Risking your religion through Argumentation

Ma’n b. ‘Īsā reports

Mālik b. Anas was once returning from the mosque, leaning on my arm, when a man called Abū Al-Juwayrīyah who was accused of Al-Irjā` caught up with him. He said. “O Abū ʿAbdullāh, listen to something I have to say and debate with me and let me tell you my opinion.” [Imām] Mālik said, “And what if you overcome me?” The man replied, “If I defeat you, you follow me.” Mālik asked, “And what if another man comes and defeats us?” He replied, “Then we follow him.” To this, Mālik – Allāh’s mercy be upon him – said, “O servant of Allāh, Allāh sent Muḥammad – Allāh’s peace and blessings be upon him – with a single religion, but I see you moving from religion to religion. ʿUmar b. ʿAbd Al-‘Azīz said, ‘Whoever makes his religion the object of argumentation will frequently change it.’” Al-Ājurrī, Ktāb Al-Sharī’ah Vol.1 p128.

Al-Ājurrī, Ktāb Al-Sharī’ah Vol.1 p128.