THE PITFALLS OF RELIGIOUS DEBATES AND ARGUMENTS

Imam Ghazali RE has said that just like drinking alcohol is the root of many evils, in that it is not only a great sin in itself but also leads to many different types of sins, similarly when the intention of religious debates becomes defeating one's opponent and demonstrating superiority of one's knowledge over other people's knowledge, then it becomes a root of many evils for one's inner self which leads to many internal sins, for example, Hasad (jealousy), Bughz (harbouring ill-feelings towards others and wishing them harm), Takabbur (thinking of oneself as superior and other human beings as inferior), Gheebat (backbiting), being always preoccupied with finding faults in others, feeling happy when some harm comes to one's opponents and feeling sad if something good befalls them, refusal to accept the truth even if it becomes clear that the opponent is correct, and rather than objectively and judiciously considering what the other person is saying, just being preoccupied with responding to the argument , even if it means having to twist Quran and Hadith to fit one's argument.

Imam Malik RE said that arguing and fighting over knowledge removes the Noor (divine light) of knowledge from one's heart. Someone asked, "If someone knows the correct Sunnah (way of the Holy Prophet ﷺ) then is he allowed to fight for it?" Imam Malik RE said, "No! He should just let the other person what the truth is. If the other person accepts it, that is fine, otherwise he should become quiet about it."

From Ma'ariful Quran, Interpretation of Surah Al-Nahl, by Mufti Muhammad Shafi RE