Deviation from the Purpose of Assemblies of Knowledge
Knowledge is a divine light that leads humanity from the darkness of ignorance to the illumination of Truth. However, if the hearts of those who embark on the path of knowledge are not fully purified, this path can lead them to a spiritual abyss – namely, pride and ostentation. Especially in argumentation and debate assemblies, when parties act with a desire to outdo each other rather than seeking truth, the blessing of knowledge vanishes. Imam Ghazali criticizes those who fall prey to the tricks of the ego in such gatherings, emphasizing that instead of revealing the truth, they become arrogant, saying “I know, but I will not say,” which further increases their ignorance and pride. The true purpose should be Allah’s pleasure and the manifestation of Truth, but the ego’s desire for self-validation takes precedence.
Concealing the Truth and Stubbornness
The most prominent characteristic of a true scholar is the virtue of being able to accept the truth without hesitation, regardless of who utters it. But an argumentative person whose heart is enveloped by pride will stubbornly refuse to back down even when cornered and their evidence runs out. Even when the opposing party proves the truth, they make baseless claims, saying “The truth is different from what you say, and I know that. But it is not my duty to speak it.” This pitiable objector does not realize that claiming to know something while failing to reveal the truth is actually an indicator of egoistic stubbornness and pride, not knowledge itself. No result can be achieved in such argumentation assemblies, and those who listen only waste their time with empty talk.
The Path to Protection from the Calamities of Knowledge
In the heart of one misguided, there is a false taste of misguidance. Whoever sees bad deeds and stubborn arguments as beautiful cannot see Truth as truth and falsehood as falsehood. Those who use arguments solely to prove their own superiority (debate) have made religion a toy and entertainment and are deceived by the world. The duty of the seeker of knowledge is to avoid frivolous debates, to know when to remain silent when they do not know, and even when defending a truth in which they believe, to act with compassion and humility rather than crushing those in front of them. For knowledge should be a light in the heart, not a weapon in the tongue.