What makes people argumentative?

ByShaykh Haytham Tamim

The one who argues vs the one who submits his face to Allah

Allah Almighty says in Surah Luqman:

أَلَمْ تَرَوْا أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَخَّرَ لَكُم مَّا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَأَسْبَغَ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعَمَهُۥ ظَـٰهِرَةًۭ وَبَاطِنَةًۭ ۗ وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَن يُجَـٰدِلُ فِى ٱللَّهِ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍۢ وَلَا هُدًۭى وَلَا كِتَـٰبٍۢ مُّنِيرٍۢ

“Do you not see that Allah has subjected to your service whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth, and has poured upon you His blessings, both outward and inward? Yet among people are those who dispute about Allah without knowledge, guidance, or an illuminating Book.”
(Surah Luqman, 31:20)

And He says:

وَمَن يُسْلِمْ وَجْهَهُۥٓ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَهُوَ مُحْسِنٌۭ فَقَدِ ٱسْتَمْسَكَ بِٱلْعُرْوَةِ ٱلْوُثْقَىٰ ۗ وَإِلَى ٱللَّهِ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلْأُمُورِ

“Whoever submits his face to Allah while doing good has indeed grasped the firmest handhold; and with Allah rests the outcome of all matters.”
(Surah Luqman, 31:22)

In these verses, Allah shows us those who argue against His verses without any knowledge, contrasting them with those who submit to Allah. We see these two types of people popping up throughout the Quran. The argumentative ones, who, despite being showered by Allah’s innumerable blessings, both inward and outward, keep arguing about anything and everything.

This surah was revealed in Makkah, when the idolaters kept resisting the message of Allah’s oneness and producing baseless arguments upon baseless arguments. The leaders, such as Walid ibn Mugheera, led the attacks.

Yet they had no knowledge, no guidance, and no divine book to refute the revelation. Sometimes argumentation is good, when you are presenting the truth, but not when you have no basis and you are arguing for the sake of it, to create trouble, to block the truth and to distract people. We have seen such people in recent years especially in the media. What makes them so argumentative?

The reality is that they are weak and fragile and trying to cover their weakness. Another reason is that they are arrogant and refusing to admit the truth. Such people incurred the wrath of Allah and were destroyed in ancient times.

Causes of argumentation

The Qur’an describes those who “dispute about Allah without knowledge.” This argumentation is not a healthy exchange of ideas to increase understanding. It is the manifestation of arrogance. It is resistance to truth. It is often an attempt to protect the self rather than to discover reality.

The causes of such behaviour are numerous:

Sometimes a person argues because he feels insecure in his own beliefs. The argument becomes a way to hide that weakness.

Another reason is the desire for control or self-importance. Some people argue to prove they are smarter or stronger, trying to fill an inner emptiness.

A third reason is the fear of admitting mistakes. For some, accepting they are wrong feels like a threat to their identity, so they keep arguing even when the evidence is clear.

Arguments can also come from psychological bias, as people naturally defend what they already believe. The ego holds on to the familiar, and reason becomes clouded by desire.

Another cause is compounded ignorance, not knowing, and not realising that one does not know. This is the most dangerous state, because a person mistakes illusion for knowledge.

Others are driven by desire, as Allah says:

وَيُجَادِلُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِٱلْبَـٰطِلِ لِيُدْحِضُوا۟ بِهِ ٱلْحَقَّ

“And those who disbelieve dispute by falsehood to refute the truth thereby.”
(Surat al-Kahf, 18:56)

Their aim is not truth but desire, not sincerity but self-interest.

The traits of the one who argues

A person who argues without knowledge or balance often reflects a troubled inner state. He lacks clarity and reacts emotionally. He struggles to engage with truth sincerely.

A person who argues without knowledge or balance often carries these traits:

  • He is internally disturbed – unsettled by anything that challenges his view.

  • He is confused – shifting positions without a foundation.

