What is the ruling on arguing during Hajj?
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The questioner : In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
What is the ruling on arguing during Hajj, such as when people debate whether something is correct or incorrect, or similar matters?
The Shaykh : Allah, Mighty and Majestic, says regarding Hajj:[Al-Baqarah 2:197].
Arguing is of three types. The first is arguing to establish the truth. This is obligatory, even if a person is performing Hajj. As long as he intends to establish the truth, it is obligatory for him to argue, but in the best manner, based on the saying of Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He:[An-Nahl 16:125]. He should not say, "This is arguing, and Allah says there is no arguing in Hajj." Rather, he says, "This is an argument that is necessary, so it is obligatory. In reality, it is a defense of the truth or an establishment of it."
The second type is arguing about matters that are neither true nor false. For example, one person says, "That thing on the mountain is a human being," while another says, "It is a tree," and another says, "It is a stone," and so on. They argue about this. This is also prohibited because it stirs up the soul and diverts it from what it is engaged in, which is focusing on the rituals.
The third type is arguing for the sake of falsehood. This means that a person argues while knowing that the truth is contrary to what he is saying, but he wants to win for himself and have his word be the upper hand. This person is sinful. He is sinful on two counts: first, because he is arguing while in the state of ihram for Hajj, and second, because he intended to establish falsehood and invalidate the truth. Yes.
In this situation, if the caravan appoints an emir to determine what is in their interest so that no dispute arises, this is because sometimes their independent legal reasoning leads to disagreement. One says, "We want to stay," and another says, "We want to walk." One says, "We want to serve lunch now," and another says, "We want to delay it." And an argument ensues. If there is an emir who adjudicates, that is best. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded travelers, if there are three of them, to appoint one of them as their leader. Appointing this one person does not mean he is an emir without authority; rather, he is an emir with authority, and his word must be accepted. Because once he is an emir, he becomes one of those in authority. And Allah has commanded obedience to the one in authority, provided he does not command disobedience. Yes.
What is the ruling on arguing during Hajj, such as when people debate whether something is correct or incorrect, or similar matters?
The Shaykh : Allah, Mighty and Majestic, says regarding Hajj:
so whoever has made Hajj obligatory upon himself therein [by entering the state of ihram], there is [to be for him] no sexual relations and no disobedience and no disputing during Hajj
فمن فرض فيهنّ الحجّ فلا رفث ولا فسوق ولا جدال في الحجّArguing is of three types. The first is arguing to establish the truth. This is obligatory, even if a person is performing Hajj. As long as he intends to establish the truth, it is obligatory for him to argue, but in the best manner, based on the saying of Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He:
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 ربّك بالحكمة والموعظة الحسنة وجادلهم بالتي هي أحسنThe second type is arguing about matters that are neither true nor false. For example, one person says, "That thing on the mountain is a human being," while another says, "It is a tree," and another says, "It is a stone," and so on. They argue about this. This is also prohibited because it stirs up the soul and diverts it from what it is engaged in, which is focusing on the rituals.
The third type is arguing for the sake of falsehood. This means that a person argues while knowing that the truth is contrary to what he is saying, but he wants to win for himself and have his word be the upper hand. This person is sinful. He is sinful on two counts: first, because he is arguing while in the state of ihram for Hajj, and second, because he intended to establish falsehood and invalidate the truth. Yes.
In this situation, if the caravan appoints an emir to determine what is in their interest so that no dispute arises, this is because sometimes their independent legal reasoning leads to disagreement. One says, "We want to stay," and another says, "We want to walk." One says, "We want to serve lunch now," and another says, "We want to delay it." And an argument ensues. If there is an emir who adjudicates, that is best. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded travelers, if there are three of them, to appoint one of them as their leader. Appointing this one person does not mean he is an emir without authority; rather, he is an emir with authority, and his word must be accepted. Because once he is an emir, he becomes one of those in authority. And Allah has commanded obedience to the one in authority, provided he does not command disobedience. Yes.