“For the one who gives up arguing…”

Abu Umamah al-Bahili رضي الله عنه narrated that the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

أنا زعيم بيت في رَبَضِ الجنة لمن ترك المراء وإن كان مُحِقَّا، وبيت في وسط الجنة لمن ترك الكذب وإن كان مازحًا، وبيت في أعلى الجنة لمن حَسُن خلقه

I am the leader of a house in Paradise. I guarantee a house in Jannah for one who gives up arguing, even if he is in the right; and I guarantee a home in the middle of Jannah for one who abandons lying even if he is joking; and I guarantee a house in the highest part of Jannah for one who has good manners.”

[Abu Da'wud, 4800; also found in 'Tahdhib al-Kamal', 3/498; 'Mu'jam al-Kabeer', 7488; 'al-Bayhaqi', 10/249 and others - graded as Hasan by al-Albani in 'Saheeh al-Targheeb wat-Tarheeb', 6/3; and Ibn Baz in 'Khashiyah Buloogh al-Maraam', 810]


Despite its conciseness, this hadeeth contains huge amounts of guidance and goodness in directing people towards building sublime characters and in dealing with people; along with the respective rewards attached to that.

As for the aspect of arguing mentioned therein, the type of arguing which is criticised and blameworthy is the one in which one is abusive, wants to win over or disparage the opponent – or where one argues just for the sake of argument and wrangling etc.

To argue in order to demonstrate what the truth is however, and to refute falsehood – then that is a commendable act that the Shari’ah orders us with, so long as it is within reason and set-boundaries. From this are the Ayaat of the Qur’an:

وَجَادِلْهُم بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ“…and argue with them in a way that is better.” [An-Nahl: 125]

وَلَا تُجَادِلُوا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ إِلَّا بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ“And argue not with the people of the Scripture, unless it be in (a way) that is better…” [Al-Ankaboot: 46]

وَلَا تُجَادِلْ عَنِ الَّذِينَ يَخْتَانُونَ أَنفُسَهُمْ“And argue not on behalf of those who deceive themselves…” [An-Nisaa': 107]

In regards to explaining or clarifying the Sunnah, Imam Ahmad was asked:

“I sometimes find myself in a gathering where the Sunnah is mentioned, and I have more knowledge of it. Shall I speak up and say something?’ Imam Ahmad replied: ‘State what the Sunnah is, but do not argue over it’. The man then repeated his statement and so Imam Ahmad said: ‘I only see you to be an argumentative man!”
And this is what Imam Malik meant in his saying (after one has informed the people of the Sunnah), “And if they don’t accept it from you, then be silent.”

['Al-Adab al-Shar'iyyah', Ibn Muflih, p. 307]

Ma’n ibn Eesa narrated:

انصرف مالك بن أنس رضي الله عنه يوماً من المسجد ، وهو متكىء على يدي ، فلحقه رجل يقال له : أبو الحورية ، كان يتهم بالإرجاء ، فقال : يا عبد الله ، اسمع مني شيئاً ، أكلمك به ، وأحاجك ، وأخبرك برأي ، قال : فإن غلبتني ؟ قال : إن غلبتك اتبعني ، قال : فإن جاء رجل آخر ، فكلمنا فغلبنا ؟ قال : نتبعه ، فقال مالك رحمه الله تعالى : ياعبد الله : بعث الله عز وجل محمداً صلى الله عليه وسلم بدين واحد ، وأراك تنتقل من دين إلى دين ، قال عمر بن عبد العزيز : من جعل دينه غرضاً للخصومات أكثر التنقل
“(Imam) Malik ibn Anas was once returning from the masjid, leaning on my arm, when a man called Abu al-Huwayriyah who was accused of Irja` caught up with him. He said. ‘O servant of Allaah, listen to something I have to say and debate with me and let me tell you my opinion.’ (Imam) Malik said, ‘And what if you overcome me?’ The man replied, ‘If I defeat you, you follow me.’ Malik asked, ‘And what if another man comes and defeats us (both)?’ He replied, ‘Then we follow him.’ To this, Malik رحمه الله تعالى said, ‘O servant of Allaah, Allaah sent Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم with a single Deen, but I see you moving from religion to religion. ‘Umar ibn ‘Abd Al-‘Azeez said: ‘Whoever makes his Deen the object of argumentation will frequently change it.’”

