ANSWERS FROM THE QUR’AN TO ARGUMENTATIVE INDIVIDUALS

ANSWERS FROM THE QUR’AN TO ARGUMENTATIVE INDIVIDUALS

In the Qur’an, Allah tells believers how to answer those who argue with them:

If anyone argues with you about him after the knowledge that has come to you, say: “Come then! Let us summon our sons and your sons, our women and your women, ourselves and yourselves. Then let us make earnest supplication and call down the curse of Allah upon the liars.” This is the true account: there is no other deity besides Allah. Allah–He is the Almighty, the All-Wise. (Surah Al ‘Imran: 61-62)

Both the believers and the unbelievers give an account in front of many witnesses. Each side presents the truth as they see it and condemn those who are liars. In this case, the believers seek to make the unbelievers declare their ideas in public. The Qur’an expresses the truth that when religious morality prevails and everyone practices religion, many individuals will deny their former deeds and desires and try to make it appear that they had been in the company of the believers since the very first beginning. Given that the believers’ condemnation of the unbelievers is willed by Allah, it is, therefore, an act of worship.
 
Here is an answer that believers give to these individuals:

... Allah is our Lord and your Lord. We have our actions and you have your actions. There is no debate between us and you. Allah will gather us all together. He is our final destination. (Surat ash-Shura: 15)         

This clear and effective advice is the best and most practical method available for communicators of religion to use. Indeed, these are the key answers that Allah desires for every possible question. The verse below shows the kind of answer that may be given:

If they argue with you, say: “I have submitted myself completely to Allah, and so have all who follow me.” Say to those given the Book and those who have no Book: “Have you become Muslim?” If they become Muslim, they have been guided. If they turn away, you are only responsible for transmission. Allah sees His servants. (Surah Al ‘Imran: 20)          

Say: “Do you argue with us about Allah when He is our Lord and your Lord? We have our actions and you have your actions. We act for Him alone.” (Surat al Baqara: 139)

The unbelievers and those who argue with the believers all deny the existence of the Hereafter. Allah reveals the answer that must be given to such people:

Those who disbelieve claim that they will never be raised again. Say: “Oh yes, by my Lord, you certainly will be raised again! And then you will be informed about what you did. That is easy for Allah.” (Surat at-Taghabun: 7) 

Allah gives the following examples for the believers to use when confronted with such people:

TO THOSE WHO CLAIM THEY ARE GOING TO PARADISE

Say: “If the abode of the Hereafter with Allah is for you alone, to the exclusion of all others, then long for death, if you are telling the truth.” (Surat al Baqara: 94)

TO THOSE WHO PRACTICE THEIR ANCESTRAL RELIGION

When they are told: “Believe in what Allah has sent down,” they say: “Our faith is in what was sent down to us” and they reject anything beyond that, even though it is the truth, confirming what they have. Say: “Why then, if you are believers did you previously kill the Prophets of Allah?” (Surat al-Baqara: 91)

Remember when We made a covenant with you and lifted up the Mount above your heads: “Take hold vigorously of what We have given you and listen.” They said: “We hear and disobey.” They were made to drink the calf into their hearts because of their unbelief. Say: “If you are believers, what an evil thing your faith has made you do.” (Surat al-Baqara: 93)

They worship, instead of Allah, that which can neither harm them nor help them, saying: “These are our intercessors with Allah.” Say: “Would you inform Allah of something about which He does not know either in the heavens or on Earth?” May He be glorified and exalted above what they associate with Him! (Surah Yunus: 18)

Say: “Who provides for you out of heaven and earth? Who controls hearing and sight? Who brings forth the living from the dead and the dead from the living? Who directs the whole affair?” They will say: “Allah.” Say: “So will you not guard against evil?” (Surah Yunus: 31)

Say: “Shall I inform you of the greatest losers in their actions?” People whose efforts in the life of this world are misguided while they suppose that they are doing good. Those are the people who reject their Lord’s Signs and the meeting with Him. Their actions will come to nothing and, on the Day of Resurrection, We will not assign them any weight. (Surat al-Kahf: 103-105)

