In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Ever Merciful…
Allah, the Most High, has said (what means):
“Among the people is one who amazes you with his speech in this worldly life. He calls Allah as a witness to what is in his heart, while he is the most obnoxious debater.” (2:204)
Al-Imaam Ibn Katheer (may Allah have Mercy on him) said, in his commentary of this Verse:
Such is the hypocrite when he argues – He lies and invents conspiracies to distract [people] from the truth. He does not stand upright along with the truth, but instead he invents [things] and behaves wickedly.
Al-Imaam as-Sa’dee (may Allah have Mercy on him) said, in his commentary of the Verse:
When you argue with him, you find within him obnoxious dialogue, difficult rigidity, and opinionated bigotry, along with other repugnant character traits which come as a result. This is not like the character of the faithful believers who take the course of easygoing behavior, surrender to the truth as their duty, and embody grace as their routine.
In the two Saheeh compilations, ‘Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported that the noble Prophet of Allah (may Allah raise his rank and grant him peace) said (what means):
“The most hated of men to Allah is the obnoxious debater.”
And in the two Saheeh compilations as well, from the report of ‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Amr (may Allah be pleased with him and his father), the Messenger of Allah (may Allah raise his rank and grant him peace) warned us about one of the signature traits of the hypocrites, when he said (what means):
“When he argues, he behaves wickedly.”
If you are routinely wicked in argumentation, poorly mannered, abrasive, stubborn, and arrogant, do not be surprised that people commonly shy away from you and avoid you. This is something expected, as people hate these traits and gravitate away from them!
‘Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported another hadeeth from the Prophet (may Allah raise his rank and grant him peace), also collected in the two Saheeh compilations (is what means):
“The worst people with Allah in status on the Day of Judgment are those whom the people leave (or abandon) to avoid their atrocious behavior.”
Instead – may Allah give you success – , be like those he praised and promised safety from the Hellfire, those whom the people appreciate and find ease in dealing with, those who are firm upon the truth, yet their character is refined and gracious. They easily admit their errors and rectify their mistakes. Their companionship is a true joy to the hearts!
“Should I not tell you about whom the Fire is forbidden to touch tomorrow? Every soft, gentle, approachable, easygoing person.”
(The meaning of a hadeeth collected by Ahmad & at-Tirmithee, from the report of Ibn Mas’ood, may Allah be pleased with him. Authenticated in as-Saheehah, no.938.)
May Allah make us from those who hold firmly to the truth, embodying the noble manners described in this hadeeth, and may He keep us from the terrible traits of the hypocrites described in the previous texts of this article. And Allah knows best.
Written by: Moosaa Richardson (1448.03.20)
More on this topic: 130 Hadeeth on Manners [Class 57] [Class 58]
PDF of this article (with Arabic texts): [click here]
