مجلة تدبر

The Qur’anic Approach to the Presentation of Opponents’ Suggestions and its Response:

An Analytical Study

 

Ali ibn Humayd al-Sinani, Ph.D.

Associate Professor at the Faculty of Qur’anic Studies

Islamic University, Madinah

 

Objectives:

 

1. Presenting the Qur’anic method of stating its argument and evidence to refute the objections of its persistent opponents;

 

2. How to benefit by the Qur’anic presentation of opponents’ suggestions, within the field of Islamic advocacy. The stubbornness faced by advocates of Islam is a normal attitude. Therefore, advocates must remain firm, unperturbed by the stubbornness of their opponents;

 

3. Recognition of the nature of opponents’ attitude who persist with their falsehood, regardless of all the clear evidence put to them;

 

4. Highlighting the stark difference of attitudes of believers and their opponents when clear evidence is presented. Believers find their faith strengthened, while their opponents go further away from the truth, unwilling to admit it.

 

The paper focuses on the Qur’anic approach to the presentation of opponents’ suggestions and their refutation, adopting an inductive methodology in citing and analysing its material, giving it suitable headings. The paper starts with a foreword that defines the verses that includes such suggestions. It shows that signs and miracles were given as an act of God’s grace, so that people would recognise the truth. The paper concludes with a presentation of its main findings, including:

 

1. There is no successful way of convincing stubborn opponents. They adamently refuse every argument, because they are not in search for the truth. Hence, giving them more evidence is of no use.

 

2. God is very merciful to those stubborn opponents. He gives them respite and does not inflict immediate punishment on them. That He does not act on their suggestions is an aspect of His grace.

 

3. Prophet Muhammad’s companions had pure hearts. When they recognised the truth of the Islamic message, they immediately accepted it, stating no conditions. They did not request any miracle as a condition for their acceptance of the divine faith.

 

4. The paper highlights the impudence of those stubborn opponents in their attitude to God. It does not behove anyone to set conditions for believing in the truth. The proper attitude is to appeal to God to guide one to the truth and follow it. God knows what is best for His servants.

 

5. As presented in the Qur’an, God’s comments on those suborn opponents’ suggestions clearly show that they had no right to make such suggestions.

 

6. The only one of suggested miracles that was granted was the repast. It was given to them as they requested. When they disbelieved, despite having it, they deserved a most severe punishment that was not dealt to any other community.

 

The paper provides comprehensive indexes.

 

Key words: The Qur’an, suggestion, people of earlier revelations, stubborn opponents, miracles, rejection, examples of verses stating suggestions, persistence, denial, refutation of argument.

 

 

 

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