The Foundation Is To Teach The People The Truth… Not Refute!

The Prophet (ﷺ) recited Surat al-Toor, and when he reached the verse:

“Or were they created by nothing, or were they themselves the creators?” (At-Ṭūr: 35)

What did Jubayr say? He said:

“From that moment, faith entered my heart.”

In some narrations, he said:

“At that point, my heart was almost about to fly away,”

because of the overwhelming force of the proof:

“Or were they created by nothing, or were they themselves the creators? Or did they create the heavens and the earth? Rather, they are not certain.” (At-Toor: 35–36)

Contained within these verses is an immensely profound proof about which the scholars have spoken at length.

Jubayr heard merely one or two verses:

“Or were they created by nothing, or were they themselves the creators?”

and Islam entered his heart. So what need is there for wrangling, disputation, and contentious argument?

For this reason, the Sunnee (pay close attention to this point) spends most of their life affirming and teaching the truth.

Why?

Because they spread the truth in the same way that the Messengers spread it. In the course of doing so situations arise that necessitate a response and thus they respond. But what is the foundation? What is the basic principle?

The principle is not that a person lives his life merely refuting others. Rather, the principle is that a person explains, clarifies, and expounds the truth. This was the mission of the Messengers (ﷺ). Along the way, refutations may become necessary and there is no problem with that.

However, if refutation becomes the primary occupation of a person to the extent that it overwhelms them, then this is not the proper methodology. It means that you will not be explaining the Qur’an, the texts of the Prophet (ﷺ), the reports of the companions, and the foundational texts such as these. On the contrary, you will become entirely occupied with refutations.

Indeed, refutation is an important field. But the scholars say:

“Refutations are a necessity!”

Meaning: they are employed as needed. But what is the foundation?

The foundation is to teach the people the fundamental truth.

The Ummah is in greater need of education and instruction than it is of refutations. (With that being said), refutations may be needed in certain situations. However, the foundation is to establish, affirm, (and spread the) truth.

This is how the Prophet (ﷺ) and the Imāms lived.

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