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Fatwa CenterReacting to those who insist on discussing debatable religious matters
Question
there is a man i knw and he asks to many questions in religious disputed matters so i went and tried to explain him that we should not ask to many questions in religious disputed matters we just have to follow our salaf and understand the quran and sunnah according to them but he was still saying that scholars are the one who disputes so i said harsh words to him that he didnt want to understand quran and sunnah and he wants to put fitnah and i told him to not to ask me and any of our brothers such questions keep away from us and i told him that i will exchange greeting as Allah has ordered me greet muslims.... do i have to repent to Allah for what i told him..and also ask that man to forgive me
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.
· {O you who have believed, obey Allaah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you. And if you disagree over anything, refer it to Allaah and the Messenger, if you should believe in Allaah and the Last Day. That is the best [way] and best in result.} [Quran 4:59]
· {And when there comes to them information about [public] security or fear, they spread it around. But if they had referred it back to the Messenger or to those of authority among them, then the ones who [can] draw correct conclusions from it would have known about it. And if not for the favor of Allaah upon you and His mercy, you would have followed Satan, except for a few.} [Quran 4:83]
There are differences among scholars, but regarding minor issues, not the fundamentals of the religion. There is no harm for the seekers of knowledge to edify themselves on such debatable issues for this brings about great benefits in knowing the prooftexts and the methodology of deriving religious rulings and enhancing the ability to derive rulings and the like. But if the seeker of knowledge realizes that one opinion is more evident than another, given its conformity to evidence or to the principles of the Islamic Sharee'ah and its ultimate objectives, then he should follow that opinion.
However, seekers of knowledge should not preoccupy themselves with discussing the debatable issues for this may be the reason for incurring Fitnah (trial) and the hardness of the heart. A common Muslim is recommended to refrain from such discussions on debatable issues to avoid potential confusion; the ultimate objective of acquiring knowledge is acting upon it and not engaging in debates. Ka‘b ibn Maalik 
reported that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Whoever seeks knowledge in order to argue with the foolish, or to show off before the scholars, or to attract people's attention, will be in Hellfire.” [Ibn Maajah]
For more benefit, please refer to Fataawa 85732 and 90479.
The wisest thing to do with whoever seeks after engaging in futile debates is to stop him from discussing debatable issues; however, he should be wisely and politely advised. If your words to him did not constitute any insult or offence and you merely reproached him harshly for his own sake so that he would stop bringing up such debatable issues, we hope that there is no harm on you, Allaah willing. Also, there is no problem if you settled for exchanging greetings with him so as to avoid his potential harm.
For more benefit, please refer to Fataawa 21186, 8580 and 173411.
Allaah Knows best.
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