– The third category consists of the opponents and stubborn deniers who actively resist the truth and champion falsehood. With such people one must pursue debate in the manner that is best, in a way that suits both the speaker and the one spoken to, as well as the subject under discussion and everything connected to it.

If you wish to see these three approaches perfectly applied, look at the missions of the messengers—may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon them—whose stories Allah has related in His Book with their nations: those who responded, those who turned away, and those who opposed. You will find them marked by consummate excellence in every situation.

Then consider the call of their master and leader, Muḥammad ﷺ, and the varied methods he employed in inviting people, both in general and in particular, across their different ranks and stations, in accordance with their circumstances and with the statements and rulings to which he summoned them. You will find that he surpassed all who came before and all who will come after; the lasting results are the strongest proof of the effectiveness of his message.

• Allah has appointed the means for a fair and satisfactory resolution of disputes between just litigants in every controversy—a course that is best in the present and most excellent in its ultimate outcome—namely, to refer the matter back to the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger. He says: “If you disagree about anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger, if you truly believe in Allah and the Last Day; that is best and fairest in the end” (al-Nisāʾ 4:59).

• Allah has likewise made maintaining the good that He has commanded to be maintained—acts of kindness, the bonds of kinship, and fulfilling the rights of everyone who has a claim upon you—a cause by which noble character is attained and lofty stations in the Gardens of Bliss are secured. He says: “And those who maintain whatever ties Allah has ordered to be maintained, who fear their Lord and dread an evil reckoning” (ar-Raʿd 13:21) … “Gardens of perpetual residence that they will enter” (ar-Raʿd 13:23).

• Allah has made a servant’s prior righteous deeds and his recognition of his Lord in times of ease a means of deliverance from hardships and the attainment of the greatest benefits. Concerning this He says: “Had he not been one of those who glorify (Allah)…” (al-Ṣāffāt 37:143).