How to Call and Debate with non-Muslims

Faizah · 03:46 PM

How to Call and Debate with non-Muslims

Shaykh Muhammad Naasiruddeen al-Albaanee

Reference: Silsilat Al Hudaa Wan Noor

Question: Their evidence is a Hadeeth in which a non Muslim came to the Messenger and embraced Islaam with the condition that he would only pray one prayer a day instead of five. The Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) agreed to this so that he would embrace Islaam and be saved. Is this Hadeeth authentic, and can it be used as evidence for this issue [1] ?

Answer: The Hadeeth is authentic but with the condition that he prays twice a day and not once. As for using it as evidence to justify their case then it is not, because what we are taking about here is the methodology of Da’wah. Did the Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) call the people to perform two daily prayers or five? Of course he called them to perform five. They want to change the methodology of Da’wah, they want us to stop clarifying to the people what Allaah has obligated upon them.

If a man who does not pray and wears a gold ring at the same time approaches you for example, it isn't that they want you to start with the issue of establishing the prayers first and postpone the issue of wearing the golden ring to a latter time. If this is what they want we would be in agreement with them in that, but what they want is to change the methodology of Da’wah. So we say to them; this Da’wah that you are calling the people to is not Islaam. It is Islaam yes, but what is the understanding of this Islaam? Is it in establishing the five daily prayers and prohibiting all forms of evil?

As for dealing with a particular individual then yes, an individual should be treated in a way that is specific to his situation. So using this Hadeeth as evidence to justify their claim is incorrect, Da’wah is one thing and the method of dealing with individuals who are being called to this Da’wah is another.

Question: How come the Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) approved for this man to pray only twice a day instead of five times?

Answer: This is the methodology of giving Da’wah, and there is another Hadeeth that is a suitable response to this question, and it is:

“If they are truthful, they will be good Muslims and strive in the cause of Allaah.”

Meaning that if we accept a little from these people while they are polytheists or disbelievers, then practicing a little will lead to practicing a lot of what has been obligated upon them. This is ‘legislated strategy’, but it is to be implemented on individuals and not on the Da’wah itself. Da’wah is to be delivered the same way in which it was revealed, without making any deductions to it. As for individuals, then they are to be dealt with according to their situations.

This is why I object to a story that some people tell; about a century ago more or less, a group of rulers wanted to embrace Islaam, however, they said that they couldn’t abandon alcohol because their countries were extremely cold, so they sent couriers to ask the Mufti of Istanbul who responded by saying that this was unacceptable. I believe this is incorrect due to the aforementioned Hadeeth. We should convey the Da’wah to them and inform them that alcohol is prohibited and that it is upon them to try and minimize this sin, we should first tell them to testify that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allaah and that Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) is the Messenger of Allaah, to pray, fast and so on, and to try to minimize what they are afflicted with as much as they possibly can. This is called ‘legislated strategy’.

As for concealing the Sharee’ah and telling people that they don’t have to pray five daily prayers but merely two! This is not Da’wah, we must differentiate between calling to Islaam and dealing with individuals, an individual must be treated according to his situation in order to draw him closer to Islaam.

[1] The issue the questioner is referring to is related to a previous question where the Shaykh was asked whether it was permissible to conceal certain issues in the religion such as music, shaving the beard and taking pictures when calling Muslims to Islaam in order to not distance them from the Da'wah.

Al Haawee Min Fataawa Ash Shaykh Al Albaanee: P.494

Faizah · **Re: How to Call and Debate with non-Muslims -** 11-23-2007

Ash Shaykh Al ‘Allaamah Al Muhadith Naasir Al Albaanee

Question: A Muslim asks how to respond to a non-Muslim who says that Allaah is unjust because He punishes people who died more than 500 years ago.

Answer: It is not permissible for you to debate with this non-Muslim because firstly, those who debate non-Muslims must have knowledge of the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah. Secondly they must be intelligent, understanding and be acquainted with the methods of debating with non-Muslims.