[Al-Aajoori, 'Kitab Al-Shari’ah', vol.1, p. 128]

It is equally important not to delve into matters in which one does not have knowledge – nor chase conjecture and thus risk falling into misguidance himself. As Allaah سبحانه و تعالى Said:

وَلَا تَقْفُ مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ بِهِ عِلْمٌ“And follow not that of which you have no knowledge….”[Al-Israa': 36]

The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

إن أبغض الرجال إلى الله الألد الخصم“The most hated of men to Allah is the one who quarrels often.” [Bukhari, 2457 and Muslim, 2668]

Shaykh Salih al-Fawzan commented on this hadeeth in his ‘Sharh Usool Al-Imaan’ (of Ibn Abd Al-Wahhab) and said:

في هذا حديث النهي عن الجدل والخصومات, وأنه ينبغي على المسلم إرادة الحق, لا التغلُب بحجته و إن كانت باطلة كما هو حال أهل الضلال.
وقوله (صلى الله علية وسلم): “الألد” أي: شديد الخصومة بالباطل.
وقوله: “الخصم” أي: الحاذق بالخصومة والمذموم هو الخصومة بالباطل في رفع حق ا واثبات باطل.
والله جلَ وعلا يبغض الألدَ الخصم, لأنه ليس قصده الحق وإنما حب ظهور الحجة بالخصومة ولو بالباطل, ولأن كثرة المخاصمة تفضي غالبا إلى ما يذمُ صاحبه, لأن أكثر المخاصمة تكون في باطل من أحد الطرفين, و لهذا جاء النهي عنها

“In this hadeeth is the prohibition of argumentation and quarrel, and that it is incumbent upon the Muslim to only seek the truth, not to overcome (his opponent) by his argument even though it is falsehood, as is the case of the people of misguidance.
And he صلى الله عليه وسلم said: ‘Al-Aladd‘, which means one who unjustly (and excessively) quarrels with falsehood.
And he صلى الله عليه وسلم said: ‘al-Khasim‘, which means one who is proficient at quarrelling and what is reprehensible is to argue with falsehood by removing the truth and establishing falsehood.
And Allaah (Jalla wa ‘Alaa) despises this type of person because his purpose is not to establish the truth, rather to love to overcome others with his arguments even though it is falsehood. And because a lot of excessive argumentation leads to disparaging the person. (And) because in most arguments, one of the parties is arguing with falsehood, and this is why it is prohibited.”

Imam Shafi’i from his golden pieces of advice said:

إذا نطق السفيه فلا تجبه فخير من إجابته السكوت فإن كلمته فـرّجت عنـه وإن خليته كـمدا يمـوت“If the fool* speaks, don’t respond to him as silence is the best answer (for him). If you (do) speak to him (then) you have supported him (i.e. his foolishness by giving him importance); and if you left him (without speaking/answering), then in anguish he dies.”

* Those without sense, wisdom or sincerity – who do not seek the truth, but rather want to perpetuate their nonsense and unnecessary arguments and wrangling.

Jundub bin Abdullah رضي الله عنه narrated that the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

اقرءوا القرآن ما ائتلفت عليه قلوبكم ، فإذا اختلفتم فقوموا“Read the Quran as long as your hearts are drawn close (in agreement) with each other (in respect to it), if there is disagreement (among you), then stand up (and leave).” [Saheeh al-Bukhari, 4773/6843 and others]

Ibn Hajar said in his ‘Fath al-Bari’ (4773) that this means any disagreement that may occur over any understanding (of the meaning) of the Qur’an, one should leave the situation. The purpose of dispersing from such a gathering is so as to not allow the differences to fester and cause enmity to arise between people and result in evil… It is not allowed to snarl at an opposing opinion so as not to cause grievance and dissent among people, (and remember the Words of Allaah): “O you who believe! Ask not about things which, if made plain to you, may cause you trouble…” [Al-Ma'idah, 101]
Allaah سبحانه و تعالى Said in Al-Qur’an:

وَلاَ تَنَازَعُواْ فَتَفْشَلُواْ وَتَذْهَبَ رِيحُكُمْ وَاصْبِرُواْ“Do not dispute (with one another) lest you lose courage (and your strength departs), and be patient…” [Al-Anfaal: 46]

Muhammad al-Ameen ash-Shanqeeti رحمه الله تعالى said in his Tafseer:

نهى الله جل وعلا المؤمنين في هذه الآية الكريمة عن التنازع، مبينًا أنه سبب الفشل، وذهاب القوة، ونهى عن الفرقة أيضًا في مواضع أخر، كقوله‏:‏ ‏{‏وَاعْتَصِمُواْ بِحَبْلِ اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا وَلاَ تَفَرَّقُواْ‏}‏، ونحوها من الآيات، وقوله في هذه الآية‏:‏ ‏{‏وَتَذْهَبَ رِيحُكُمْ‏}‏ أي قوتكم‏

“In this Noble Ayah, Allaah جل وعلا has forbidden the believers from disputing (arguing and fighting), indicating this as a cause for failure (and defeat) and the departure of strength. And He also forbade disunity (and division)… As He Said: “And hold fast, all together, by the rope which Allah (stretches out for you), and be not divided among yourselves” and similar Ayaat to this. And the Words in the Ayah, ‘lest you lose courage’ means (loss of) your strength.”

sumber dari: alsiraat.co.uk