_Imām Ibn Qudāmah -rahimahullāh-_
Said:
Amongst them are those who restrict themselves to the knowledge of khilāf, gave their optimum attention to argumentative matters, and they always kick against the truth in order to overcome others in disputes. Thus, their situation is the worst case as against those we mentioned before them.
And know that, all form of arguments be it tricking others in disputes, misplacement of words and its interpretation which is done in order to overcome, and to silence others in arguments is of *less importance* in fiqh. Therefore, it is termed as bid’a. And most importantly, it is not done by the pious predecessors.
In addition, amongst those ‘Ulamā, are those who busy themselves with the knowledge of science of discussion, arguments based on whims and desires, and refuting the opponent.
Hence, these types of ‘Ulamā are of two sects:
The misguided ones and the ones on the right guidance. The misguided ones call to that which is not connected to *sunnah* in any form, while the ones on the right cause advocate *sunnah*. However, both of these sects, may fall into the pit of deception one way or the other.
As for the misguided ones, their deception is apparent, while the guided ones, their delusion come as a result of giving much attention to unnecessary disputes, taking it as the foremost means of drawing close to Allāh Ta’āla, and claiming that one’s religion is not sound as long as one doesn’t obtain the fullest meaning through reading and research, and whoever believes in Allāh and His Messenger without having much evidences at hand, his Īmān is not complete.
Thus, because of this poor understanding, those ‘ulamā have spent all their lives in the knowledge of disputes.
Moreover, these acts of theirs, goes against the acts of the first generation whom the prophet sallallāhu a’layhi wasallam bears that they are the best generation, and this best generation, have come across innovations, but they never for once spend their whole lives in refuting issues through disputes and they never allow such arguments to busy them from purifying their hearts and organs from its vices.
Nay, they only engage in little arguments under a tight condition in order to repel evil and misguidance. But, if they notice such a person being persistent in his innovation after sermoning, then, they will hasten to make hijrah from him without any further disputes.
In this context, the prophet sallallāhu a’layhi wasallam said:
_ﻣَﺎ ﺿَﻞَّ ﻗَﻮْﻡٌ ﺑَﻌْﺪَ ﻫُﺪًﻯ ﻛَﺎﻧُﻮﺍ ﻋَﻠَﻴْﻪِ ﺇِﻻَّ ﺃُﻭﺗُﻮﺍ ﺍﻟْﺠَﺪَﻝَ._
_No people go astray after having followed the right cause, except those who engage in disputes._
Transmitted by Imām At-tirmidhi(9/130), and Ibn Mājah#48, and Shaykh Al-Albāni declared it as Hasan in “Sahīhu At-targhīb Wat-tarhīb”
Allāhu A’alam! Bārakallāhu fīkum!
*27th Jumāda Al-Ākhir, 1439H.*
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