You do not start by responding to this person's misconception, you start with the issue of whether he believes if Allaah created this world or not, then you keep progressing downwards until you reach this particular issue of disbelief, and then it can be thwarted. But how cay you skip all these stages, and try to save him from misguidance with this particular issue?! He is a disbeliever in the foundation, a disbeliever in Allaah the majestic, and you're trying to convince him that Allaah, who is non existent according to him, is just?

Questioner: Subhan-Allaah!

Shaykh: This is impossible. Therefore we advice you not to occupy your time with this?

Questioner: Shaykh, I do not occupy my time with this, but he is one of those people who come and sow misconceptions, so I responded to him by citing one of the first verses of the Quraan: {Those who believe in the unseen.} That was my response to him Shaykh.

Shaykh: This response is of no benefit, because he is not a believer in the Book! Nor is he a believer in the Lord of the Book! What is the benefit of debating with him [in this issue].

Questioner: There is no benefit.

Shaykh: A similar thing happened to me while I was in Damascus, someone asked me; 'How did Muhammad ascend to the heavens when it is scientifically proven that whoever travels beyond the atmosphere dies?'

Questioner: Allaahu Akbar!

Shaykh: The first thing I asked him was; 'Do you believe in Allaah?'

He said: 'Yes I do.'

'Ok, do you believe in the Messenger of Allaah?'

He said: 'Yes I do.'

'Good, do you believe in miracles?'

He said: 'No.'

I said: 'Do you believe in medicine?'

He said: 'Yes.'

'Doctors says that some humans have two hearts. One on the right and the other on the left. Do you know anything about medicine?'

He said: 'No, nothing.'

'If doctors publish this information that you don’t know anything about, would you believe in it?'

He said: 'Yes I would.'

'Even though doctors may be mistaken, deceptive and so on. We know that the person who informed us of the ascendance is the most truthful of people, the Messenger of Allaah, since it is Allaah that revealed to him:

{Glorified (and Exalted) is He (Allaah) Who took His slave on a journey by night from Al-Masjid Al-Haraam to Al-Masjid Al-Aqsaa…}

'Do you doubt this?'

I then showed him a magazine…debate goes on…

The whole point in narrating this story to you is to show you how to debate progressively with non-Muslims. Did you understand?

Questioner: Yes I understood, may Allaah reward you well.

Shaykh: May Allaah safeguard you, do you have another question?

Questioner: No.

To be continued…

Faizah · **Re: How to Call and Debate with non-Muslims -** 11-23-2007

Source.

-Ibn Al Aqwa- · **Re: How to Call and Debate with non-Muslims -** 04-08-2008

JazakAllaah Khayr...

so from the first aricle...ill just add a scenario, Inshaa'Allaah....

If i want to get my friend to start praying 5 times a day, but i know that he will find this difficult...so it would not be permissable for me to ask him to start off praying twice a day would it, as i would be advising him into something different to Islaam. But if he was to ask me, if he could just pray twice a day for a while, then it is permissable for me to say yes.

Thats just to explain what i mean, im not saying i am in this situation...

Is that the correct line of thought?

Wa Alaykum Salaam

- Brok3n - · **Re: How to Call and Debate with non-Muslims -** 04-08-2008

^ Confused...

IbnAbdulHakim · **Re: How to Call and Debate with non-Muslims -** 04-08-2008

Assalamu Alaikum

Aqwa tell your friend to pray as much as he can, islaam is made easy for us and we progress with time admitting we should do more but doing as much as we can.

i re-read the article, its amazing subhanAllaah

**Al Habeshi** · **Re: How to Call and Debate with non-Muslims -** 04-08-2008

As Salaam Alaykum,

I couldn't agree more with the noble Scholar. I mean, now days I see some brothers taking part in debates, public debates and being humiliated, comprimising their religion in the debates in order not to 'lose' because they don't have the right knowledge. May Allah forgive us.

-Ibn Al Aqwa- · **Re: How to Call and Debate with non-Muslims -** 04-08-2008

JazakAllaah Khayr,

appreciate the replies, but from the first article the question, in simpler terms is:

would it be wrong to tell somone to pray less than 5 times?

- Brok3n - · 12:11 PM

^ in my opinion (which may be totally wrong) i dont think it would. Because at least they are starting to pray, rather than not praying at all. Get me?

