Ruling on Debating Secularists and Others in Public Disputations
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Is it permissible for students of knowledge who are well-versed in Islamic sacred law to debate people of desires, such as secularists and others, in public disputations in order to refute their doubts and respond to their fabrications against Islam?The Shaykh: You are asking: Is it permissible?The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh: I say it is obligatory. It is obligatory for those who are well-versed to debate these people.because of His saying, the Exalted: [Al-Nahl: 125] And if the truth becomes clear and these people do not return to it, then the one in authority must compel them to do so, or punish them with a discretionary punishment that deters them from their false calling; for it is not possible for us to leave people and their devils free to say whatever they wish, as long as we have the ability, praise be to Allah, and control and authority. It is obligatory to deter these people so that they do not spread corruption on earth. And if the ruling on armed robbery in taking people's money is known: [Al-Ma'idah: 33] If this is the case regarding taking people's money and encroaching on their lives, what about those who strip people of their religion and deprive them of this world and the Hereafter?!! For the disbeliever is a loser in this world and the Hereafter. How is that? In this world, every day that passes does not return, does it? And what did he gain? What did he gain from that day that passed? He gained nothing, even if he reached the highest physical pleasure, he did not benefit. And the next day, and the one after, until he dies, is likewise a loss.
In the Hereafter, is he a loser or not a loser?A loser: [Al-Zumar: 15] These are the ones who call people to disbelief and atheism; it means they want people to lose this world and the Hereafter. Which is greater corruption: these people, or those who take money, or kill people? The former is more severe and greater. Therefore, we warn against the intellectual, moral, and methodological colonization that the enemies of Muslims are spreading today through satellite channels, the internet, and the like.
They cannot invade us with weapons now, if we are in this state, praise be to Allah, but they invade us with ideas, morals, and doubts. However, if a state were weak, they would invade it with weapons, would they not? Yes.
And look at the events now in Chechnya and elsewhere. For this reason, we must think about the matter seriously, at least to fortify ourselves and protect ourselves from these imports coming to us.
O Allah, preserve our religion for us and keep us firm upon it until death, and strengthen our rulers against our enemies, and empower them over them with an empowerment that deters them from evil and corruption.
And the time is up, praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his Companions, and may Allah guide you and help us and you.
The Shaykh: I say it is obligatory. It is obligatory for those who are well-versed to debate these people.because of His saying, the Exalted:
Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction, and argue with them in a way that is best
ادْعُ إِلَى سَبِيلِ رَبِّكَ بِالْحِكْمَةِ وَالْمَوْعِظَةِ الْحَسَنَةِ وَجَادِلْهُمْ بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُIndeed, the penalty for those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger and strive upon earth [to cause] corruption is none but that they be killed or crucified or that their hands and feet be cut off from opposite sides or that they be exiled from the land
إِنَّمَا جَزَاءُ الَّذِينَ يُحَارِبُونَ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَيَسْعَوْنَ فِي الْأَرْضِ فَسَاداً أَنْ يُقَتَّلُوا أَوْ يُصَلَّبُوا أَوْ تُقَطَّعَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَأَرْجُلُهُمْ مِنْ خِلافٍ أَوْ يُنْفَوْا مِنَ الْأَرْضِIn the Hereafter, is he a loser or not a loser?A loser:
Say, "Indeed, the losers are the ones who will lose themselves and their families on the Day of Resurrection
قُلْ إِنَّ الْخَاسِرِينَ الَّذِينَ خَسِرُوا أَنْفُسَهُمْ وَأَهْلِيهِمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِThey cannot invade us with weapons now, if we are in this state, praise be to Allah, but they invade us with ideas, morals, and doubts. However, if a state were weak, they would invade it with weapons, would they not? Yes.
And look at the events now in Chechnya and elsewhere. For this reason, we must think about the matter seriously, at least to fortify ourselves and protect ourselves from these imports coming to us.
O Allah, preserve our religion for us and keep us firm upon it until death, and strengthen our rulers against our enemies, and empower them over them with an empowerment that deters them from evil and corruption.
And the time is up, praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his Companions, and may Allah guide you and help us and you.