The Ethical Considerations and Rites of Argumentation in the Book of Naqd

Dr. Seyyed Hasan Islami Ardakani [1]

This article tries to present an analysis of the approach taken by Abd al-Jalil Razi in responding to the claims made by the author of the book of Bad Fadaih al-Rawafid. Razis approach of responding is not equally characterized in all cases. Sometimes, it is accurate, calculated critical and moral and some other times it is disputatious. Generally, Razis book does not have a clear structure and the author has been basically concerned with responding to the objections presented in the Bad Fadaih al-Rawafid, one by one. Hence, this article tries to study the characteristics of the approach in his responses and to classify the samples found throughout the book. This article has reached a classification of sixteen categories based on the key points in Abd al-Jalil Razis approach. Some of these categories are: discordance about the claims made about background of Shiism; references to the ignored or unnoticed specific requisites of the Ashari thought, to which the opponent writer belongs; maintenance of the reverence toward the family of the Prophet PBUT throughout argumentations, unlike the opponent writer; using dilemmas against the opponent to disarm him; revealing the dual standpoints taken by the opponent; proceeding through explanation, clarification and removing the doubts; pointing to the logical fallacies; and application of the strategy of tit for tat.

Key Words: the ethics of argumentation, Abd al-Jalil Razi, Naqd, Bad Fadaih al-Rawafid; opponent, violator.

[1] Associate of the University of Religions and Denominations