  • He misguides or is misguided – sometimes a victim of false ideas, sometimes their promoter.

  • He is emotional – reacting with anger instead of reflection.

  • He refuses to listen – caring more about winning than understanding.

  • He mixes truth with falsehood – using partial facts or misleading logic.

  • He lives in inner conflict – outwardly loud, inwardly anxious and fearful.

Such a person appears strong but is spiritually weak, a prisoner of his ego rather than a servant of his Lord.

The one who submits his face to Allah

In contrast stands the one whom Allah describes in the verse:

وَمَنْ أَحْسَنُ دِينًا مِمَّنْ أَسْلَمَ وَجْهَهُ لِلَّهِ وَهُوَ مُحْسِنٌ

“Who is better in religion than one who submits his face to Allah while doing good.”
(Surat an-Nisa’, 4:125)

This is the person whose heart and actions demonstrate full submission to Allah. His imaan is active, his conduct is excellent, and his aim is ihsan, to do everything for Allah to the best of his ability. When the truth becomes clear, he accepts it without hesitation, because he was never seeking victory over others, only clarity and guidance.

The one who submits his face to Allah

Such a person:

  1. Submits completely
    His heart trusts Allah, and his actions obey Him.

  2. Is tranquil
    His soul is calm and unshaken by doubt or fear. When truth appears, he accepts it without resistance.

  3. Has insight
    He sees with the light of knowledge, not with the fog of desire.

  4. Is humble before the truth
    He has no shame in admitting, “I was wrong.” His goal is not victory, but salvation.

  5. Is internally strong
    His strength is quiet, built on certainty in Allah, not on loudness or pride.

  6. Is gentle and wise
    He enters debate only to clarify truth, not to humiliate others.

  7. Is a doer of good (muhsin)
    He worships Allah as if he sees Him. His excellence shines through his speech, dealings, and character.

Whoever argues from a place of falsehood becomes captive to his ego. Whoever submits his self to Allah attains peace. He is guided, and strong.

The prophetic model of submission

The Prophet ﷺ cultivated this inner surrender in his companions. Each night before sleeping, he would say:

اللَّهُمَّ أَسْلَمْتُ وَجْهِي إِلَيْكَ

“O Allah, I submit my face to You.” (Bukhari)

It is an attitude of complete submission to the Lord of all things.

In moments of hardship, he would also supplicate:

اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ أَسْلَمْتُ، وَبِكَ آمَنْتُ، وَعَلَيْكَ تَوَكَّلْتُ، وَإِلَيْكَ أَنَبْتُ

“O Allah, to You I submit, in You I believe, upon You I rely, and to You I turn in repentance.” (Muslim)

He ﷺ taught us not to be hijacked by our thoughts and the whispers of Shaytan.

True submission is not passive. It is a combination of action with faith: to act with excellence and leave the outcome to Allah. This is the meaning of His words:

وَمَن يُسْلِمْ وَجْهَهُۥٓ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَهُوَ مُحْسِنٌۭ فَقَدِ ٱسْتَمْسَكَ بِٱلْعُرْوَةِ ٱلْوُثْقَىٰ

“Whoever submits his face to Allah while doing good has grasped the firmest handhold.”

This “firmest handhold” is a heart connected to Allah with certainty. It is a trust that does not break in hardship or ease.

Such a person lives with purpose, speaks honestly, and feels at ease, knowing Allah controls everything.

The argumentative person lives in worry, fearing loss and chasing control, while the one who submits knows Allah is the One who plans.

Submit yourself to Allah. Follow His commands, trust Him and rely on Him. When you do your best and leave the rest to Him, you can put your worries aside – about your provision, your children, or Palestine for He is the firmest handhold.

May Allah make us from among those who submit to Him, and do not enter futile arguments. Ameen.

Based on the khutbah of Shaykh Haytham Tamim 14th November 2025

Ghazali on arguing

 

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