Al-Targhib
wal-Tarhib

الترغيب والترهيب

02

Book of Knowledge

كتاب العلم

 

Chapter 6: Arguing, bickering, and quarreling

Al-Mundhiri recorded the following chapter in his book Al-Targhib wal-Tarhib:

الترهيب من المراء والجدال والمخاصمة والمحاججة والقهر والغلبة والترغيب في تركه للمحق والمبطل

Discouragement of arguing, bickering, disputing, contending, chauvinism, and triumphalism, and encouragement to leave them whether one is right or wrong.

Source: al-Targhīb wal-Tarhīb 1/130

Abu Umamah reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

أَنَا زَعِيمٌ بِبَيْتٍ فِي رَبَضِ الْجَنَّةِ لِمَنْ تَرَكَ الْمِرَاءَ وَإِنْ كَانَ مُحِقًّا وَبِبَيْتٍ فِي وَسَطِ الْجَنَّةِ لِمَنْ تَرَكَ الْكَذِبَ وَإِنْ كَانَ مَازِحًا وَبِبَيْتٍ فِي أَعْلَى الْجَنَّةِ لِمَنْ حَسَّنَ خُلُقَهُ

I guarantee a house on the outskirts of Paradise for one who leaves arguments even if he is right, and a house in the middle of Paradise for one who abandons lies even when joking, and a house in the highest part of Paradise for one who makes his character excellent.

Source: Sunan Abī Dāwūd 4800, Grade: Sahih

Mu’adh ibn Jabal reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

أَنَا زَعِيمٌ بِبَيْتٍ فِي رَبَضِ الْجَنَّةِ وَبَيْتٍ فِي وَسَطِ الْجَنَّةِ وَبَيْتٍ فِي أَعْلَى الْجَنَّةِ لِمَنْ تَرَكَ الْمِرَاءَ وَإِنْ كَانَ مُحِقًّا وَتَرَكَ الْكَذِبَ وَإِنْ كَانَ مَازِحًا وَحَسُنَ خُلُقُهُ

I guarantee a house on the outskirts of Paradise, a house in the middle of Paradise, and a house in the highest part of Paradise for one who gives up arguing even if he is right, who gives up lying even while joking, and who makes his character excellent.

Source: al-Mu’jam al-Kabīr 217, Grade: Hasan

Abu Sa’id al-Khudri reported: We were sitting in front of the door of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and we were debating, bringing this verse and bringing this verse. The Prophet came out to us red with anger, as if a pomegranate seed had burst on his face. The Prophet said:

يَا هَؤُلاءِ أَبِهَذَا بُعِثْتُمْ أَمْ بِهَذَا أُمِرْتُمْ لا تَرْجِعُوا بَعْدِي كُفَّارًا يَضْرِبُ بَعْضُكُمْ رِقَابَ بَعْضٍ

O these people! Is it with this I sent you? With this I commanded you? Do not return to unbelief after me by striking the necks of each other!

Source: al-Mu’jam al-Kabīr 217, Grade: Sahih li ghayrihi

Abu Umamah reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

مَا ضَلَّ قَوْمٌ بَعْدَ هُدًى كَانُوا عَلَيْهِ إِلَّا أُوتُوا الْجَدَلَ

No people are led astray after being guided but that they indulged in arguments.

Then, the Prophet recited the verse:

مَا ضَرَبُوهُ لَكَ إِلَّا جَدَلًا بَلْ هُمْ قَوْمٌ خَصِمُونَ

They strike an example for you only to argue. Rather, they are a quarrelsome people. (43:58)

Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 3253, Grade: Sahih

Aisha reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

إِنَّ أَبْغَضَ الرِّجَالِ إِلَى اللَّهِ الأَلَدُّ الْخَصِمُ

Verily, the most hated man to Allah is the one who is ‘fiercest in argument.’ (2:204)

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2668, Grade: Sahih

Abu Huraira reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

الْمِرَاءُ فِي الْقُرْآنِ كُفْرٌ

Arguing over the Quran is an act of unbelief.

Source: Sunan Abī Dāwūd 4603, Grade: Sahih

Al-Munawi commented on this tradition, writing:

أَيِ الشَّكُّ فِي كَوْنِهِ كَلَامَ اللَّهِ أَوِ الْمُرَادُ الْخَوْضُ فِيهِ بِأَنَّهُ مُحْدَثٌ أَوْ قَدِيمٌ وَالْمُجَادَلَةُ فِي الْآيِ الْمُتَشَابِهَةِ الْمُؤَدِّي ذَلِكَ إِلَى الْجُحُودِ وَالْفِتَنِ وَإِرَاقَةِ الدِّمَاءِ

Meaning, one doubts it contains the word of Allah, or indulges the debate over whether it is new or ancient, or bickers over the unclear verses. That leads to denial, persecution, and bloodshed.

Source: Fayḍ al-Qadīr 9187

Abu Juhaym reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

الْقُرْآنُ يُقْرَأُ عَلَى سَبْعَةِ أَحْرُفٍ فَلَا تُمَارُوا فِي الْقُرْآنِ فَإِنَّ مِرَاءً فِي الْقُرْآنِ كُفْرٌ

The Quran is recited in seven ways. Do not argue over the Quran, for arguing over the Quran is an act of unbelief.

Source: Musnad Aḥmad 17199, Grade: Sahih