Say: “To whom does Earth belong, and everyone in it, if you have any knowledge?” They will say: “To Allah.’ Say: “So will you not pay heed?” Say: “Who is the Lord of the Seven Heavens and the Lord of the Mighty Throne?” They will say: “Allah.” Say: “So will you not believe?” Say: “In whose hand is the dominion over everything, He who gives protection and from whom no protection can be given, if you have any knowledge?” They will say: “Allah’s.” Say: “So how have you been bewitched?” (Surat al-Mu’minun: 84-89)

If you ask them: “Who sends down water from the sky, bringing the earth back to life again after it was dead?” they will say: “Allah.” Say: “Praise be to Allah.” But most of them do not use their intellect. (Surat al-‘Ankabut: 63)

If you ask them: “Who created the heavens and Earth?” they will say: “Allah.” Say: “So what do you think? If Allah wills harm for me, can those whom you call upon besides Allah remove His harm? Or if He wills mercy for me, can they withhold His mercy?” Say: “Allah is enough for me. All those who truly trust put their trust in Him.” Say: “My people, do as you think best; that is what I am doing...”. (Surat az-Zumar: 38-39)

Those who say: “Allah has made a contract with us that we should not believe in any Messenger until he brings us a sacrifice consumed by fire.” Say: “Messengers came to you before me with the Clear Signs and with what you say. So why did you kill them, if you are telling the truth?” (Surah Al ‘Imran: 183)

Whenever they commit an indecent act, they say: “We found our fathers doing it and Allah commanded us to do it too.” Say: “Allah does not command indecency. Do you say things about Allah that you do not know?” (Surat al-A‘raf: 28)

TO THOSE WHO DENY THE EXISTENCE OF ALLAH, RELIGION, AND THE QUR’AN.

Say to those who do not believe: “You will be overwhelmed and crowded into Hell. What an evil resting-place!” (Surah Al ‘Imran: 12)

Say: “O People of the Book, come to a proposition that is the same for us and you–that we should worship none but Allah, associate no partners with Him, and not take one another as lords besides Allah.” If they turn away, say: “Bear witness that we are Muslims.” (Surah Al ‘Imran: 64)

Say: “I am forbidden to worship those you call upon besides Allah.” Say: “I do not follow your whims and desires. If I did, I would go astray and would not be among the guided.” Say: “I stand on a Clear Sign from my Lord, and yet you have denied it. I do not have in my possession that which you are in such haste to bring about. Jurisdiction over it belongs to Allah alone. He tells the truth and He is the Best of Deciders.” Say: “If I had in my possession that which you are in such haste to bring about, the affair between me and you would have been decided. Allah has greatest knowledge of the wrongdoers.” (Surat al-An‘am: 56-58)

They do not measure Allah with His true measure when they say: “Allah would not send down anything to a mere human being.” Say: “Who, then, sent down the Book that Musa brought as a Light and Guidance for the people?” You put it down on sheets of paper to display it while concealing much. You were taught things you did not know, neither you nor your forefathers. Say: “Allah!” Then leave them engrossed in playing their games. (Surat al-An‘am: 91)

Say to those who do not believe that if they stop, they will be forgiven what is past; but if they return to it, they have the pattern of previous peoples in the past. (Surat al-Anfal: 38)

When Our Clear Signs are recited to them, those who do not expect to meet Us say: “Bring a Qur’an other than this one or change it.” Say: “It is not for me to change it of my own accord. I follow nothing except what is revealed to me. I fear, were I to disobey my Lord, the punishment of a Dreadful Day.” Say: “Had Allah so wished, I would not have recited it to you nor would He have made it known to you. I lived among you for many years before it came. Will you not use your intellect?” (Surah Yunus: 16)

TO THOSE WHO ASK ABOUT THE FINAL HOUR AND THE PANGS OF HELL

People will ask you about the Last Hour. Say: “Only Allah has knowledge of it. What will make you understand? It may be that the Last Hour is very near.” (Surat al-Ahzab: 63)

