Discussion of the interpretation of the saying of Allah the Exalted: “None argues about the verses of Allah except those who disbelieve, so do not be deceived by their movement in the lands.”
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The Shaykh : Allah the Exalted said: [Ghafir 40:4] What is meant by the verses of Allah?
The student: The legislative and cosmic verses of Allah.
The Shaykh : Yes, what is an example of arguing about the cosmic verses?
The student: Arguing about the eclipse.
The Shaykh : Like arguing about the eclipse, where?
The student: They say how does Allah threaten His servants with it, when its time, end, beginning, and conclusion are known in the present time.
The Shaykh : What about the legislative verses?
The student: Such as cutting off the hand or stoning.
The Shaykh : Yes, they argue about them and say that this is savagery and barbarism and the like.
The Shaykh : Now, how do you reconcile this verse with the saying of Allah the Exalted:[An-Nahl 16:125] So He commanded to argue? Here is a command: And here He said: [Ghafir 40:4]?
The student: Arguing with the disbelievers is with falsehood to refute the truth, whereas arguing with those who believe is to clarify the truth.
The Shaykh : Now, the arguing here is different from the arguing there, what do you say? Correct.
The Shaykh : His saying:[Ghafir 40:4] What is the meaning of their movement in the lands? Moving back and forth in the lands for trade, recreation, and other things, and the address in His saying: .
The student: The address may be to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and to the Muslims to gather the people, and if the meaning revolves between general and specific, we take it as general.
The Shaykh : Because the general includes the specific, and not the other way around, good.
No one disputes concerning the signs of Allah except those who disbelieve
ما يجادل في آيات الله إلا الذين كفرواThe student: The legislative and cosmic verses of Allah.
The Shaykh : Yes, what is an example of arguing about the cosmic verses?
The student: Arguing about the eclipse.
The Shaykh : Like arguing about the eclipse, where?
The student: They say how does Allah threaten His servants with it, when its time, end, beginning, and conclusion are known in the present time.
The Shaykh : What about the legislative verses?
The student: Such as cutting off the hand or stoning.
The Shaykh : Yes, they argue about them and say that this is savagery and barbarism and the like.
The Shaykh : Now, how do you reconcile this verse with the saying of Allah the Exalted:
and argue with them in a way that is best
وجادلهم بالتي هي أحسنArgue with them
جادلهمNo one disputes concerning the signs of Allah except those who disbelieve, so be not deceived by their [uninhibited] movement throughout the land.
ما يجادل إلا الذين كفرواThe student: Arguing with the disbelievers is with falsehood to refute the truth, whereas arguing with those who believe is to clarify the truth.
The Shaykh : Now, the arguing here is different from the arguing there, what do you say? Correct.
The Shaykh : His saying:
so be not deceived by their [uninhibited] movement
فلا يغررك تقلبهمSo do not be deceived
فلا يغرركThe student: The address may be to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and to the Muslims to gather the people, and if the meaning revolves between general and specific, we take it as general.
The Shaykh : Because the general includes the specific, and not the other way around, good.