Going to the channels of evil to debate the people of innovation
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Question:
Is going to the channels of evil for the purpose of debating the people of evil and innovation and refuting some of their doubts a path of the Salaf?
Answer:
Yes, it is the path of the scholars if you have knowledge and insight and are able to refute falsehood and you intend by this to support the truth; that is a good thing. But most people do not reach this level, either because they do not have knowledge, or because they have knowledge but do not have faith. Whoever has the faith-based and scholarly capacity and intends by it to refute falsehood, that is good; this is jihad in the path of Allah.[Al-'Ankabut 29:46] They debate them [An-Nahl 16:125].
[An-Nahl 16:125-126] Do not take more than your right; be content with your right only. And if you are patient and do not take your right, that is better for the patient. Yes.
Is going to the channels of evil for the purpose of debating the people of evil and innovation and refuting some of their doubts a path of the Salaf?
Answer:
Yes, it is the path of the scholars if you have knowledge and insight and are able to refute falsehood and you intend by this to support the truth; that is a good thing. But most people do not reach this level, either because they do not have knowledge, or because they have knowledge but do not have faith. Whoever has the faith-based and scholarly capacity and intends by it to refute falsehood, that is good; this is jihad in the path of Allah.
And do not argue with the People of the Scripture except in a way that is best, except for those who commit injustice among them
وَلَا تُجَادِلُوا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ إِلَّا بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ إِلَّا الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا مِنْهُمْand argue with them in a way that is best
وَجَادِلْهُم بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ(125) Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction, and argue with them in a way that is best. Indeed, your Lord is most knowing of who has strayed from His way, and He is most knowing of who is [rightly] guided. (126) And if you punish [an enemy, O believers], punish with an equivalent of that with which you were harmed. But if you are patient - it is better for those who are patient.
إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِالْمُهْتَدِينَ وَإِنْ عَاقَبْتُمْ فَعَاقِبُوا بِمِثْلِ مَا عُوقِبْتُم بِهِ
Source
شرح إغاثة اللهفان من مصائد الشيطان لابن القيم، فصل في القلب المريض — islamhouse.com (44:17)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.