Advice from the Shaykh to those who debate the people of innovation before thousands of ordinary Muslims.

The Shaykh: On this occasion, it is necessary to point out that if a Muslim invites a disbeliever to debate him regarding his disbelief, his atheism, his deviation, or his misguidance, we see that this should be confined between him and that caller, and not to falsehood. It is not permissible to announce this to all the people, because a word might come from the caller to disbelief that captures the minds of some of the attendees who are weak in faith, weak in knowledge, and ignorant of Islam. Also, a word might come from the Muslim caller that may not be in accordance with the Book and the Sunnah, because he may not be well-established in understanding the Book and the Sunnah. In particular, as everyone who has studied the knowledge of the Book and the Sunnah, even at the elementary levels, knows, there are in the Sunnah hadiths that are not authentic as having been said by the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). So perhaps the Muslim debater has had a hadith with no basis, or a hadith with a weak chain that is not authentic according to the scholars of hadith, fixed in his mind since his youth and since the time of his seeking knowledge. He argues with it and the listeners cling to it, so they also deviate, not through that disbeliever or atheist caller, but even through this Muslim caller, because he has not yet matured in his knowledge. If a Muslim invites a disbeliever to debate him, we see that it is necessary to respond to his invitation, because Islam is strong, and Islam rises and is not raised above it. But what kind of Islam is this? It is the Islam drawn, as we emphasized earlier, from the Book and the Sunnah.
The debater must be strong in his knowledge of the Book and its understanding, and on the methodology of the righteous Salaf, and in his knowledge of the Sunnah of the Messenger (peace be upon him), distinguishing what is authentic from what is not, so that he is qualified to discuss those callers to falsehood. This is our advice regarding some of the debates that have spread in these recent days. We do not see that they should be in a large gathering, but rather that they take place within four walls, attended by a few from both sides, and there is no harm in that. There is no harm in recording them. But if hundreds, or even thousands of ordinary people attend, this is a trial from which nothing comes out but harm to the creed of many of those attendees due to their weakness in knowledge, upbringing, and character.
This is what appears to me to be before me, along with what may be in the possession of some of you in the form of questions, that I put before you as a reminder, and the reminder benefits the believers. And peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.

Those present : And upon you be peace, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.

The Shaykh : There is no god but Allah.

Those present : May Allah reward you with good.