Prohibition on Debate and Argumentation

[8/-] Rijal al-Kashshi: Hamduwayh from Ibn Yazid from Ibn Abi Umayr from Muhammad b. Hukaym who said: the names of those who engaged in Kalam (speculative theology) were mentioned to Abi al-Hasan عليه السلام – so he said: as for Ibn Hukaym then leave him be. Comments

The `Aimma took a negative stance to Kalam acc. to some. Of course there is nuance to this and what they were against was a rationality that was unleashed without any checks viz. revelation. Some of the most prominent companions of the `Aimma were recognized theologians although they attracted controversy and drew censure from other wings of the Imamiyya who were strict traditionalists.

[7/72] Rijal al-Kashshi: Hamduwayh and Muhammad from Muhammad b. Isa from Yunus from Abi Ja’far al-Ahwal from Abi Abdillah عليه السلام who said: what happened to Ibn al-Tayyar? I said: he died, so he said: may Allāh have mercy on him and make enter on him mercy and radiance for he used to verbally defend us the people of the House. Comments

al-Tayyar and Ibn al-Tayyar in the above narrations refer to the same person – Muhammad b. Abdallah al-Tayyar who was a companion of al-Sadiq. Muhammad was sometimes called al-Tayyar which is a Laqab he shared with his own father, and sometimes ‘the son of al-Tayyar’.

[6/71] Rijal al-Kashshi: Hamduwayh and Muhammad from Muhammad b. Isa from Ibn Abi Umayr from Hisham b. al-Hakam who said: Abu Abdillah عليه السلام said to me: what happened to Ibn al-Tayyar? I said: he died, he said: may Allāh have mercy on him and grant him radiance and joy for he was an intensely vocal defender on our behalf – the people of the House.

[5/70] Rijal al-Kashshi: Hamduwayh and Muhammad the two sons of Nusayr from Muhammad b. Isa from Ali b. al-Hakam from Aban al-Ahmar from al-Tayyar who said: I said to Abi Abdillah عليه السلام: it has been conveyed to me that you dislike us debating the people? so he said: as for the speaking of someone like you then it is not disliked, the one who if he flies is able to land well, and when he lands is able to fly well, whomever is like this then we do not dislike him (to debate). Comments

There is an allusion to the title (Tayyar – winged one) in the allegory that the Imam makes of flying and landing.

[4/69] Rijal al-Kashshi: From Hamduwayh from Muhammad b. Isa from Yunus from Hammad who said: Abu al-Hasan عليه السلام used to order Muhammad b. Hukaym to sit with the people of Madina in the Masjid of the messenger of Allāh صلى الله عليه واله and to talk to them and debate with them – such that he even debated with them regarding the companion of the grave (i.e. Abu Bakr) – and when he (Muhammad b. Hukaym) used to go to meet him (the Imam) – he would ask: what did you say to them and what did they say to you? and he used to be pleased with that from him.

[3/68] al-Khisal: From Ibn al-Mutawakkil from al-Himyari from Ibn Mahbub from Abi Wallad from Abi Abdillah عليه السلام who said: Ali b. al-Husayn عليهما السلام used to say: recognition of the perfection of the religion of a Muslim [can be achieved by looking at] his avoiding talk which does not concern him, minimizing arguments, his forbearance, patience and good character.

[2/67] Amali al-Saduq: From Ibn al-Mutawakkil from al-Himyari from Ibn Isa from Ibn Mahbub from Anbasa al-A’bid from Abi Abdillah al-Sadiq عليه السلام who said: beware of argumentation in the religion for it diverts the heart from the remembrance of Allāh Mighty and Majestic, leads to hypocrisy, brings about rancour and justifies borrowing lies (to win).

[1/-] Amali al-Saduq: From his father from al-Himyari from Ahmad b. Muhammad b. Isa from his father from Ibn Abi Umayr from Muhammad b. Humran from al-Hadhha who said: Abu Ja’far عليه السلام said: O Ziyad – beware of argumentation because it creates doubt, nullifies deeds and degrades its initiator, it may also happen that a man speaks something for which he is never forgiven …

[-/1] امالى الصدوق:عن ابيه، عن الحميري، عن احمد بن محمد ابن عيسي، عن أبيه، عن ابن أبي عمير، عن محمد بن حمران، عن الحذاء قال: قال أبو جعفر عليه السلام يا زياد إياك والخصومات فإنها تورث الشك، وتحبط العمل، وتردي صاحبها، وعسى أن يتكلم الرجل بالشئ لا يغفر له …