Those who do not believe say: “The Hour will never come.” Say: “Yes, by my Lord, it certainly will come!” He is the Knower of the Unseen, Whom not even the weight of the smallest particle eludes, either in the heavens or in the earth; nor is there anything smaller or larger than that which is not in a Clear Book. (Surah Saba’: 3)

They say: “When will this promise come about, if you are telling the truth?” Say: “The knowledge is with Allah alone, and I am only a clear warner.” When they see it right up close, the faces of those who do not believe will be appalled and they will be told: “This is that for which you were calling.” Say: “What do you think? If Allah destroys me and those with me, or if He has mercy on us, who can shelter the unbelievers from a painful punishment?” Say: “He is the All-Merciful. We believe in Him and trust in Him. You will soon know who is clearly misguided.” Say: “What do you think? If, one morning, your water disappears into the earth, who will bring you running water?” (Surat al-Mulk: 25-30)

TO THOSE WHO HATE RELIGION

There you are, loving them when they do not love you, even though you believe in all the Books. When they meet you, they say: “We believe.” But when they leave, they bite their fingers out of rage against you. Say: “Die in your rage.” Allah knows what your hearts contain. (Surah Al ‘Imran: 119)

Say: “O my people, do as you are doing, just as I am doing. You will certainly come to know who will have the best home in the end. The wrongdoers will certainly not be successful.” (Surat al-An‘am: 135)

Do they have legs with which they can walk? Do they have hands with which they can grasp? Do they have eyes with which they can see? Do they have ears with which they can hear? Say: “Call on your partner-deities. Try all of your wiles against me and grant me no reprieve.” (Surat al-A‘raf :195)

When We let people taste mercy after hardship has afflicted them, immediately they plot against Our Signs. Say: “Allah is swifter at plotting.” Your plotting is recorded by Our Messengers. (Surah Yunus: 21)

When Our Signs are recited to them–Clear Signs–you can detect denial in the unbelievers’ faces. They all but assault those who recite Our Signs to them! Say: “Shall I inform you of something worse than that? The Fire that Allah has promised those who do not believe. What an evil destination!” (Surat al-Hajj:72)

TO THOSE WHO WISH TO SEE A SIGN

They ask: “Why has no Sign been sent down to him from his Lord?” Say: “Allah has the power to send down a Sign.” But most of them do not know it. (Surat al-An‘am: 37)

TO THOSE WHO WANT TO SEE A MIRACLE

Say: “I do not say to you that I possess the treasuries of Allah, nor do I know the Unseen, nor do I say to you that I am an angel. I only follow what has been revealed to me.” Say: “Are the blind the same as those who can see? So will you not reflect?” (Surat al-An‘am: 50)

They have sworn by Allah with their most earnest oaths that if a Sign comes to them, they will believe in it. Say: “The Signs are in Allah’s control alone.” What will make you realize that even if a Sign did come, they would still not believe? (Surat al-An‘am: 109)

What are they waiting for but for the angels to come to them, or for your Lord Himself to come, or for one of your Lord’s Signs to come? On the day that one of your Lord’s Signs does come, no faith which a self professes will be of any use to it if it did not believe before and earn good in its faith. Say: “Wait, then; We too are waiting.” (Surat al-An‘am: 158)

They say: “Why has a Sign not been sent down to him from his Lord?” Say: “The Unseen belongs to Allah alone. So wait; I am waiting with you.” (Surah Yunus: 20)

Those who do not believe say: “Why has a Sign not been sent down to him from his Lord?” Say: “Allah misguides whoever He wills and guides to Himself all who turn to Him.” (Surat ar-Ra‘d: 27)

Say: “If there had been angels on Earth going about in peace, We would have sent down to them an angel from heaven as a messenger.” Say: “Allah is a sufficient witness between me and you. He is certainly aware of and sees His servants.” (Surat al-Isra’: 95-96)

They say: “Why have no Signs been sent down to him from his Lord?” Say: “The Signs are with Allah. I am only a clear warner.” (Surat al-‘Ankabut: 50)

