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A cursory look at the lives of the Prophets and the righteous will show that they all faced numerous challenges from those who rejected their call. Those challenges were not restricted to physical challenges alone, rather they were bombarded with intellectual challenges and arguments with the aim to discredit their messages. This phenomenon still exists today. Of these arguments, you will find those that are not worthy of any real rebuttal, since their falsehood is apparent to all.
However, there are those arguments that are specious in nature i.e. they are superficially plausible, but actually wrong. In Arabic, such arguments are called: shubuhāt (pl. of shubhah). Al-Fayyūmi said: “…a shubhah is called so because it resembles (tushbihu) the truth.”[1] Ibn Taymiyyah noted the following: “Every significant belief (from the various religions and sects) usually contains an element of truth (shubhah min al ḥaqq), since if that wasn’t the case, such views would not have circulated…”[2] It is upon this premise that one should be extremely wary of shubuhāt since it can be very easy to give in to and become overwhelmed by them.
Ibn Taymiyyah said: “It could be the case that a person is from the most intelligent of people and possesses a sharp ability to construct thought processes, but despite that, Allāh (Subhana wa ta’aala) blinds him from the most apparent of matters. Furthermore, a person could be an absolute simpleton and intellectually weak, yet despite that, Allāh (Subhana wa ta’aala) guides him in those matters that people differ over to the truth, and so there is no might nor power save in Allāh (Subhana wa ta’aala). Therefore, whoever depends solely on his ability to think, deduce matters as well as his knowledge and intellect, is bound to be forsaken by Allāh (subhana wa ta’aala). It is for this reason that we find that the Prophet (Sallalahu ‘alayhi wa salam) used to frequently call upon his Lord saying: “O turner of hearts! Make my heart firm upon your religion…”[3]
“And thus We have made for every prophet an enemy – devils from mankind and jinn, inspiring to one another decorative speech in delusion. But if your Lord had willed, they would not have done it, so leave them and that which they invent. And [it is] so the hearts of those who disbelieve in the Hereafter will incline toward it and that they will be satisfied with it and that they will commit that which they are committing.” [4]
Therefore, it is of paramount importance that a person connects his heart to Allāh (Subhana wa ta’aala) and the afterlife in order to protect himself from the traps of shubuhāt and their adorned illusions. The heart of the believer is the recipient of guidance from Allāh (Subhana wa ta’aala) and so if it is not nurtured by a strong connection with Allāh (Subhana wa ta’aala) by being steadfast in worshipping him, the heart will inevitably become corrupted, and if the heart becomes corrupted, it can no longer be a place for the light of guidance to permeate.
Matters to be observed when replying to shubuhāt
1. Sincerity
A person should strive to please Allāh (Subhana wa ta’aala) when replying to shubuhāt. His goal should be to defend the religion of Allāh (Subhana wa ta’aala) from being tarnished and marred. A person should also strive to make sure that he/she does not ruin their intention by making their goal to achieve a personal victory over their adversary.
2. Seek assistance from Allāh (Subhana wa ta’aala)
As has already preceded, one should not find complacency in their own knowledge or intellectual capabilities. On the contrary, a person should pour their heart out to Allāh (Subhana wa ta’aala) out of the sense of need (iftiqār) for Allāh (Subhana wa ta’aala). Allāh (Subhana wa ta’aala) says: “And if We had not strengthened you, you would have almost inclined to them a little.” [5]
3. One should always base their replies and rebuttals upon sound knowledge
4. Develop a strong desire for the truth to become apparent even if the truth comes forth from your adversary
Mu’ādh bin Jabal (RadiAllahu anhu) said: “Accept the truth from whoever it comes from, even if it comes from a disbeliever, and be wary of the mistake of the wise man.” They then said to him: “How do we know if the disbeliever utters a word of truth?” to which he replied: “Indeed truth has a light to it.”[6] Imām ash-Shāfi’ī (Rahimahullah) said: “I would love that people learn knowledge (from me) whilst not attribute any of that to me.” He also used to say: “I never debated with anyone intending to defeat them, rather I would wish that the truth comes from themselves.”[7]
5. Have confidence in the power of the Truth
Islām is the absolute truth from the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth. Allāh (Subhana wa ta’aala) says: “This day those who disbelieve have despaired of [defeating] your religion; so fear them not, but fear Me. This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favour upon you and have approved for you Islam as religion.” [8]
6. Be steadfast upon the truth and do not renounce or relinquish any aspect of the truth
Many aspects of Islām have been heavily criticized in the West over the years and in particular over the last ten years or so. As a result of the pressure that resulted from that, many buckled under pressure and compromised on fundamental aspects of the religion whether they realized it or not.
7. Be just and balanced even if you have been wronged
Allāh (Subhana wa ta’aala) says “O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm for Allah, witnesses in justice, and do not let the hatred of a people prevent you from being just. Be just; that is nearer to righteousness. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is Acquainted with what you do.”[9]
8. Be gentle in your approach
Allāh (Subhana wa ta’aala) says: “Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction, and argue with them in a way that is best. Indeed, your Lord is most knowing of who has strayed from His way, and He is most knowing of who is [rightly] guided.” [10]
9. Be wary not to become apologetic
As a minority, we can come under great pressure to conform to the majority and hence find ourselves trying to appease the majority. The aim of dispelling specious arguments is not limited to prove that the adversary is wrong in, but rather to manifest the truth even if it does not appease the adversary.