EDIT: Ask someone more knowledgable inshaaAllaah..

-Ibn Al Aqwa- · **Re: How to Call and Debate with non-Muslims -** 04-08-2008

JazakAllaah

Quote:

As for concealing the Sharee’ah and telling people that they don’t have to pray five daily prayers but merely two! This is not Da’wah, we must differentiate between calling to Islaam and dealing with individuals, an individual must be treated according to his situation in order to draw him closer to Islaam.

I think after re-reading this bit that clarifies it is allowed, not classified as da'wah, but as a means to bring ones soul closer to Islaam...

the confusion was caused because i did not fully understand this paragraph...then i re-read it twice, and now i understand.

apologies, and JazakAllaah

Wa Alaykum Salaam

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Faizah LI Oldskool Status: Offline Posts: 7,154 Reputation: 25299 Rep Power: 56 Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: ~ Daar as-Sa'aadah ~ Gender: Way of Life: Muslim	11-23-2007 How to Call and Debate with non-Muslims Shaykh Muhammad Naasiruddeen al-Albaanee Reference: Silsilat Al Hudaa Wan Noor Question: Their evidence is a Hadeeth in which a non Muslim came to the Messenger and embraced Islaam with the condition that he would only pray one prayer a day instead of five. The Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) agreed to this so that he would embrace Islaam and be saved. Is this Hadeeth authentic, and can it be used as evidence for this issue [1] ? Answer: The Hadeeth is authentic but with the condition that he prays twice a day and not once. As for using it as evidence to justify their case then it is not, because what we are taking about here is the methodology of Da’wah. Did the Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) call the people to perform two daily prayers or five? Of course he called them to perform five. They want to change the methodology of Da’wah, they want us to stop clarifying to the people what Allaah has obligated upon them. If a man who does not pray and wears a gold ring at the same time approaches you for example, it isn't that they want you to start with the issue of establishing the prayers first and postpone the issue of wearing the golden ring to a latter time. If this is what they want we would be in agreement with them in that, but what they want is to change the methodology of Da’wah. So we say to them; this Da’wah that you are calling the people to is not Islaam. It is Islaam yes, but what is the understanding of this Islaam? Is it in establishing the five daily prayers and prohibiting all forms of evil? As for dealing with a particular individual then yes, an individual should be treated in a way that is specific to his situation. So using this Hadeeth as evidence to justify their claim is incorrect, Da’wah is one thing and the method of dealing with individuals who are being called to this Da’wah is another. Question: How come the Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) approved for this man to pray only twice a day instead of five times? Answer: This is the methodology of giving Da’wah, and there is another Hadeeth that is a suitable response to this question, and it is: “If they are truthful, they will be good Muslims and strive in the cause of Allaah.” Meaning that if we accept a little from these people while they are polytheists or disbelievers, then practicing a little will lead to practicing a lot of what has been obligated upon them. This is ‘legislated strategy’, but it is to be implemented on individuals and not on the Da’wah itself. Da’wah is to be delivered the same way in which it was revealed, without making any deductions to it. As for individuals, then they are to be dealt with according to their situations. This is why I object to a story that some people tell; about a century ago more or less, a group of rulers wanted to embrace Islaam, however, they said that they couldn’t abandon alcohol because their countries were extremely cold, so they sent couriers to ask the Mufti of Istanbul who responded by saying that this was unacceptable. I believe this is incorrect due to the aforementioned Hadeeth. We should convey the Da’wah to them and inform them that alcohol is prohibited and that it is upon them to try and minimize this sin, we should first tell them to testify that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allaah and that Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) is the Messenger of Allaah, to pray, fast and so on, and to try to minimize what they are afflicted with as much as they possibly can. This is called ‘legislated strategy’. As for concealing the Sharee’ah and telling people that they don’t have to pray five daily prayers but merely two! This is not Da’wah, we must differentiate between calling to Islaam and dealing with individuals, an individual must be treated according to his situation in order to draw him closer to Islaam. [1] The issue the questioner is referring to is related to a previous question where the Shaykh was asked whether it was permissible to conceal certain issues in the religion such as music, shaving the beard and taking pictures when calling Muslims to Islaam in order to not distance them from the Da'wah. Al Haawee Min Fataawa Ash Shaykh Al Albaanee: P.494 __________________ إنما الدين بالآثار وليس بالرأي ~ خير الناس قرني، ثم الذين يلونهم ثم الذين يلونهم ~ إن هذا العلم دين فانظروا عمن تأخذون دينكم Last edited by Faizah; 11-23-2007 at 03:46 PM.

