropriate rijal standards.

If either party has an objection to the authentication by the ‘ulama of any particular report, he must present convincing evidence to prove their error. The opinions of scholars on issues are not valid as proof unless reliably transmitted evidence can be provided to back them up. It is he who claims that something exists, or that it is true, that must provide the cogent evidence for it. The party denying it has no obligation to provide proof of his denial.

However, where the claimer has provided his proof, the onus shifts to the denier. The denier must either accept the evidence supplied, or provide solid academically sound and orthodox reasons to reject it. There shall never be any vulgar abuse of the other party or anyone respected by his sect or madhhab . The debate shall be entirely decorous, and the choice of words shall be respectful.

Unfortunately, not many Sunnis or Shi’is have the necessary skills or temperaments to accept all the conditions stated above. Therefore, we almost always see very poor pseudo-debates, especially on online forums.