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AlGhazalisIhya-Book_of_knowledge, page : 94
Subsequently, however, there appeared some distinguished men who deemed it
improper to discourse on theology and start a series of debates therein because
such a thing would lead to bloodshed and destruction. Instead they preferred to
debate in jurisprudence and to point out the more important juridical points in the
systems of Al Shafi‟I and Abu Hanifah in particular.
Consequently, men discarded theology and other disciplines of knowledge and
pursued especially problems of disagreement between Al Shafi‟i and Abu
Hanifah, while to those between Malik, Sufyan (al Thawri), Ahmad (ibn Hanbal),
and others, they paid little attention. Their purpose, they claimed, was to elicit the
abstruse points of law, determine the principles of the system, and prepare the
bases of legal opinions and decisions. They composed many works on the
subject and elicited many points, setting forth therein the different kinds of
syllogisms of controversy and enumerating the various works that pertain thereto.
Furthermore they still continue to compose at this present time; as to the future,
however, we do not know what Allah ordained. This, then, is what induced men
to take up nothing but controversies and debate.
On the Evils of Debate and the Character Destroying Influences Resulting
improper to discourse on theology and start a series of debates therein because
such a thing would lead to bloodshed and destruction. Instead they preferred to
debate in jurisprudence and to point out the more important juridical points in the
systems of Al Shafi‟I and Abu Hanifah in particular.
Consequently, men discarded theology and other disciplines of knowledge and
pursued especially problems of disagreement between Al Shafi‟i and Abu
Hanifah, while to those between Malik, Sufyan (al Thawri), Ahmad (ibn Hanbal),
and others, they paid little attention. Their purpose, they claimed, was to elicit the
abstruse points of law, determine the principles of the system, and prepare the
bases of legal opinions and decisions. They composed many works on the
subject and elicited many points, setting forth therein the different kinds of
syllogisms of controversy and enumerating the various works that pertain thereto.
Furthermore they still continue to compose at this present time; as to the future,
however, we do not know what Allah ordained. This, then, is what induced men
to take up nothing but controversies and debate.
On the Evils of Debate and the Character Destroying Influences Resulting