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Faizah LI Oldskool Status: Offline Posts: 7,154 Reputation: 25299 Rep Power: 56 Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: ~ Daar as-Sa'aadah ~ Gender: Way of Life: Muslim	Re: How to Call and Debate with non-Muslims - 11-23-2007 Ash Shaykh Al ‘Allaamah Al Muhadith Naasir Al Albaanee Question: A Muslim asks how to respond to a non-Muslim who says that Allaah is unjust because He punishes people who died more than 500 years ago. Answer: It is not permissible for you to debate with this non-Muslim because firstly, those who debate non-Muslims must have knowledge of the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah. Secondly they must be intelligent, understanding and be acquainted with the methods of debating with non-Muslims. You do not start by responding to this person's misconception, you start with the issue of whether he believes if Allaah created this world or not, then you keep progressing downwards until you reach this particular issue of disbelief, and then it can be thwarted. But how cay you skip all these stages, and try to save him from misguidance with this particular issue?! He is a disbeliever in the foundation, a disbeliever in Allaah the majestic, and you're trying to convince him that Allaah, who is non existent according to him, is just? Questioner: Subhan-Allaah! Shaykh: This is impossible. Therefore we advice you not to occupy your time with this? Questioner: Shaykh, I do not occupy my time with this, but he is one of those people who come and sow misconceptions, so I responded to him by citing one of the first verses of the Quraan: {Those who believe in the unseen.} That was my response to him Shaykh. Shaykh: This response is of no benefit, because he is not a believer in the Book! Nor is he a believer in the Lord of the Book! What is the benefit of debating with him [in this issue]. Questioner: There is no benefit. Shaykh: A similar thing happened to me while I was in Damascus, someone asked me; 'How did Muhammad ascend to the heavens when it is scientifically proven that whoever travels beyond the atmosphere dies?' Questioner: Allaahu Akbar! Shaykh: The first thing I asked him was; 'Do you believe in Allaah?' He said: 'Yes I do.' 'Ok, do you believe in the Messenger of Allaah?' He said: 'Yes I do.' 'Good, do you believe in miracles?' He said: 'No.' I said: 'Do you believe in medicine?' He said: 'Yes.' 'Doctors says that some humans have two hearts. One on the right and the other on the left. Do you know anything about medicine?' He said: 'No, nothing.' 'If doctors publish this information that you don’t know anything about, would you believe in it?' He said: 'Yes I would.' 'Even though doctors may be mistaken, deceptive and so on. We know that the person who informed us of the ascendance is the most truthful of people, the Messenger of Allaah, since it is Allaah that revealed to him: {Glorified (and Exalted) is He (Allaah) Who took His slave on a journey by night from Al-Masjid Al-Haraam to Al-Masjid Al-Aqsaa…} 'Do you doubt this?' I then showed him a magazine…debate goes on… The whole point in narrating this story to you is to show you how to debate progressively with non-Muslims. Did you understand? Questioner: Yes I understood, may Allaah reward you well. Shaykh: May Allaah safeguard you, do you have another question? Questioner: No. To be continued… __________________ إنما الدين بالآثار وليس بالرأي ~ خير الناس قرني، ثم الذين يلونهم ثم الذين يلونهم ~ إن هذا العلم دين فانظروا عمن تأخذون دينكم

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Faizah LI Oldskool Status: Offline Posts: 7,154 Reputation: 25299 Rep Power: 56 Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: ~ Daar as-Sa'aadah ~ Gender: Way of Life: Muslim	Re: How to Call and Debate with non-Muslims - 11-23-2007 Source. __________________ إنما الدين بالآثار وليس بالرأي ~ خير الناس قرني، ثم الذين يلونهم ثم الذين يلونهم ~ إن هذا العلم دين فانظروا عمن تأخذون دينكم

