The Rejection of Debates and Disputations Among the Salaf
In the context of the rejection of philosophy, the early scholars of Islam always also prohibited debating (al-Jadal). On the English-speaking internet, disputes, debates, and refutations, which frequently devolve into mudslinging, have been taken to the extreme.
It is precisely this urge to participate in or follow debates that generates very high click numbers for many preachers. In this way, an addiction develops on both sides to continue such debates and to stage them in an increasingly extreme manner. This is precisely what was unanimously rejected by the early scholars of Islam.
For this reason, numerous narrations on this matter are found in the books of the Salaf, frequently compiled in their own chapters. Whoever wishes to consult such narrations can do so, for example, in the comprehensive work ash-Shari'ah by Abu Bakr Muhammad ibnu l-Hussain al-Ajurri, but also in many other works of the Salaf.
Al-Ajurri transmits in a dedicated chapter on this subject the following Hadith:
عَنْ أَبِي أُمَامَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: " مَا ضَلَّ قَوْمٌ بَعْدَ هُدًى كَانُوا عَلَيْهِ إِلَّا أُوتُوا الْجَدَلَ
From Abu Umamah – may Allah be pleased with him – that he said: The Messenger of Allah – may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him – said: “No people went astray after having been upon guidance except that they were given disputation.”
He thereafter mentions further Hadiths and numerous statements and accounts of the early scholars. For example:
كَانَ أَبُو قِلَابَةَ يَقُولُ: " لَا تُجَالِسُوا أَهْلَ الْأَهْوَاءِ، وَلَا تُجَادِلُوهُمْ، فَإِنِّي لَا آمَنُ أَنْ يَغْمِسُوكُمْ فِي الضَّلَالَةِ، أَوْ يُلْبِسُوا عَلَيْكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ بَعْضَ مَا لُبِّسَ عَلَيْهِمْ
Abu Qilabah said: “Do not sit with the people of desires and do not debate with them, for I fear that they will confuse you in the matters of religion wherein they themselves are confused.”
عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ قُرَّةَ قَالَ: الْخُصُومَاتُ فِي الدِّينِ تُحْبِطُ الْأَعْمَالَ
From Mu'awiya ibnu Qurrah, that he said: “Disputations about the religion destroy (good) deeds.”
In essence, with regard to the current state of affairs on the internet, one can say that the position of the Salaf was the exact opposite of what is commonplace among many preachers today as virtually a daily activity.