Is it permissible for a capable student of knowledge to hold debates to refute the doubts and fabrications of secularists and others against the religion?
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The questioner : Shaykh, may Allah reward you with good. Is it permissible for students of knowledge who are proficient in the Shari'ah to debate people of desires, such as secularists and others, in public debates to refute their doubts and respond to their fabrications against the Islamic religion?
The Shaykh : You are asking, is it permissible?
The questioner : Yes, exactly.
The Shaykh : I say: It is obligatory. It is obligatory for those who are proficient to argue with these people, based on the saying of Allah the Exalted:[An-Nahl 16:125]. 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 calling to falsehood. This is because we cannot allow people and their devils to be free to say whatever they please, as long as we have the ability, praise be to Allah, and control and authority. Therefore, we must deter these people so that they do not spread corruption on earth. If the ruling on armed robbery, which involves taking people's money, is known: [Al-Ma'idah 5:33]: If this is the case regarding taking people's money and encroaching on their worldly lives, what about those who strip people of their religion and deprive them of both this world and the Hereafter? Because the disbeliever, my brothers, is a loser in this world and the Hereafter. How is that?
In this world, every day that passes will not return, is that not so?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : And what did he gain from that day that passed? He gained nothing. Even if he reached the highest level of physical pleasure, he did not gain salvation; he is gone. The next day and the one after that, until he dies, are likewise a loss. In the Hereafter, he is a loser, and nothing but a loser?
A loser.[Az-Zumar 39:15] These people who call people to disbelief and atheism mean that they want people to lose both this world and the Hereafter. Which is the 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 approach 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, is that not so?
And look at the events now in Chechnya and elsewhere. Therefore, we must think about this matter seriously, at least to fortify ourselves. We must protect ourselves from these imports coming to us. O Allah, preserve our religion for us and keep us firm upon it until death. Strengthen our rulers against our enemies and grant them authority over them that deters them from evil and corruption.
And the time has ended, 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. May Allah guide you and help us and you.
The Shaykh : You are asking, is it permissible?
The questioner : Yes, exactly.
The Shaykh : I say: It is obligatory. It is obligatory for those who are proficient to argue with these people, based on the saying of Allah the Exalted:
Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction, and argue with them in a way that is best
ادع إلى سبيل ربك بالحكمة والموعظة الحسنة وجادلهم بالتي هي أحسنIndeed, 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
إنما جزاء الذين يحاربون الله ورسوله ويسعون في الأرض فسادًا أن يقتَّلوا أو يصلبوا أو تقطع أيديهم وأرجلهم من خلاف أو ينفوا من الأرضIn this world, every day that passes will not return, is that not so?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : And what did he gain from that day that passed? He gained nothing. Even if he reached the highest level of physical pleasure, he did not gain salvation; he is gone. The next day and the one after that, until he dies, are likewise a loss. In the Hereafter, he is a loser, and nothing but a loser?
A loser.
Say, "Indeed, the losers are the ones who will lose themselves and their families on the Day of Resurrection
قل إن الخاسرين الذين خسروا أنفسهم وأهليهم يوم القيامةThe former is more severe and greater. Therefore, we warn against the intellectual, moral, and methodological approach 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, is that not so?
And look at the events now in Chechnya and elsewhere. Therefore, we must think about this matter seriously, at least to fortify ourselves. We must protect ourselves from these imports coming to us. O Allah, preserve our religion for us and keep us firm upon it until death. Strengthen our rulers against our enemies and grant them authority over them that deters them from evil and corruption.
And the time has ended, 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. May Allah guide you and help us and you.