Etiquettes of Debate

In this context, it is necessary to draw attention to the fact that if a Muslim is invited to debate someone regarding their disbelief, atheism, deviation, or 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-versed in understanding the Book and the Sunnah. Especially since, as everyone who has studied the science of the Book and the Sunnah knows, even at the elementary levels, there are hadiths in the Sunnah that are not authentic that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said them. So perhaps the Muslim debater has retained in his mind since his youth and since the time of his seeking knowledge a hadith that has no basis, or a hadith with a weak chain that is not authentic according to the imams of hadith. He argues with it and the listeners cling to it, and they also deviate, not through that caller to disbelief or the atheist, but even through this Muslim caller because he has not yet matured in his knowledge. So if a Muslim caller invites a Muslim to debate him, we see that it is necessary to respond to his invitation, because Islam is strong and Islam is exalted and nothing is exalted above it. But which Islam is this? It is the pure Islam, as we affirmed earlier, from the Book and the Sunnah. It is obligatory that the debater be strong in his knowledge of the Book in understanding, and on the methodology of the righteous Salaf, and in knowledge of the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), what is authentic of it and 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 occurred 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 parties; there is no harm in that, and there is no harm in recording it. As for hundreds, or even thousands of common people attending them, this is a fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) from which nothing comes out but harm to the creed of many of those attendees due to their weakness in knowledge and weakness in upbringing and character. This is what appears to me, in light of what may be in the hands of some of you as questions, that I put them before you as a reminder, and the reminder benefits the believers. Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.