Is It Necessary to Respond to Every Argument?

Allah, the Most High, said in the Holy Qur’an:

﴿ لِّكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ جَعَلْنَا مَنسَكًا هُمْ نَاسِكُوهُ ۖ فَلَا يُنَـٰزِعُنَّكَ فِى ٱلْأَمْرِ ۚ وَٱدْعُ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ ۖ إِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ هُدًى مُّسْتَقِيمٍ (67) وَإِن جَـٰدَلُوكَ فَقُلِ ٱللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ (68) ٱللَّهُ يَحْكُمُ بَيْنَكُمْ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ فِيمَا كُنتُمْ فِيهِ تَخْتَلِفُونَ (69) أَلَمْ تَعْلَمْ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ فِى كِتَـٰبٍ ۚ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ يَسِيرٌ ﴾ [سورة الحج 67-70]

“For every religion We have appointed rites which they perform. So, [O Muhammad], let the disbelievers not contend with you over the matter but invite them to your Lord. Indeed, you are upon straight guidance. And if they dispute with you, then say, ‘Allah is most knowing of what you do.’ Allah will judge between you on the Day of Resurrection concerning that over which you used to differ. Do you not know that Allah knows what is in the heaven and earth? Indeed, that is in a Record. Indeed, that, for Allah, is easy.”
(22:67–70)

Rites and Laws of Different Religions

Allah, the Most High, informs us that He has appointed “rites” for each religion, i.e., places and acts of worship. They differ in certain aspects, but they agree about justice and wisdom. He said:

﴿ .. لِكُلٍّ جَعَلْنَا مِنكُمْ شِرْعَةً وَمِنْهَاجًا ۚ وَلَوْ شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ لَجَعَلَكُمْ أُمَّةً وَٰحِدَةً وَلَـٰكِن لِّيَبْلُوَكُمْ فِى مَآ ءَاتَىٰكُمْ ۖ فَٱسْتَبِقُوا۟ ٱلْخَيْرَٰتِ ۚ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ مَرْجِعُكُمْ جَمِيعًا فَيُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ فِيهِ تَخْتَلِفُونَ ﴾[سورة المائدة 48-48]

“To each of you We prescribed a law and a method. Had Allah willed, He would have made you one nation [united in religion], but [He intended] to test you in what He has given you.”
(5:48)

“Rites which they perform” means that they practice them according to their circumstances. Therefore, there is no objection against any religion. If it is proven that the message of the Prophet was sent from God, then the people should accept everything in that message.

For this reason, Allah said: “So, [O Muhammad], let the disbelievers not contend with you over the matter”—i.e., the disbelievers should not refuse your order. They use their incorrect logic to override prohibitions and twist their meanings, such as their argument for the permissibility of eating an animal that has died without being slaughtered in accordance with Allah’s rules. They claimed: “You eat what you have killed yet you refuse to eat what Allah has killed,” and they used similar tactics in another argument documented in the Qur’an, when they said:

﴿ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّمَا ٱلْبَيْعُ مِثْلُ ٱلرِّبَوٰا۟ ۗ ﴾[سورة البقرة 275-275]

“Trade is [just] like interest.” (2:275) They make similar arguments in other aspects of the religion.

Responding to Objections

🔍 When dealing with someone who makes an objection or an argument against an aspect of Islam, it is important to decipher what his goal is in presenting the argument. Is he sincerely trying to learn and willing to accept the truth if it is presented to him, or is his aim simply to argue and attempt to “discover” perceived problems and inconsistencies?

🌱 Allah commanded His Messenger to invite to the way of the Lord with wisdom and good instruction, and to continue doing so even if some people reject the message. One should not allow detractors to prevent him from moving forward with preaching the message of Islam.

﴿ ..إِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ هُدًى مُّسْتَقِيمٍ ﴾[سورة الحج 67-67]

Allah said: “Indeed, you are upon straight guidance.” (22:67)
This means balanced guidance, consisting of knowledge, truth, and guidance in actions and deeds. One should keep this in mind, remain firm in his or her adherence to faith, and channel this strength into obeying the commands of Allah.

💎 The caller to Islam is not following something doubtful; it is not simply an ideology or popular idea. It is far greater than that. Allah said:

﴿ فَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ۖ إِنَّكَ عَلَى ٱلْحَقِّ ٱلْمُبِينِ ﴾[سورة النمل 79-79]

“So rely upon Allah; indeed, you are upon the clear truth.”
(27:79)

He also said: “Indeed, you are upon straight guidance.” (22:67)

💡 Guidance is to live in accordance with the revelation. If one reflects upon the revelation, he will find true wisdom present in its rulings, whether they are commands or prohibitions.

Allah’s Judgment and Knowledge

This is why Allah ordered His Prophet to avoid arguing with the polytheists in this case. He said:

﴿ وَإِن جَـٰدَلُوكَ فَقُلِ ٱللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ ﴾[سورة الحج 68-68]

“And if they dispute with you, then say, ‘Allah is most knowing of what you do.’”
(22:68)

That is, He knows your goals and intentions, and He will recompense you for them.

﴿ ٱللَّهُ يَحْكُمُ بَيْنَكُمْ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ فِيمَا كُنتُمْ فِيهِ تَخْتَلِفُونَ ﴾[سورة الحج 69-69]

“Allah will judge between you on the Day of Resurrection concerning that over which you used to differ.” (22:69)
The one who walks steadily on the straight path will be in Paradise; the one who goes astray will be in Hell.

Allah is the final Judge, and He has knowledge of all things:

﴿ أَلَمْ تَعْلَمْ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ فِى كِتَـٰبٍ ۚ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ يَسِيرٌ ﴾[سورة الحج 70-70]

“Do you not know that Allah knows what is in the heaven and earth? Indeed, that is in a Record. Indeed, that, for Allah, is easy.”

🕯️ Nothing is unknown to Him, whether it is visible or hidden, external or internal, past or future. This knowledge is all written in a Book, which is known as the Preserved Slate. When Allah created the Pen, He commanded it to write. The Pen asked: “What should I write?” Allah replied: “Write all that will occur until the Day of Resurrection.”

🌿 “Indeed, that, for Allah, is easy.” Even if it is beyond our scope, it is easy for Allah, for He knows all things, and He is over all things capable.

Reference: Tafsir Sheikh Abd Ar-Rahman As-Saadi