TO THOSE WHO ACCUSE THE PROPHETS AND MESSENGERS OF OPPORTUNISM

They are the ones Allah has guided, so be guided by their guidance. Say: “I do not ask you for any wage for it. It is simply a reminder to all beings.” (Surat al-An‘am: 90)

Say: “I have not asked you for any wage–it is all for you. My wage is the responsibility of Allah alone. He is witness of everything.” (Surah Saba’: 47)

TO THOSE WHO CALL THE PROPHETS AND MESSENGERS LIARS

If they call you a liar, say: “Your Lord possesses boundless mercy, but His violent force cannot be averted from those who do evil.” (Surat al-An‘am: 147)

If they deny you, say: “I have my actions, and you have your actions. You are not responsible for what I do, and I am not responsible for what you do.” (Surah Yunus: 41)

TO THOSE WHO SAY THE PROPHET (saas) INVENTED THE QUR’AN

Do they say: “He has invented it”? Say: “Then produce a surah like it and call on anyone you can, besides Allah, if you are telling the truth.” (Surah Yunus: 38)

Or do they say: “He has invented it”? Say: “Then produce ten invented surahs like this and call on anyone you can, besides Allah, if you are telling the truth.” (Surah Hud: 13)

Or do they say: “He has invented it”? Say: “If I have invented it, the crime will be laid at my door. But I am innocent of the crimes that you commit.” (Surah Hud: 35)

Say: “If both humanity and jinn banded together to produce the like of this Qur'an, they could never produce anything like it, even if they backed each other up.” (Surat al-Isra’: 88)

Or do they say: “He has invented it”? Say: “If I have invented it, then you possess no power to help me against Allah in any way. He knows best what you hold forth about. He is witness enough between me and you. He is the Ever-Forgiving, the Most Merciful.” Say: “I am nothing new among the Messengers. I have no idea what will be done with me or you. I only follow what has been revealed to me. I am only a clear warner.” Say: “What do you think? If it is from Allah and you reject it, when a witness from the tribe of Israel testifies to its similarity and believes while you are arrogant...! Allah certainly does not guide those who do wrong.” (Surat al-Ahqaf: 8-10)

TO THOSE WHO ASSOCIATE ALLAH WITH HIS CREATURES

Those who associate others with Allah will say: “If Allah had willed, we would not have associated anything with Him, nor would our fathers [have done so], nor would we have made anything forbidden.” In the same way the people before them also lied, until they felt Our violent force. Say: “Do you have some knowledge you can produce for us? You are following nothing but conjecture. You are only guessing.” (Surat al-An‘am: 148)

What then of Him Who is standing over every soul, seeing everything it does? Yet still they associate others with Allah! Say: “Name them! Or would you inform Him of something in the earth He does not know, or are they words that are simply guesswork on your part?” However, the plotting of those who do not believe seems good to them and they bar the way. Anyone misguided by Allah has no guide. (Surat ar-Ra‘d: 33)

They have made others equal to Allah to misguide people from His Way. Say: “Enjoy yourselves! Your destination is the Fire!” (Surah Ibrahim: 30)

Say: “Have you thought about your partner-deities, those you call upon besides Allah? Show me what they have created of Earth; or do they have a partnership in the heavens?” Have We given them a Book whose Clear Signs they follow? No indeed! The wrongdoers promise each other nothing but delusion. (Surah Fatir: 40)

When harm touches humanity, he calls upon his Lord, repenting to Him. Then when He grants him a blessing from Him, he forgets what he was calling for before and ascribes rivals to Allah, so as to misguide others from His Way. Say: “Enjoy your unbelief for a little while. You are among the Companions of the Fire.” (Surat az-Zumar: 8)

TO THOSE WHO DOUBT

Say: “O humanity, if you are in any doubt about my religion, I do not worship those you worship besides Allah. Rather I worship Allah, Who will take you back to Him, and am commanded to be one of the believers.” (Surah Yunus: 104)

TO THOSE WITHOUT FAITH

Say to those who have no faith: “Do as you think best. That is what we are doing.And wait. We too are waiting.” (Surah Hud: 121-122)

