Letter 77: Instructions to Abdullah b. Abbas

Instructions given to Abdullah ibn al-Abbas, at the time of his being deputed to confront the Kharijites

لاَ تُخَاصِمْهُمْ بِالْقُرْآنِ،

Do not argue with them by the Qur'an

فَإِنَّ الْقُرْآنَ حَمَّالٌ ذُو وُجُوه،

because the Qur'an has many faces.

تَقُولُ وَيَقُولُونَ،

You would say your own and they would say their own;

وَلكِنْ حاجّهُمْ بالسُّنَّةِ،

but argue with them by the sunnah,

فَإِنَّهُمْ لَنْ يَجِدُوا عَنْهَا مَحِيصاً.

because they cannot find escape from it.