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The_Foundations_of_the_Islamic_Belief, page : 51
in the heart, words similar to those of the arguments of the Koran and the prophetic quotations,
mixed
with a little admonition and warning. This is much better than debate along the line set down by the
scholastic theologians. This is because the layman, when he hears such arguments, thinks that they
are
a kind of technique in disputation which the disputant has learned in order to draw men to his
belief.
Consequently, if the layman fails to reply to these arguments he will assume that the scholastic
theologians of his school are capable of refuting them. Disputation with both this man and the
former is
unlawful.
Likewise it is unlawful to argue with one who has fallen victim to doubt, since doubt should be
removed
with kindness by admonition and understandable proofs free of excessive speculation and endless
debate. In fact disputation is useful in only one case, namely, when the layman has been persuaded
to
believe in an innovation through one kind of argument, in which case it should be countered by the
mixed
with a little admonition and warning. This is much better than debate along the line set down by the
scholastic theologians. This is because the layman, when he hears such arguments, thinks that they
are
a kind of technique in disputation which the disputant has learned in order to draw men to his
belief.
Consequently, if the layman fails to reply to these arguments he will assume that the scholastic
theologians of his school are capable of refuting them. Disputation with both this man and the
former is
unlawful.
Likewise it is unlawful to argue with one who has fallen victim to doubt, since doubt should be
removed
with kindness by admonition and understandable proofs free of excessive speculation and endless
debate. In fact disputation is useful in only one case, namely, when the layman has been persuaded
to
believe in an innovation through one kind of argument, in which case it should be countered by the