TO THOSE WHO DO NOT BELIEVE IN THE PROPHETS’ AND THE MESSENGERS’ MISSION

Those who do not believe say: “You are not a Messenger.” Say: “Allah is a sufficient witness between you and me, and anyone else who has knowledge of the Book.” (Surat ar-Ra‘d: 43)

TO THOSE WHO DENY THE RESURRECTION

They say: “What! When we are bones and crumbled dust, will we then be raised up as a new creation!” Say: “It would not matter if you were rock or iron or indeed any created thing that you think is harder still!” They will say: “Who will bring us back again?” Say: “He Who brought you into being in the first place.” They will shake their heads at you and ask: ‘When will this happen?’ Say: “It may well be that it is very near.” (Surat al-Isra’: 49-51)

He makes likenesses of Us and forgets his own creation, saying: “Who will give life to bones when they are decayed?” Say “He Who made them in the first place will bring them back to life. He has total knowledge of each created thing.” (Surah Ya Sin: 78-79)

Say: “Yes, and you will be (raised up) in a despicable state.” (Surat as-Saffat: 18)

TO THOSE WHO OPPOSE THE BELIEVERS

If they argue with you, say: “Allah knows best what you are doing. Allah will judge between you on the Day of Resurrection regarding everything about which you differed.” (Surat al-Hajj: 68-69)

ABOUT THE PUNISHMENT ALLAH WILL GIVE TO THE UNBELIEVERS

Say: “Shall I tell you of a reward with Allah far worse than that: that of those whom Allah has cursed and with whom He is angry–turning some of them into monkeys and into pigs–and who worshipped false deities? Such people are in a worse situation and further from the right way.” (Surat al-Ma’ida: 60)

AN EXPLANATION OF HUMAN HELPLESSNESS

Say: “What do you think? If Allah's punishment were to come upon you or the Hour, would you call on other than Allah, if you are being truthful?” (Surat al-An‘am: 40)

Say: “What do you think? If Allah took away your hearing and your sight and sealed up your hearts, what deity is there, other than Allah, who could give them back to you?” Look how We vary the Signs, yet still they turn away! Say: “What do you think? If Allah’s punishment were to come upon you suddenly by night or openly by day, would any but those who do wrong be destroyed?” (Surat al-An‘am: 46-47)

Say: “Who rescues you from the darkness of the land and sea? You call on Him humbly and secretly: ‘If you rescue us from this, we will truly be among the thankful.’” Say: “Allah rescues you from it and from every plight. Then you associate others with Him.” Say: “He possesses the power to send you punishment from above your heads or from beneath your feet, or to confuse you in sects and make you taste one another’s violence.” Look how We vary the Signs so that, hopefully, they will understand. (Surat al-An‘am: 63-65)

Say: “What do you think? If Allah made it permanent night for you until the Day of Resurrection, what deity is there other than Allah to bring you light? Do you not then hear?” Say: “What do you think? If Allah made it permanent day for you till the Day of Resurrection, what deity is there other than Allah to bring you night to rest in? Do you not then see?” (Surat al-Qasas: 71-72)

Say: “Who is going to shield you from Allah if He wills evil for you or wills mercy for you?” They will find no one to protect or help them besides Allah. (Surat al-Ahzab: 17)

Say: “My Lord expands or restricts the provision of anyone He wills. But the majority of humanity do not know it.” (Surah Saba’: 36)

ARGUMENTS AMONG THE PEOPLE IN HELL

All this is certainly true–the bickering of the People of the Fire. (Surah Sad: 64)

The Qur’an tells us that at the point of death, the unbelievers will experience great pains and violent tremors, and that angels will announce to them the eternal sufferings of Hell. This is described in the Qur’an as the angles taking them in death and beating their backs and faces with their wings.

