[1] The exact year of the birth of Hisham is not clear, but it is understood from several sources that he was born from Hakam[a] in Kufa, the centre of Iraqi's Shiites, in the beginning of the second century AH, and grew up in Waset.
[2] He was interested in Islamic theology and in his youth he was a follower of Jahm bin Safwan, leader of the Jahmi Sect.
[3] Of his first visit to the seventh Shiite imam, he himself says that one day while selling fabric under a shaded tree, Musa al-Kadhim happened to ride by.
Then to show that not every kind of discussion is eligible he said "O Syrian brother, Hamran ibn A'yan came out victorious over you by distorting the facts and using clever speech and set forth his questions to you in a suitable and proper time; and you could not reply to him.
Aban ibn Taghlab confused right and wrong to oust you from the combat of the debate and asked you questions to which you could not give the proper answers.
Hisham, while shivering from anger said, "O sir, has your Lord created the human beings in vain and left them without any leader and guide?"
Then it is advisable that one man from each side oversees our speech; and witnesses our discussion and debate and arbitrates according to justice and fairness," recommended Hisham.
When the Kharegit agreed Hisham turned his face towards Yahya who held this discussion and said: "O Vizier (minister), be a witness that I have disapproved of his reasoning and have condemned him and have made him helpless.
And when they asked him how he condemned the man while the discussion had not started yet, he said "Is it not true that in the beginning these Kharajites,[c] were of the same opinion as we were concerning the matter of Imamate and the Wilayah of Ali until the problem of the arbitration occurred in the Battle of Siffin?
Now if he is right in choosing the arbitration and has chosen the right path, then there is no cause for him to criticize Amirul Mu'mineen who is more worthy and wise..."[1][4] Hisham wrote many books on Islamic issues.
Hisham was also skilled in argumentation about the Creator, unity of God, attributes of His Glory, discussion on free will, and natural philosophy.
Al-Shahrastani, the writer of the book Al-Milal wa al-Nihal said a similar thing when he wrote that Hisham used this phrase during his debates with the group of Ghulat (extremists).