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-Ibn Al Aqwa- - Eye Of The Tiger - Status: Offline Posts: 785 Reputation: 6479 Rep Power: 16 Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: With my Brothers, the Ghurabaa Gender: Way of Life: Muslim	Re: How to Call and Debate with non-Muslims - 04-08-2008 JazakAllaah Khayr... so from the first aricle...ill just add a scenario, Inshaa'Allaah.... If i want to get my friend to start praying 5 times a day, but i know that he will find this difficult...so it would not be permissable for me to ask him to start off praying twice a day would it, as i would be advising him into something different to Islaam. But if he was to ask me, if he could just pray twice a day for a while, then it is permissable for me to say yes. Thats just to explain what i mean, im not saying i am in this situation... Is that the correct line of thought? Wa Alaykum Salaam __________________ "Think not of those who are killed in the Way of Allâh as dead. Nay, they are alive, with their Lord, and they have provision."

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- Brok3n - ..The Aunty of LI.. Status: Offline Posts: 10,430 Reputation: 26435 Rep Power: 57 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: In a world full of trials and tribulations... Gender: Way of Life: Muslim	Re: How to Call and Debate with non-Muslims - 04-08-2008 ^ Confused... __________________ "And from misery is that you love, and (the one) who you love, loves other than you, or that you want good for a person, and he wants to hurt you". Imam Ash Shafi'ee Rhymes Thread Stats - Click Here

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IbnAbdulHakim iM HackeD!-!-!-! Status: Offline Posts: 13,785 Reputation: 38362 Rep Power: 74 Join Date: Feb 2006 Gender: Way of Life: Muslim	Re: How to Call and Debate with non-Muslims - 04-08-2008 Assalamu Alaikum Aqwa tell your friend to pray as much as he can, islaam is made easy for us and we progress with time admitting we should do more but doing as much as we can. i re-read the article, its amazing subhanAllaah __________________

	(#7 (permalink))
Al Habeshi Eesa Abdullah Status: Offline Posts: 5,302 Reputation: 18432 Rep Power: 43 Join Date: Jan 2006 Gender: Way of Life: Muslim	Re: How to Call and Debate with non-Muslims - 04-08-2008 As Salaam Alaykum, I couldn't agree more with the noble Scholar. I mean, now days I see some brothers taking part in debates, public debates and being humiliated, comprimising their religion in the debates in order not to 'lose' because they don't have the right knowledge. May Allah forgive us. __________________ We got pastors who pee sitting down, we got the president of the united states who probably pees sitting down. We got a bunch of preachers, we got leaders who don't stand up and piss against the wall like a man! And am going to tell ya something, that's what's wrong with America.... It's cos the editors of the NIV pee sitting down, the editors of the NKJV all pee sitting down, am gonna tell you something, I'm not gonna pee sitting down... Preacher

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-Ibn Al Aqwa- - Eye Of The Tiger - Status: Offline Posts: 785 Reputation: 6479 Rep Power: 16 Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: With my Brothers, the Ghurabaa Gender: Way of Life: Muslim	Re: How to Call and Debate with non-Muslims - 04-08-2008 JazakAllaah Khayr, appreciate the replies, but from the first article the question, in simpler terms is: would it be wrong to tell somone to pray less than 5 times? __________________ "Think not of those who are killed in the Way of Allâh as dead. Nay, they are alive, with their Lord, and they have provision."

	(#9 (permalink))
- Brok3n - ..The Aunty of LI.. Status: Offline Posts: 10,430 Reputation: 26435 Rep Power: 57 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: In a world full of trials and tribulations... Gender: Way of Life: Muslim	Re: How to Call and Debate with non-Muslims - 04-08-2008 ^ in my opinion (which may be totally wrong) i dont think it would. Because at least they are starting to pray, rather than not praying at all. Get me? EDIT: Ask someone more knowledgable inshaaAllaah.. __________________ "And from misery is that you love, and (the one) who you love, loves other than you, or that you want good for a person, and he wants to hurt you". Imam Ash Shafi'ee Rhymes Thread Stats - Click Here Last edited by - Brok3n -; 04-08-2008 at 12:11 PM.