How will it be when the angels take them in death, beating their faces and their backs? The angels ask those they take while they are wronging themselves: “What were your circumstances?” They reply: “We were oppressed on Earth.” They say: “Was Allah’s Earth not wide enough for you to have migrated elsewhere?” The shelter of such people will be Hell. What an evil destination! Except for those men, women, and children who really are oppressed and do not have any other possibility and are not guided to any way. It may well be that Allah will pardon them. Allah is Ever-Pardoning, Ever-Forgiving. (Surat an-Nisa’: 97-99)

We can see that the unbelievers claim of weakness, helplessness, and blamelessness at the hour of their death will be of no avail. This will only increase their hopelessness and draw them further into the fire of Hell. For this reason, every individual in Hell is prepared to “sell” his or her neighbor so that they will experience the same (and even worse) misery.

... Each time a nation enters, it will curse its sister nation, until, when they are all gathered together in it, the last of them will say to the first: “Our Lord, those are the ones who misguided us, so give them a double punishment in the Fire.” He will say: “Each will receive double. But you do not know it.” (Surat al-A‘raf: 38)

In Hell, these people will wish a double portion of misery and damnation for those “lords’” and “masters” who led them astray. The mutual friendship and support they pretended to have, as well as their common assaults against the believers, will have been of no use. No bond of friendship or relation will exist any more. Arguing in Hell with each other, they will say: “And now we have no one to intercede for us. We do not have a single loyal friend” (Surat ash-Shu‘ara’: 100-101).
On the contrary, those in Hell will try “to place their friends who misguided them beneath their feet so that they will be among the lowest of the low” (Surah Fussilat: 29). In this environment of conflict and chaos, they will argue and level accusations at each other:

Those who do not believe say: “We will never believe in this Qur’an, nor in what came before it.” If only you could see when the wrongdoers, standing in the presence of their Lord, cast accusations back and forth at each other. Those deemed weak will say to those deemed great: “Were it not for you, we would have been believers!” (Surah Saba’: 31)

When they are squabbling with one another in the Fire, the weak will say to those deemed great: “We were your followers, so why do you not relieve us of a portion of the Fire?” (Surah Ghafir: 47)

We see that those in Hell accuse each other while trying to make themselves appear innocent and blameless. In their earthly lives, they denied Allah’s existence and religious morality and were determined not to believe in the Qur’an; when they come to Hell, they clearly show their hypocrisy by saying: “Were it not for you, we would have been believers!” (Surah Saba’: 31).
  Another interesting point is this: even if these people are not believers and are determined not to believe, there are others who are prepared to put forth the extra effort to divert them from the straight path:

Those deemed weak will say to those deemed great: “No, it was your scheming night and day when you commanded us to reject Allah and assign equals to Him.” (Surah Saba’: 33)

“You used to come at us from a position of power.” (Surat as-Saffat: 28)

Those people who organize themselves to divert others from Allah’s true path are, without any doubt, the squadron of satan.

The manner of conversation in the Qur’an

As we said at the beginning, it is very important for believers to mention the name of Allah when talking among themselves, for this is an act of worship. In an environment of mutual love and respect, as well as when reciting and studying the Qur’an together, they speak of matters of faith in an elevated style. It is important that such an environment prevails and that an elevated style of conversation be maintained:

Say to My servants that they should only say the best. Satan wants to stir up trouble between them... (Surat al-Isra’: 53)
 
Those to whom Allah has taught the right path are defined as those who “listen well to what is said and follow the best of it” (Surat az-Zumar: 18).

Allah says the following about the believers’ houses: “...houses that Allah has permitted to be built and in which His name is remembered” and in which believers “proclaim His glory morning and evening” (Surat an-Nur: 36). In these houses, believers converse among themselves and remember Allah. In addition, “The believers are those whose hearts tremble when Allah is mentioned” (Surat al-Anfal: 2). For this reason, remembering Allah is an internal and sincere thing for them, and every word is a word of wisdom. It is a pure conversation bedecked with examples from the Qur’an.

