one is presented with proofs from the Book of Allah and the Sunna of His Messenger; he is told, “Here is the Book of Allah, here is the Sunna of the Messenger of Allah,” yet he will not accept them. Instead, he persists in his own view—this is the very rejection of truth, and Allah’s refuge is sought.

Many people take sides with their own egos: once they have voiced an opinion they refuse to budge from it, even when they see that what is correct lies elsewhere. Such obstinacy conflicts with both reason and the Sacred Law.

A person is duty-bound to return to the truth wherever he finds it. Even if that truth contradicts his previous statement, he should embrace it, for this earns him greater honor with Allah, greater esteem among people, and leaves his conscience clear—no harm comes to him.

Do not imagine that retracting your words in favor of what is right will diminish your standing in people’s eyes; rather, it raises your rank and shows them that you follow nothing but the truth. The one who stubbornly persists in his position and rejects the truth is arrogant, and we seek Allah’s protection from that.

This second attitude, regrettably, is sometimes found—even, Allah forbid, among students of knowledge. After discussion they realize where the correct view lies and that it contradicts what they said the day before, yet they cling to their initial opinion. Satan suggests to them that if they recant people will look down on them and say, “He is fickle; every day he has a new view.” Such talk does no harm: once you have returned to what is correct, let today’s statement differ from yesterday’s. Even the great imams held several positions on a single issue.

Consider Imam Ahmad—may Allah have mercy on him—the leader of the people of the Sunna and the foremost of the imams in following proof and possessing vast knowledge: on a single matter he sometimes held several