The first thing in a debate is to establish the validity of the evidence.

The Shaykh : This is a matter that a person should consider when debating. If the opponent presents a transmitted piece of evidence, one should say to him, "First, prove this. Understand this. Pay attention to it, for it will benefit you." For this reason, you will find that the Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him), in his book *Minhaj al-Sunnah*, in his refutation of the Rafidah, begins his answer to the issue by saying, "The answer to this is from several angles. First: We demand that you prove the validity of the evidence, the validity of the transmission. I mean the validity of the transmission. This is the first thing. If he is unable to establish evidence for the validity of the transmission, and if he is unable to do so, then nothing remains. If this transmission is from Imam Ahmad, and if the transmission is false, we have refuted it, and even so, we have answered it."