{"_id":"684af7c2640aa0829df536c6","title":"{\"ops\":[{\"insert\":\"How should I deal with my Salafi friend?\\n\"}]}","question":"{\"ops\":[{\"insert\":\"I know someone who is a pretty staunch Salafi. I try to argue with him when I can to show him that’s he’s wrong, but he’s very resistant to anything that goes against what he thinks. We argue for hours sometimes, and I never come out of those conversations feeling as though either of us have benefited. The things we argue about don’t actually typically practically matter, but he will bring up inflammatory topics just to make a point.\\n\\nIf he says something wrong, should I even try to correct him? How can I handle working with someone misguided? Are these differences in Aqeedah worth arguing over when they don’t practically impact the work we have together?\\n\"}]}","answer":"{\"ops\":[{\"insert\":\"Before anything else, we need to stop labeling people into sects and factions. This habit of quickly stamping others only feeds division and ego. Most of the time, the people throwing these labels around don’t even understand what the terms mean or the context behind them. They’re using them like weapons, not out of concern for the truth, but to feel superior and shut down discussion. This mindset is toxic, and it’s tearing the ummah apart from the inside. If you truly care about the truth, then start by learning, listening, and being humble. Regarding debates, you must avoid engaging in them. This is not your responsibility, and it often causes more harm than benefit. Allah commands those who do not know to ask the people of knowledge \"},{\"attributes\":{\"link\":\"https://quran.com/16/43\"},\"insert\":\"(Qur’an 16:43)\"},{\"insert\":\", and He warns against speaking without knowledge \"},{\"attributes\":{\"link\":\"https://quran.com/17/36\"},\"insert\":\"(Qur’an 17:36)\"},{\"insert\":\".\\n\\nDebating abstract matters that do not directly affect your worship or daily conduct is a distraction and a wasteful drain on your energy. These arguments don’t change hearts, they just deepen division and feed the ego.\\n\\nInstead, focus on your own growth in knowledge, worship, and character. If someone says something incorrect, gently share what you’ve learned and encourage them to look into it further from reliable scholars. If correction won’t be received, leave it, silence is better than fueling an argument that leads nowhere.\\n\\nIf this is someone you work with, then it is important to draw clear boundaries. Let them know that you will not engage in theological debates and stay firm on that. Don’t let yourself get pulled into provocations. Treat it as a test of patience and lead by example.\\n\\nFinally, this whole culture of debate among laypeople is a modern sickness. It’s not rooted in Islamic tradition, it’s a Western mindset fueled by ego, arrogance, and the obsession with being seen. And today, it’s being fed by internet “scholars” who are nothing more than content creators chasing clicks. They’re not students of knowledge; they’re performers. Just like studio gangsters who rap about streets they’ve never even walked on, or armchair quarterbacks who shout from the couch but have never played a single game, these guys parade around as defenders of the religion without having ever sat with real scholars or studied a single book with a proper chain. They “refute” entire madhhabs, mock great imams, and turn the religion into a stage for their own self-importance. It’s embarrassing. It’s harmful. And it needs to stop. Sit down. Shut up. And go learn.\\n\"}]}","tags":[{"_id":"668d9fe40b76658b4c23283a","tag":"Contemporary Life: Other","count":137},{"_id":"668d9fe30b76658b4c232826","tag":"Worship: Etiquettes","count":79},{"_id":"668d9fe50b76658b4c232867","tag":"Aqeedah: Sects and Religions","count":68},{"_id":"668da02b0b76658b4c232ff9","tag":"Relationships: Friend","count":52},{"_id":"668d9fed0b76658b4c232951","tag":"Knowledge: Other","count":48},{"_id":"668da0580b76658b4c2334b2","tag":"Knowledge: Aqeedah","count":38}],"createdOn":"2025-06-12T15:52:34.668Z"}