Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself
بسم الله والحمد لله
والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد
﴿وَعِبَادُ الرَّحْمَنِ الَّذِينَ يَمْشُونَ عَلَى الأَرْضِ
هَوْنًا وَإِذَا خَاطَبَهُمُ الْجَاهِلُونَ قَالُوا سَلاَمًا﴾
{And the slaves of al-Rahmaan
(the Most Beneficent (Allaah)) are those who walk on the earth in humility and sedateness,
and when the foolish address them (with bad words) they reply back with mild
words of gentleness} [Surah al-Furqaan (25): 63]
Shaikh Muhammad Ibn Saaleh al-`Uthaymeen رحمه الله said:
{And the slaves of al-Rahmaan},
those upon whom Allaah تعالى
has bestowed His Mercy and guided them towards goodness, they are the ones who
walk on the earth in humility, meaning: if you see anyone of them, one would
find him to be a person with solemnity in his walk without having the attitude
of hasty impulsiveness.
{and when the foolish
address them (with bad words) they reply back with mild words of gentleness.},
meaning: they would speak with words which would protect them from the evil of
the foolish ones. It doesn’t mean that they would just say “Assalaam `alaikum”
(as many English translations have wrongly translated); rather, it means that
if a foolish person addresses him, he would reply (with gentleness) in a way that
would protect him from his evil. He may either respond to him in a way that which
is better or he would remain silent if he sees that remaining silent is better.
The important thing is that one speaks with words (of wisdom) which protect him
from the foolish one, because dealing with a foolish person is difficult. If you
argue or quarrel with him, he may perhaps say something bad to you (which may
hurt your feelings) or he may unexpectedly say something bad about the goodness
towards which you trying to call him, (or) he may end up insulting the Deen –
and Allaah’s refuge is sought.
So from the guidance which the slaves of al-Rahmaan have
received is that when the foolish people address them, they reply back with
words of gentleness, meaning: they say words which protects them and prevents
any harm from reaching them.
Similarly, from the characteristics (of the slaves of
al-Rahmaan), which Allaah تعالى
mentions in the succeeding Aayaat, is:
﴿وَالَّذِينَ لَا يَشْهَدُونَ الزُّورَ﴾
{And those who do not witness falsehood} [Surah
al-Furqaan (25): 72]
Meaning: they do not witness (or attend gatherings) where
falsehood (and evil speech) is rampant or where there is obscene behavior.
﴿وَإِذَا مَرُّوا بِاللَّغْوِ﴾
{and if they pass by some play or talk} [Surah
al-Furqaan (25): 72]
Meaning: a thing in which there is neither goodness nor
evil.
﴿مَرُّوا كِرَامًا﴾
{they pass by it with dignity} [Surah
al-Furqaan (25): 72]
Meaning: they pass by it while they are safe from it. The
things can either be good or evil or just a waste (of time). If it is evil,
they (the slaves of al-Rahmaan) do not bear witness to it; and if it is
useless, they protect themselves from it and pass by it with dignity; but as
for goodness, they nurture themselves in it.
[Sharh Riyaadh al-Saaliheen of Shaikh Ibn
al-`Uthaymeen (4/90-91)]
Imaam al-Shaafi`ee رحمه الله said:
إذا نطق السفيه فلا تجبه فخير من إجابته السكوتُ
فإن كلمته فرَّجت عنه وإن خلَّيتَهُ كَمَداً يَمُوتُ
When a foolish one speaks,
do not respond to him,
For better than responding
to him is silence;
For if you speak to him,
you have indeed aided him,
But if you leave him (with
no reply), in extreme sadness he dies!
[Deewaan of Imaam al-Shaafi`ee (pg. 38)]
“Never argue with foolish people, they will drag you down
to their level and then beat you with experience.” [Anonymous]
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