Moreover, Allah—blessed and exalted is He—has informed us that the messengers endowed with firm resolve engaged the unbelievers in argument. He, exalted be He, says:

“They said, ‘O Noah, you have argued with us and argued excessively.’” ⦗Hud: 32⦘.

And concerning the Friend (Abraham) He says:

“His people disputed with him; he said, ‘Do you dispute with me about Allah while He has already guided me?’” ⦗al-Anʿām: 80⦘—and up to His words:

“This is Our argument which We gave Abraham against his people; We raise in rank whom We will.” ⦗al-Anʿām: 83⦘.

Allah Most High likewise commanded Muhammad—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—to debate in the manner that is best, while He condemned those who dispute without knowledge, or who contend against the truth after it has become clear, or who argue in falsehood. He said:

“There you are: you have already argued about matters of which you have some knowledge; why then do you argue about that of which you have no knowledge? Allah knows, and you do not know.” ⦗Āl ʿImrān: 66⦘.

He, exalted, also said:

“They dispute with you concerning the truth after it has become clear.” ⦗al-Anfāl: 6⦘.

And He said:

“They argued with falsehood so as to invalidate the truth; so I seized them—how terrible was My punishment!” ⦗Ghāfir: 5⦘.