ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books The Emendation of A Shi‘ite Creed Concerning Religious Disputation (Al-Jidal) =============================================== Abu Ja‘far says, concerning disputation: "Disputation concerning Allah is prohibited, because it leads to that which does not befit Him"; then he quoted as-Sadiq, peace be upon him, as saying: "The speculative theologians (ahlu 'l-kalam) will perish, and those who accept the faith without question will be saved".

Abu ‘Abdillah ash-Shaykh al-Mufid, may Allah have mercy upon him, comments that: Disputation is of two kinds; true (i.e., a sincere quest after the truth) and false (i.e., discussion without the object of arriving at the truth or merely to find fault). The true disputation is recommended and desirable; whereas the false one is prohibited, and indulgence in it is abhorred.

Allah, the Almighty, admonishing His Messenger, says: And argue with them in the best manner [16:125], which obviously states the legality of arguing with opponents in order to convince them, since the disputation of the Prophet was true. Also Allah, the Almighty, addressing the whole Muslim community, says: And argue not with the People of the Book except by what is best [29:46].

Thus, He permitted them to argue with the People of the Book with what is best, and prohibited indulgence in false and base disputation with them. He, the Exalted, reporting the speech of the people of Noah, peace be upon him, in their disputation says: They said, "O Noah! indeed you have disputed with us and prolonged dispute with us" [11:32].

Thus, if disputation was altogether vain, then Allah, the Almighty, would never have commanded His Prophet to adopt it, or the prophets before him to use it, and would not have allowed the Muslims to employ it. As for the false disputation, Allah, the Almighty, the Belessed, has described it in His saying: Have you not seen those who dispute (foolishly) about the signs of Allah, how they distort them? [40:69].

Thus, He reproached their false disputation concerning the signs of Allah, either to reject or to vilify them, or to cast suspicion on them. He, the Exalted, also reports the controversy of His friend, Ibrahim, with an unbeliever (concerning the existence of Allah) and says: Have not you thought of him who disputed with Ibrahim about his Lord [2:258].