I went to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) in the morning and he heard the voice of two persons who had an argumentation with each other about a verse. Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) came to us (and) the (signs) of anger could be seen on his face. He said: Verily, the (peoples) before you were ruined because of their disputation in the Book.
The Book of Knowledge - Sahih Muslim 2666
This narration from Sahih Muslim contains profound wisdom regarding proper conduct with the Quran. The Prophet's ﷺ visible anger demonstrates the gravity of disputing over Allah's revelation without knowledge.
Historical Context and Warning
The mention of previous nations being destroyed due to disputation serves as a severe warning. Earlier communities like the Jews and Christians fell into ruin when they argued excessively about their scriptures, leading to divisions and innovations.
Scholarly Commentary
Classical scholars explain that permissible discussion seeks truth with humility, while blameworthy disputation involves obstinacy and desire to prevail. The Quran should be approached with reverence, not as subject for vain argumentation.
Imam An-Nawawi comments that this hadith prohibits contentious debate about the Quran that leads to confusion, innovation, or division among Muslims. It emphasizes the importance of referring ambiguous matters to qualified scholars.
Practical Application
Muslims should study the Quran with proper etiquette (adab), seeking understanding through authorized channels of learning. When differences in interpretation arise, they should be addressed with wisdom and good counsel, not heated argumentation.
This teaching preserves religious unity and protects the community from the sectarianism that destroyed previous nations. It establishes the principle that the Quran is a source of guidance, not disputation.