Disputes: Broken Intelligence 

Imagine watching two people arguing, each one trying to get their point across at the same time. All you would hear is noise, broken words, interrupted sentences, and diverging logic. It’s likely no one is making sense to the other person. Each one may be trying to communicate intelligent thoughts, but it’s just not working. It is like a crash of words, where the intelligence and peace is lost in the dispute. We have broken intelligence, in other words, I believe, disputing. 

The Quran tells us that humans are prone to getting into disputes and cautions us against it. 

[22:67] For each congregation, we have decreed a set of rites that they must uphold. Therefore, they should not dispute with you. You shall continue to invite everyone to your Lord. Most assuredly, you are on the right path. 

Satan can use disputes as a tool to drive a wedge amongst believers. 

[17:53] Tell My servants to treat each other in the best possible manner, for the devil will always try to drive a wedge among them. Surely, the devil is man’s most ardent enemy. 

So, what can we do? We can start by listening.

 If we want to be heard, it’s only fair to also listen. I feel thoughts come from the soul. Each word we say starts as a thought in the soul, and then manifests into this world linguistically. So, when our soul is trying to communicate a coherent thought, we should listen. It is impossible to replace another soul’s thoughts with your own in the heat of the moment. Their utterances are coming from deep within, even if they’re confused. But we can listen to our brothers and sisters with patience and kindness. We can also examine ourselves and our beliefs. Maybe the other person has a good reminder for us that can help us. 

[87:9] Therefore, you shall remind; perhaps the reminder will benefit. 

[59:18] O you who believe, you shall reverence GOD, and let every soul examine what it has sent ahead for tomorrow. You shall reverence GOD; GOD is fully Cognizant of everything you do. 

We can return to the Quran. God provides us the Quran with answers to matters that affect our soul. The Quran is a place where there is no contradictions, no non-sense, only intelligence, healing and mercy! 

[17:82] We send down in the Quran healing and mercy for the believers. At the same time, it only increases the wickedness of the transgressors.

 [10:57] O people, enlightenment has come to you herein from your Lord, and healing for anything that troubles your hearts, and guidance, and mercy for the believers. 

When we recite a Quranic verse, sense enters the picture, and our hearts are calmed. All we have to do is remember GOD, and we see: [7:201] Those who are righteous, whenever the devil approaches them with an idea, they remember, whereupon they become seers. 

This is what the Quran does, it reminds us of GOD, of righteousness, and of the correct utterances: [26:209] Therefore, this is a reminder, for we are never unjust. 

May GOD keep us all guided, holding fast to Him, trusting in His words, and maintaining righteousness so as to set the best examples for the world, God willing. 

[14:24] Do you not see that GOD has cited the example of the good word as a good tree whose root is firmly fixed, and its branches are high in the sky? 

[14:27] GOD strengthens those who believe with the proven word, in this life and in the Hereafter. And GOD sends the transgressors astray. Everything is in accordance with GOD’s will. 

Abeer