The Meaning of "Controversy" and "Debate" (جدل ومراء)
Meaning of "Controversy" (جدل)
Linguistic Meaning of "Controversy":
- Al-Jadl (الجدل) refers to intense opposition or quarrelling during disputes, where one is proficient at engaging in such disputes. It means to argue against someone or engage in a dispute, often with a forceful counter-argument.
- It involves countering arguments with logical reasoning, or what could be called a "formal dispute" (مجادلة).
- According to Ibn Faris, the term Al-Jadl (جدل) is used to describe a dispute or quarrel, which is characterized by its intensity. (1)
Technical (Terminological) Meaning of "Controversy":
- Al-Raghib defines Al-Jadl as: "Negotiation on the basis of disagreement and confrontation." (3)
- Al-Jurjani explains Al-Jadl as: "The act of defending one’s statement with proof or argument, intending either to correct the opponent's claim or to establish the correctness of one's own." (4)
- He further notes: "Controversy is an argumentative exchange meant to highlight and confirm various viewpoints." (5)
The Meaning of "Dispute" (مراء)
Linguistic Meaning of "Dispute":
- Al-Mira' (المراء) means to argue or quarrel without resolution, often done out of mere stubbornness or to create tension, rather than to reach a constructive conclusion.
Technical Meaning of "Dispute":
- Similar to Al-Jadl, Al-Mira' involves a deeper contention, where individuals argue with no intention of resolving the matter, often seeking only to prove their point without consideration of truth.
Summary of Key Definitions:
- Al-Jadl:
- Linguistic Definition: Intense dispute or argumentation with the aim to overpower an opponent in a quarrel.
- Technical Definition: Negotiation or confrontation to assert one’s stance or correct the opponent’s view.
- Al-Mira':
- Linguistic Definition: A dispute, often driven by stubbornness or the desire to win, rather than to resolve the issue.
- Technical Definition: An argument with no intention of reconciliation, only to validate one's own position.