Muhammad.com collection in 109 languages

They addressed themselves to it briefly because their only purpose was to silence the adversary and
compel him to admit his error; they aimed at revealing the truth and removing dubiosities. Yet,
whenever the confusion of the adversary persisted or he insisted in continuing in error, they
prolonged
their argument, never reckoning, as it were once they started they could not measure the need or the
weight.

Their not applying themselves to teaching and writing about it is not unlike their custom with
regard to
jurisprudence, interpretation of Koran, and prophetic quotations. Therefore, if it is permissible to
compose books on jurisprudence and to work out rare hypothetical cases which seldom arise, either
as a
preparation for the time when it is needed, or simply to sharpen the wits. It is also permissible
for us to
classify the methods of disputation in preparation for the time when dubiosities flare up or an
innovator
runs loose; or simply to sharpen the wits or have the argument ready so that when needed it will be
within reach of all just as the preparation of armaments for war before the day of battle.