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 it is when a person feels insecure in his belief or understanding, he argues to mask his fragility. Argument becomes a psychological defence mechanism.
Another reason is the need for control or self-assertion. Some people argue to prove that they are smarter or stronger, an effort to affirm a sense of superiority to fill an inner void.
A third cause is the fear of admitting mistakes. For some, accepting error threatens their sense of identity. To preserve pride, they continue to argue even when evidence is overwhelming.
Argumentation also arises from psychological bias, as people naturally defend their existing views. Their ego clings to what is familiar, and reason becomes captive to desire.
Then there is compounded ignorance, the condition of not knowing and not realising one’s own ignorance. This is the most dangerous form, for such a person mistakes delusion for knowledge.
Some argue out of intellectual or moral confusion, as they lack a stable standard of truth.
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 motive is not truth but appetite, not sincerity but self-interest.
The traits of the one who argues
A person who argues without knowledge or balance often displays a distinct psychological and moral profile. He is internally disturbed, unsettled by any challenge to his beliefs. He is confused, shifting positions because he lacks a foundation. He is misguided or misguiding, at times a victim of misinformation and at others an agent of distortion. He is emotional, relying on anger more than reason, and unwilling to listen, focused on winning rather than understanding.
Such a person often mixes truth with falsehood, quoting selectively or misusing facts to justify his view. Beneath the surface, he lives in inner conflict, anxious, fearful, and insecure. Outwardly he appears confident, but inwardly he is unsettled. He becomes a prisoner of his ego rather than a servant of his Lord.
A person who argues without knowledge or balance often carries these traits:
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He is internally disturbed — unsettled by anything that challenges his view.
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He is confused — shifting positions without a foundation.
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He misguides or is misguided — sometimes a victim of false ideas, sometimes their promoter.
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He is emotional — reacting with anger instead of reflection.
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He refuses to listen — caring more about winning than understanding.
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He mixes truth with falsehood — using partial facts or misleading logic.
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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)
Such a person demonstrates complete submission of heart and body. It is the activation of imaan combined with best conduct. This is ihsan – excellence in what you do for Allah. We want to be in this group. It means acting to the best of our ability, then we will see the fruits of our submission to Allah.
Such people have tranquility in their hearts, and experience contentment. Their limbs act in obedience, because their souls are attached to Allah, not their ego or opinion. They have insight; they are guided by knowledge and they are people of sincerity, not speculation or pride.
When truth becomes clear, they accept it without hesitation. They feel no shame in saying, “I was mistaken,” because they were not arguing to win, rather they sought the truth. Their strength lies, not in loudness or defiance, but in certainty. Their ihsan, his excellence, is visible in his worship, his dealings, and his manners.
The one who submits his face to Allah
Such a person:
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Submits Completely
His heart trusts Allah, and his actions obey Him. -
Is Tranquil
His soul is calm and unshaken by doubt or fear. When truth appears, he accepts it without resistance. -
Has Insight
He sees with the light of knowledge, not with the fog of desire. -
Is Humble Before the Truth
He has no shame in admitting, “I was wrong.” His goal is not victory, but salvation. -
Is Strong Within
His strength is quiet — built on certainty in Allah, not on loudness or pride. -
Is Gentle and Wise
He enters debate only to clarify truth, not to humiliate others. -
Is a Doer of Good (Muḥsin)
He worships Allah as if he sees Him. His excellence shines through his speech, dealings, and character.
Whoever argues in falsehood becomes captive to his ego. Whoever submits his face to Allah attains peace, guidance, and strength.
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.”
He taught his companions to say this. 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.”
He ﷺ taught us not to be hijacked by our thoughts and the whispers of Shaytan.
True submission is not passive. It is the combination of effort 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 bound to Allah with certainty, a trust that does not break in hardship or ease. Such a person lives with clear purpose, speaks with integrity, and rests with contentment, knowing that Allah controls all affairs.
Allah is the One who is plans. So do not worry about your rizq, your children and Palestine: DO YOUR BEST AND LEAVE THE REST TO ALLAH.
Meanwhile, the argumentative person lives in anxiety, fearing loss and seeking dominance.
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.