Indeed, believers try their best to establish the environment of Paradise in this world. To this end, their houses are places where conversations resembling those of Paradise occur; they are places of laughter and joyful interchange. At the same time, they are places where the Qur’an’s verses are recited and wisdom is sought. The Qur’an describes the conversations held in Paradise as taking place from facing thrones, where Allah is mentioned and all nonsense is banished. All believers give thanks to Allah, Who shows mercy and forgives.
  Indeed, they hold similar conversations and prayers in this world. According to the Qur’an, a believer’s greatest act of worship is to praise Allah. As there is no special time or place to do this, Allah may be remembered in any place in a believer’s conversation:

(People with intelligence are) those who remember Allah, standing, sitting, and lying on their sides, and reflect on the creation of the heavens and Earth: “Our Lord, You have not created this for nothing. Glory be to You! So safeguard us from the punishment of the Fire.” (Surah Al ‘Imran: 191)

They may talk about very different things, but every conversation is related to Allah. For this reason, their conversations do not descend to the level of nonsense (conversations that do not mention Allah and reach conclusions that are not related to Him are vain and irritating to the human spirit). For this reason, for example, when believers see a nice, aesthetically pleasing home, they talk about it, because such homes are blessings of Paradise.

Speaking about such a topic increases their desire for Paradise. They do not forget that a beautiful house is a transitory thing doomed to decay and that Allah created it to test them. Unbelievers can talk about such a house for hours on end, but the difference between them and believers is that the latter remember Allah in all of their conversations for their “hearts find peace in the remembrance of Allah” (Surat ar-Ra‘d: 28).

  Allah says that the believers are “… not distracted by trade or commerce from the remembrance of Allah” (Surat an-Nur: 37). People can praise Allah individually or in a group. Of course, praising Him privately is very important, because this spiritual state will be reflected in all of a person’s daily activities. In this way, he or she will pass every test without losing his or her attachment to Allah, and will do everything with the intention of earning His reward.

The manner of conversation

People’s love and respect for others is reflected in their conversations. For this reason, all conversations should adhere to Islamic morality so that everybody can benefit from them.

Avoiding being a “know-it-all”

People who think that they know everything create tension in a conversation. Such individuals always impose their own ideas and speak without respect for others. They are not aware that their approach is very distasteful to others.

Giving others the opportunity to speak

Listening politely without interruption and trying to understand what the other person is saying is, one hopes, pleasing to Allah. Such an attitude shows respect for the speaker and for what is being said. It is wrong to think that people “who suppress others by adopting an over-emphatic tone of voice are worthy of respect.” On the contrary, those who raise their voices, interrupt others, and monopolize the conversation are showing their ignorance. Eventually, such a conversation becomes a torture to others. Their silence does not mean that they are listening or paying attention; rather, it generally means that they are just being polite.

  It is natural that an expert can speak on a particular matter. But everyone can express their own ideas and opinions on a general matter. In this way, everyone can learn what others think and form an idea of their characters. It is very wrong to think, for example, “I know more than him, so why should he talk?” or “If you don’t know, be quiet.” One person may know less than another about a certain subject; however, by Allah’s gift of wisdom, the one who knows less may be more aware of the subject’s intricate nature. On the other hand, a person who knows about a subject in great detail may get submerged in those details and be unable to see the underlying logic. For this reason, it is important for everyone to express his or her own ideas so that new ideas and views can emerge.

Avoiding to put oneself in the front in a conversation

People usually do not pay attention when others are speaking; they do not listen and analyze what they hear. We often see this on television discussions panels. Two experts in their fields may be completely rude and disrespectful to each other; instead of learning from the other person, they arrogantly try to impose their own views.
  Muslims do not have the egotistical desire to put themselves in the front, to prevail, or to have the last word in an argument. For this reason, their attitude is one of quiet moderation. Their politeness comes from the Qur’an’s moral teachings, according to which they are to give precedence to each other and benefit from what other people say.

Avoiding pointless conversations

Many people speak just to show how much they know, giving their listeners useless information on useless subjects. Sometimes it takes them two or three hours to say something they could have said in a few short sentences. Rather than producing the desired effect in the hearts of their listeners, they only irritate them instead. No one likes to listen to such people.

  One of the main things to notice in a conversation is whether the speaker goes on at such great length that his or her counterpart becomes uncomfortable. Muslims are not to engage in an endless monologue and thus deny everyone else the opportunity to speak. Rather, they are to speak as clearly as possible, express the subject’s essence effectively, and always know the reasons behind what they are saying so that the other participants will benefit.

