Environmental Pollution and Intellectual Differences
By Dr. Zafar Darik Qasmi, New Age Islam
08 May 2026
Abstract:
The article discusses the positive and negative aspects of intellectual disagreement. Positive disagreement, based on knowledge, logic, and evidence, encourages learning, research, and social improvement. However, disagreement becomes harmful when it is used for personal superiority, sectarian support, or power. Such behaviour creates hatred, violence, and social pollution. The article explains that respect, patience, and polite language are essential in disagreements. Islamic scholars such as Imam Malik, Imam Shafi‘i, and Ibn Qayyim taught tolerance and respect for different opinions. They never considered their own views completely perfect. The article emphasises that ignorance of the ethics of disagreement increases social tension and damages peace in society. Therefore, people should learn the proper manners of disagreement to create harmony, understanding, and intellectual balance.
Main Points:
· Positive disagreement based on evidence helps society grow in knowledge, research, and understanding peacefully.
· Negative disagreement for power and superiority creates hatred, violence, and social pollution within society.
· Respectful language and patience are necessary for healthy intellectual discussions and peaceful social relationships.
· Great Islamic scholars respected different opinions and avoided considering their own views completely perfect.
· Learning the ethics of disagreement can reduce tension and protect society from intellectual pollution.
—-
Differences in opinions or intellectual disagreements have two aspects. One aspect is positive. When people disagree with someone’s ideas, thoughts, or opinions on the basis of knowledge, research, logic, and evidence, such disagreement opens the way for learning, literature, and investigation in society. When society receives different alternatives and viewpoints, difficulties are reduced and solutions become easier to find. Therefore, if differences of opinion are based on reason and proof, they should be respected by everyone. This is important because if differences are not handled positively, the path of knowledge and research may become blocked.
On the other hand, there is also a negative side to disagreement. In this case, disagreement is not made to promote knowledge, intellectual growth, or social benefit. Instead, it is used for personal superiority, power, fame, or support for one’s own sect or ideology. Such disagreement does not aim to spread knowledge. As a result, it creates social imbalance and environmental pollution in society. Therefore, any disagreement that disturbs peace or blocks the way of knowledge and research should not be accepted.
Another important issue related to disagreement is disrespect. Sometimes a disagreement may be sincere and beneficial for knowledge and research, but society still refuses to respect such ideas and opinions. In intellectual circles, these views are often not welcomed. There can be many reasons for this. Sometimes people are accused of modernism, while at other times they are criticised for going against the traditions of earlier scholars. All these situations exist in our society today.
The situation becomes even more harmful when people use violence in the name of sects and ideologies. This pollutes society further. Positive results from disagreement can only appear when people not only hold their own opinions firmly but also tolerate and respect the opinions of others.
It is very important to understand the ethics of disagreement. Intellectual disagreement based on knowledge and research is considered praiseworthy, and Islamic history provides many examples of this tradition. The first principle of disagreement is careful use of language. Insulting others, abusing them, or using harsh language creates negative effects even in intellectual discussions. Therefore, if disagreements are to benefit society, people must avoid blame and abusive speech.
At the same time, if someone disagrees with another person on intellectual grounds, they should not consider themselves superior in knowledge or treat the other person as intellectually weak or inferior. Such attitudes create pollution within society.
Yahya bin Saeed (R A) beautifully explained the ethics of disagreement. He said that scholars have always answered questions differently. One scholar declared something lawful while another declared it unlawful. However, the scholar who called it unlawful never believed that the other scholar was destroyed because of his opinion, and the scholar who called it lawful never thought that the other scholar was ruined because of his judgement.
Similarly, Ibn Qayyim said that when a person reaches an opinion through personal reasoning and there is no clear command from Allah or His Messenger about it, that person should not firmly declare that Allah has made it obligatory, forbidden, or permissible in absolute terms.
These quotations are a guiding light for people today who believe their own opinion is always final and who insult others for having different views. If these principles were followed in religious and sectarian disagreements today, society would not witness so much extremism, violence, and hatred in the name of religion and sects.
Sadly, although people today are eager to learn new things, they often remain restricted by sectarian limitations and blind attachment to traditions. Because of this narrow-mindedness, the ethics of disagreement are being ignored deliberately. This is causing social pollution to spread rapidly. Many scholars today want everyone to accept only their own opinion while rejecting the opinions of others.
An important historical example can be seen in the life of Imam Malik. The Caliph Abu Ja‘far al-Mansur once suggested that Imam Malik’s famous book Muwatta should be spread throughout the Muslim world and that all people should follow it. Imam Malik advised him not to do so. He explained that different people already had different traditions, narrations, and understandings, and each community followed what had reached them. Forcing people to abandon their accepted views would create hardship and conflict. Therefore, people should be left upon the practices they had already adopted.
The attitude of great scholars teaches us that true knowledge and research require patience, broad-mindedness, and respect for the opinions of others. If knowledge does not teach us the ethics of disagreement, then society gains little benefit from that knowledge.
Imam Shafi‘i famously said: “My opinion is correct, though it may contain error, while the opinion of others is wrong, though it may contain truth.” He also said that whenever he debated an issue with someone, he prayed that Allah would let the truth appear through the other person’s words so that he himself could follow the truth.
One of the seven great jurists of Madinah, Al-Qasim ibn Muhammad, showed great wisdom and tolerance. When he was asked whether a follower should recite Surah Al-Fatihah behind the Imam in prayer, he replied: “If the follower recites it, he follows some Companions of the Prophet ( peace be upon him), and if he does not recite it, he also follows some Companions of the Prophet ( peace be upon him).”
There are countless examples like these in Islamic scholarly tradition. The main point is that many modern social problems are increasing because people are unaware of the manners and ethics of disagreement. This has increased tension and conflict within society. When such tension crosses limits, the peace and harmony of society become polluted.
Therefore, it is essential for us to learn the manners and ethics of disagreement so that we may protect society from social and intellectual pollution.
—--
Dr. Zafar Darik Qasmi is an Islamic Scholar, author and Regular Columnist for New Age Islam.
URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-environment/environmental-pollution-intellectual-diffrences-/d/139948
New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism