Imam Saadiq's Debate With An Egyptian Zindiq During Tawaaf

In Shiite narrative books, numerous debates have been reported between the Prophet (pbuh) and the infallible Imams and their adversaries, among them is the debate between Imam Saadiq and the Egyptian zindiq, Abdul Malik, known as Abu Abdullah. Imam Saadiq had some part of this debate during Tawaaf and part of it after Tawaaf. In this debate, Imam Saadiq has used all three modes of Da’wah (Hikmah (wisdom), good poaching and best argument), which God Almighty has commanded the Prophet to it in the ӓӔӗth verse of Surah Nahl. Imam begins the debate with the zindiq, with the method of best argument, by asking about his name and his nickname, and thus he surprises him and puts him in a severe dilemma; in a way that he will not find any option other than remain silent before the Prophet. The word “argument” in the "science of logic" is when one exploits the obvious things against your opponent, to oblige and silence the opposite party. One of the clear and known things for the public is that for example anyone has chosen the name Abdullah or Abdul Malik for himself, based on the customs of society and that name describes that individual; unless he has chosen that name to deceive the public. This paper examines and analyzes the first stage of the debate, namely, the best argument between Imam Saadiq and the Egyptian zindiq, and has explained it through the principle of words referring meanings and attention to mentalrules.