Avoiding long, repetitious sentences

Speaking in long sentences also annoys a listener. Breaks must be allowed in a conversation so that other people can express their ideas. The speaker must also avoid repetition and be concise in his or her points. In other words, the speaker should not jump from one subject to another when the other party wishes to say something; rather, he or she should pay close attention and not oblige others to endure a monologue, especially if they are short of time or need to be elsewhere.

Using a moderate tone of voice

Some people do not use the right tone of voice during a conversation. They practically shout while making their point, thereby intimidating, persuading, or silencing all others in order to get the upper hand. But Muslims use a moderate tone of voice:

Be moderate in your tread and lower your voice. The most hateful of voices is the donkey’s bray. (Surah Luqman: 19)

Speaking in a measured, polite, and respectful manner

As befits their fine moral character, Muslims speak in a measured, polite, and respectful manner. The other person’s age, cultural level, intelligence, wealth, or poverty do not matter, for a Muslim’s manner of speaking is not affected by such transient factors: “Over everyone with knowledge is a Knower” (Surah Yusuf: 76). In their modesty, believers value what other people think.

Speaking about religion and sacred things

Making jokes or ironic statements about religion and sacred things must be avoided at all costs. Those who indulge in such practices must be interrupted, informed of their mistake, and be warned of their grave error. Even laughing in such instances is just as serious, and Muslims must protest and clearly express their uneasiness if such things occur.

It has been sent down to you in the Book that, when you hear Allah’s Signs being rejected and mocked at by people, you must not sit with them until they start talking of other things. If you do, you are just the same as them. Allah will gather all the hypocrites and unbelievers into Hell. (Surat an-Nisa’: 140)

Making jokes about religion and sacred things, telling amusing stories, giving inappropriate explanations, and relating anecdotes about Paradise and Hell are kinds of anti-religious propaganda. All Muslims must avoid taking part in such things, for Allah says that only people without faith indulge in them:

If you ask them, they will say: “We were only joking and playing around.” Say: “Would you make a mockery of Allah and of His Signs and of His Messenger?” (Surat at-Tawba: 65)

Thus, Muslims must carefully avoid such situations and react sharply to those who make such comments. This reaction is in keeping with the Qur’an’s moral teachings.

Giving the best response

Believers live according to the Qur’an’s moral teachings in order to please Allah. They know that if they regard other people are autonomous individuals, each of whom is to be approached with a different attitude, they are not living according to its teachings. For this reason, they act with the awareness that everyone they meet is part of the test that Allah has created for them and that they are representing Islamic morality. They try to respond to what others say as best as they can. Allah describes this morality:

When you are greeted with a greeting, return the greeting or improve on it. Allah takes account of everything. (Surat an-Nisa’: 86)

This manner of speaking, which the Almighty Lord revealed in the Qur’an and through our Prophet (saas), will bring countless good things to people in both worlds, for:

Do you not see how Allah makes a metaphor of a good word: a good tree whose roots are firm and whose branches are in heaven? It bears fruit regularly by its Lord’s permission. Allah makes metaphors for people so that, hopefully, they will pay heed. (Surah Ibrahim: 24-25)

In the Qur’an, Allah tells us that talking with others about religion is one of the most important acts of worship that believers can perform. This worship encompasses ever aspect of life. In their words, demeanor, and attitudes, believers are responsible every moment for telling others about the good moral life and for representing of Islam.

Their conversations among themselves are actually mutual communications of religion. They call upon each other to follow the Qur’an’s commands and to show its morality in their lives. In short, communicating religion is part of each believer’s identity. On the other hand, as the Qur’an tells us, arguing belongs to the unbelievers’ general make-up. Therefore, believers must always be careful of how they spread religion so that such efforts do not tend toward argument. Arguing has no place in the Qur’anic morality.

In this book, we will examine with detailed reference to the Qur’an the methods and rationale that believers should use when communicating religion to others and see the satanic nature of arguing.