A-1: THE MEANING OF DIAOLOGUE IN THE LIGHT OF QURAN AND SUNNAH

حقيقة الحوار ومفهومه في القرآن و السيرة النبوية

Abstract

Dialogue is the art of communicating with others and this is what Allah SWT likes us to learn. The Holy Prophet PBUH conducted many peaceful dialogues with other communities; based upon rationality and logic. The Holy Quran is full of the instances of dialogues of the Prophets with their nations for the sake of Dawah. Usually, people do not distinguish between dialogue and argument whereas they are literally different. The argument carries a sense of enmity and hatred and results in stubbornness and insistence on one's own opinion thus bringing no good. The most appropriate example of this behavior is that of Sophists who failed to contribute positively to the intellectual history of mankind despite possessing the best oratory skills. Therefore the Holy Prophet PBUH advocated a dialogue that could address human intellect and respect the difference of opinion. A meaningful dialogue is not like an ordinary discussion that lacks evidence and reasoning. We have many examples of fruitful dialogues in Islamic history i.e. dialogue of the Holy Prophet PBUH with Sy. Umar Bin Khattab R.A and Sy Khalid bin Waleed R.A etc. Another significant example is the dialogue of Sy. Jafar Tayyar R.A with Najashi which resulted in the peaceful settlement of Muslims in Habsha. So, the enterprise of dialogue is desired and promoted by the Quran and Sunnah as a strategy of Dawah.