المُناظَرَة
DEBATE
المُناظَرَةُ / Debate
1. الإمامُ عليٌّ عَلَيهِ السَّلامُ في وَصيَّتِهِ لِـكُمَيلٍ: يا كُمَيلُ، في كُلِّ صِنفٍ قَومٌ أرفَعُ مِن قَومٍ، فإيّاكَ ومُناظَرَةَ الخَسيسِ مِنهُم، وإن أسمَعوكَ فاحتَمِلْ وكُن مِن الّذينَ وَصَفَهُمُ اللّه تعالى بقولِهِ: «و إذا خاطَبَهُمُ الجاهِلونَ قالوا سَلاما (الفرقان: 63)».
1. Imam Ali (AS), in his advice to Kumayl said, ‘O Kumayl, in every race there are groups better than groups, so beware of debating with the vile of them, and if they make you listen, then tolerate them, and be of those whom Allah has described in His verse: "and when the ignorant address them, say, ‘Peace!’.
[ Qur`an 25:63]
[Basharat al-Mustafa, p. 26]
2. الإمامُ الصّادقُ عَلَيهِ السَّلامُ لَمّا سَـألَهُ الطَّيّارُ عَن كَراهَةِ مُناظَرَةِ النّاسِ: أمّا كَلامُ مِثلِكَ فلا يُكرَهُ، مَن إذا طارَ يُحسِنُ أن يَقَعَ، وإن وَقَعَ يُحسِنُ أن يَطيرَ، فمَن كانَ هكذا لا نَكرَهُهُ.
2. Imam al-Sadiq (AS), when al-Tayyar asked him about the disliking of debating people said, ‘As for speaking like you, it is not disliked. He who flies, it is good that they land, and he who lands it is good that he flies. So we do not dislike he who speaks in such a way.
[Bihar al-Anwar, v. 2, p. 136, no. 39]
المُناظَرَة
DEBATE
3. الإمامُ الصّادقُ عَلَيهِ السَّلامُ لأبي جعفرِ الأحوَلِ: ما فَعَلَ ابنُ الطَّيَّارِ ؟
[قال :
[فقلتُ: تُوُفِّي، فقالَ: رَحِمَهُ اللّه ، أدخَلَ اللّه علَيهِ الرَّحمة والنَّضرَةَ؛ فإنّهُ كانَ يُخاصِمُ عنّا أهلَ البَيتِ.
3. Imam al-Sadiq (AS), to Abu Ja`far al-Ahwal said, ‘What did the son of al-Tayyar do?
[he said,] So I said, ‘He passed away: He said, ‘May Allah have mercy on him. May Allah grant him mercy and freshness, for he argued on behalf of us, Ahl al-Bayt.
[ Bihar al-Anwar, v. 2, p. 136, no. 41]
جَوابُ الإمامِ لمَن دَعاهُ إلَى المُناظَرَةِ / The Imam’s Answer to One who Invited Him to Debate
4. الإمامُ الحسينُ عَلَيهِ السَّلامُ لرجُلٍ قالَ لَهُ: اجلِسْ حتّى نَتَناظَرَ في الدِّينِ: يا هذا أنا بَصيرٌ بدِيني مَكشوفٌ علَيَّ هُداي، فإن كُنتَ جاهِلاً بدِينِكَ فاذهَبْ واطلُبْهُ، ما لي ولِلمُماراةِ ؟! وإنَّ الشَّيطانَ لَيُوَسوِسُ لِلرّجُلِ ويُناجيهِ ويقولُ :ناظِرِ النّاسَ في الدِّينِ كيلا يَظُنّوا بكَ العَجزَ والجَهلَ!.
4. Imam Husayn (AS) replied to a man who said, ‘Sit down so we can debate about religion’ – ‘O you, I am aware of my religion, and my path is clear for me. So, if you are ignorant about your religion then go and seek it. What do I have to do with disputation?! Indeed the devil tempts a person and calls him, saying, ‘Debate with people regarding their religion so that they do not think of you as incapable and ignorant.’
[Bihar al-Anwar, v. 3, p. 135, no. 32]