The legalistic controversy over missionary methods had previously absorbed so much energy that there was not much left for missionary work. Nevertheless, he had risen to great heights of rhetorical and legalistic reason. Al-Mughni`s testimony was technical, legalistic, convoluted and totally unconvincing. If he still has time, he can devote it to legalistic discussions, and it wouldn`t hurt. The crisis becomes less dangerous when it becomes legalistic and technical. They protect against exaggeration and abuse of already defended freedom against legalistic encroachments. And this corresponds to the position that the legalistic opposition had now taken.