Chapter I: Acquisition of Knowledge
(5) The fifth condition is that debate should be held in priavte in preference to open meetings in presence of noted people and in grandeur because privacy is more suitable for clear thinking and to examine what is right and what is wrong.
(6) The sixth condition is that the debater should like truth in the same spirit as a lost thing is searched for. He should not mind weather the truth is found by him or by his adversery. when Hazrat Omar was once giving sermon, a woman pointed out to him his mistake to which he submitted. At another time, Hazrat Ali was asked a question by a man and he replied. When the man pointed cut his mistake, he admitted it.
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(7) The seventh condition is that the debater should not prevent his adversary from giving up one argument in favour of another and one illustration in favour of another.
(8) The eighth condition is that debate should be held with such person from whom benefit is derived and who is learned.
From these eight conditions, you will be able to distinguish those who debate for the sake of God and those who debate for other purposes.
THIRD MATTER-EVILS OF DEBATES
The following evils arise out of modern debates.
(1) ENVY: The Prophet said : Envy consumes good deeds as fire consumes fuels. A debater is never free from envy and hatred. Envy is a burning fire. One who falls in it gets punishement in the world. Hazrat Ibn Abbas said : Acquire knowledge wherever it is found and don't obey the devils who are prone to disputes.
(2) PRIDE: The Prophet said : A believer cannot have pride in him. There is 'a'Hadis Qudsi in which God said : Grandeur is My cloak and pride is My mantle. I destory one who snatches anything of these two from Me.
(3) RANCOUR: A debater is seldom free from the evil of rancour. The Propherr said : A believer has got no rancour.
(4) BACK-BITING which is likened by God to the eating of carrion (49:12). A debater ascribes to his oppoinent foolishness, ignorance and stupidity.
(5) DECLARATION OF SELF-PURITY. God says : Don't attribute purity ot yourself. He knows best who fears Him (53:33).
(6) SPYING and prying into the secrets of adversary. God says: Pry not (49:12).
(7) HYPOCRISY. A debater expresses his friendship for his adversary outwardly but he cherishes hatred for him inwardly.
The Prophet said: When the learned men do not translate their learning into action, when they profess love for one another with their tongue and nurse hatred in their hearts, when they sever the
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ties of relationship, God sends curse upon them, makes their tongues mute and their eyes blind.