What is your opinion on dialogue with some of the followers of misguided sects via the internet?
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Question:
The questioner says: What is your opinion on dialogue with some of the misguided sects, or the followers of misguided sects, via the internet?
Answer:
Dialogue intended to clarify the truth, refute falsehood, and establish the proof is permissible.[Ali 'Imran 3:64] Dialogue intended to clarify the truth and refute falsehood is permissible with disbelievers, with people of misguidance, and with misguided sects.
However, it must be undertaken only by people of knowledge. It is not for the ignorant, the cultured, or the thinkers to undertake it. It is for the people of knowledge and insight who know the arguments, evidence, and clear proofs, so that the opponent does not triumph over them due to their ignorance and lack of jurisprudence. This would be considered a deficiency for the Muslims.
Only people of knowledge, insight, and understanding are to enter into dialogue. The dialogue must be intended to clarify the truth and refute falsehood, as we have mentioned. If the intention behind the dialogue is to reach a compromise between us and them, saying that everyone follows their own school of thought and that we are conversing in order to reach a compromise, then this is not permissible. This is a form of compromise (mudahanah). This is compromise. They wish that you would compromise, and you would compromise. Is it by this hadith that you are compromising? Compromise with the people of misguidance and the people of disbelief is not permissible. Yes.
The questioner says: What is your opinion on dialogue with some of the misguided sects, or the followers of misguided sects, via the internet?
Answer:
Dialogue intended to clarify the truth, refute falsehood, and establish the proof is permissible.
Say, "O People of the Scripture, come to a word that is equitable between us and you - that we will not worship except Allah and not associate anything with Him and not take one another as lords instead of Allah." But if they turn away, then say, "Bear witness that we are Muslims [submitting to Him]."
قُلْ يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ تَعَالَوْا إِلَىٰ كَلِمَةٍ سَوَاءٍ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكُمْ أَلَّا نَعْبُدَ إِلَّا اللَّهَ وَلَا نُشْرِكَ بِهِ شَيْئًا وَلَا يَتَّخِذَ بَعْضُنَا بَعْضًا أَرْبَابًا مِّن دُونِ اللَّهِ فَإِن تَوَلَّوْا فَقُولُوا اشْهَدُوا بِأَنَّا مُسْلِمُونَHowever, it must be undertaken only by people of knowledge. It is not for the ignorant, the cultured, or the thinkers to undertake it. It is for the people of knowledge and insight who know the arguments, evidence, and clear proofs, so that the opponent does not triumph over them due to their ignorance and lack of jurisprudence. This would be considered a deficiency for the Muslims.
Only people of knowledge, insight, and understanding are to enter into dialogue. The dialogue must be intended to clarify the truth and refute falsehood, as we have mentioned. If the intention behind the dialogue is to reach a compromise between us and them, saying that everyone follows their own school of thought and that we are conversing in order to reach a compromise, then this is not permissible. This is a form of compromise (mudahanah). This is compromise. They wish that you would compromise, and you would compromise. Is it by this hadith that you are compromising? Compromise with the people of misguidance and the people of disbelief is not permissible. Yes.
Source
قناة «العلامة الدكتور صالح الفوزان»، 46 - 55 ما رأيكم بالحوار مع بعض أصحاب الفرق الضالّة عبر الإنترنت؟ - الشيخ صالح الفوزان — youtube.com
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.