10. Falsehood is not to be dismissed by falsehood
Falsehood should only be dispelled by the truth. For example, one of the shubuhāt that is raised against Islām is that it calls for the curtailment of freedom and transgressing against the rights of others. Therefore, one should not respond to these points hastily by saying that Islām does permit all types of freedom for example since that is contrary to the actual teachings of Islām[11].
Likewise, if it is claimed that Islām calls for hating disbelievers and thus it becomes permissible to treat them in any manner whatsoever and even kill them etc, one should not respond to that by stating that Islām does not actually call hatred of disbelief and that Islām loves people of all faiths etc. Rather, one should respond by stating the causes behind showing a dislike to disbelief and how that is connected to our faith. It should also be clarified that despite our dislike of disbelief, this should not prevent us from engaging with people based upon justice and fairness etc. And if it happens to be the case that one does not know the answer to a matter, one should find no shame in saying that he/she does not know how to reply to that point. Under such circumstances, one should take the query or allegation to a person of knowledge in order to clarify the matter at hand.
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Source: www.islam21c.com
Notes:
[1] al Miṣbāḥ al Munīr: 1/358
[2] Jāmi’ ar-Rasā’il 2/401
[3] Dar’ at-Ta’āruḍ al ‘Aql wan-Naql (9/34)
[4] al-Quran 6:112-113
[5] al-Quran 17:74
[6] Majmū’ al Fatāwā: (5/101)
[7] al Majmū’ Sharḥ al Muhadhdhab (1/54).
[8] al-Quran 5:3
[9] al-Quran 5:8
[10] al-Quran 16:125
[11] For a better understanding as to how to deal with such allegations, the coming points need to be considered.
I appreciate all the wonderful changes that the Holy Quran has given me, through Allah. I’m learning so much and I pray to die a Muslim, for real!!! I was raised as a Christian in my hometown of Delaware; now I’m living in Philadelphia and I desire to do my second Shahada, inshaallah. I prayto Allah that I find the right Majsid quickly. I am very new at this and I want to be surrounded by right believers. Pray for me. Alsalaam.
Salaam sister Fatima, I pray you are well and Allah swt makes it easy for you and your friend.
Insha’Allah you will receive a more thorough response from the brothers and sisters at Islam21c but just to provide a basic perspective on the issue.
As we accept the Qur’an as a guidance from mankind, we accept all that is within at as a guiding light for our actions. As humans we are not able to define good and bad from our minds and the Qur’an is a set objective reference for us as Muslims. This defines how we see actions, whether we judge them to be good or bad.
In line with this Allah swt has allowed Muslim males to marry up to 4 times. This is therefore a right which Allah swt has given the Muslim male.
There are many perceivable benefits of this rule, whilst at the same time we can see individual misbehaviour shed a bad light on the rule.
1) Individual misbehaviour and actions can not be taken to form a general stereotype and also can not be taken to change the rule of allowing more than one wife.
2) If people from all sides approach the rules from Allah swt in an islamic manner, many of these problems would not develop. This means they must be Islamic in their character as well as there understanding in knowing what Islam says on specific matters.
3) Finally, there are many positive examples of how allowing more than once has brought much benefit to families. This had an added benefit when we see the examples across Islamic societies when the system of Islam was in place in history and helped preserve the family structure. This is in addition to modern day examples across the world.
Hope this helps and I will let the admin team add details to the discussion insha’Allah.
JazakAllah khair
Only thing I question about Islam that keeps me away is Polgamy, men’s ego about their right to have up to 4 wives is a sin, why because I see how it has hurt my friends. Their is no just in that only satisfaction for the man doing it, the women suffer emoitionally, how can they enter jannah with hate, bitterness, anger, in their hearts, they cannot, Adam did not have more than one wife. Allah created only one wife no two and four, just one. Mary mother of Jesus/Isa was only wife for Joseph. There are plenty of single men out there, no need to marry one already married. I know, a friend of mine, the third wife was selfish and hateful she entered the marriage with intent to rid of my friend and the second. When she did not win she filed divorced, she then married another muslim who has no other wives, she is now only wife and happy. So why did she marry a man already married, cause problems for my friend. No point and no reason, while my friend suffered alone for months at a time with 8 kids her husband played house with his new bride, what a selfish man, how is this the will of Allah. IT is not, I read fatwa and these poor wonen are told its the man’s right, no, its his self pity desires, Allah did not create woman to suffer alone, share bodyily fluids of another person, its the same as cheating, just msde it acceptable. Allah does not allow adultery, so this was created so men can have their way and not be beheaded. Well their is no just in polgamy only self satisfaction for the men, this is haram, whrn s second marriage is kept in secret from the firstand the second wife agrees to this, it is harsm, its decietful, lying, dishonest, and disrepectful, how is this the will of Allah explain that to me.