Some advice to Muslim influentials who engage in intra-community online debates or conflicts:
1. Do not name call and make judgements about people that cannot be Islamically justified. For example, and generally speaking, someone's intention or internal state.
2. Do not project your inner demons onto others. If the default view on someone is that they are malicious or insincere, then that can be a reflection of who you are. Reactively labelling and judging may be a sign of who your inner state; it can say more about you than it does about them.
3. Do not employ the same negative tactics you accuse others of. This may be a sign of delusional thinking, self-amazement, and arrogance. If you feel you are morally justified, then give others the same justification, even if you think they're wrong. Stand in the possibility that they are misinformed rather than morally bankrupt. Why should we accept the fact that you have a justification and deny the possibility that they have one too?
4. Your actions or statements in abstraction may be permissible (usually they are not). However, they can end up being blameworthy and forbidden due to the moral variables, context, benefits (مصلحة) and harms (مفسدة).
5. Consult with others, especially scholars, knowledgeable people and those with experience. Your understanding of what is permissible, the context, the benefits and the harms can be wrong or misplaced. Stand in the possibility you can be wrong. Engaging in such debates or conflicts are not always a clear cut matter.
6. Always ask, "what does Allah want from me in this context?" This requires sincerity and knowledge of what is most pleasing to Him. Doing what is most pleasing to Allah will aways produce the best result.
7. Be humble and accept criticism without unecessarilly defending yourself. Islam is far more important than you. Publicly retract, clarify, and provide or promote the correct narrative. If required, repent and seek forgiveness. Your repentent and humble attitude can be a means for people's guidance and their appreciation of Islam.
8. If you end up defending yourself more than sharing and promoting the good work of other people, then you may have an ego problem. In many contexts, promoting and sharing other people's goood work is of more benefit to Islam and the community than defending yourself. This is a subtle point. Its not always what you say and do that is an indicator of your inner state, its what you do not say and do not do that also matters.
9. Do not be a theological reductionist. Reducing your stance on a single Qur'anic verse or prophetic statement is usually a pathetic way of insincerely trying to win an argument. Consider all the verses and statements about a matter. Have a holistic understanding, and understand points 4 and 5. Obviously this does not apply to matters when single verses or statements are enough.
10. Pray istikhara and make dua. If you do not do this prior to engaging in online conflicts, you may suffer from immaturity, insincerity or an ego problem.
11. A sign of sincerity is that you learn something from your opponents. Stand in the possibility that they can and will benefit you in someway.
12. If you are going to engage with someone at least understand their arguments or positions properly. Do not just dismiss them or label them. This is sophistry. Explain why you disagree and provide a solid argument, expressed with good manners and humility.
13. Remember the ultimate goal and the purpose of this noble work. It is not and never will be about you. I repeat, it is not and never will be about you.
If I ever fall short of the above please take me to account.
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