ONE thing my parents often said to me when I was a child was that if you point a finger at someone, three fingers are pointing back at you.

So if you call someone dumb, you could be three times dumber.

Often too my parents – particularly my mum – would read to me the Quranic verse: “And reason (with the people you are arguing) in the best manner possible.” (Surah al-Nahl (16), verse 125)

It was like reading the riot act to me.

If I were to argue with anyone, it must be in the best manner. I must not resort to accusations, crooked arguments, taunts; nor must I make fun of the other to win applause for my own superiority in argument.

I must try to convince the other in a simple and humble way, and when the other resorts to crooked arguments, I will leave him alone and not respond with name calling.

For if I were to call the other dumb, I could be three times dumber. – April 16, 2024.

* Hafiz Hassan reads The Malaysian Insight.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.