Holding Debates in Story of Prophet Moses
Holding debates is an educational method that has important benefits and divine figures and messengers of God have used it a lot.
Debate means discussing a subject and putting forward arguments to support one’s stance on that subject.
The subject of debate could be various intellectual, religious, moral, political, social and scientific issues.
The goal of debate is not to prove one's superiority over others, but to arrive at the truth. In an argument, on the other hand, the goal is to put an opponent in his place.
Another goal of a debate is education. This indirect education has a lasting effect.
Prophet Moses (AS), like other divine messengers, who used this method. He first went to pharaoh to strive for introducing reform and confronting social vices and corruptions.
It is a Quranic lesson for all Muslims that in order to rectify a society, the rulers who are in charge of politics, economy and culture should be corrected so that the ground would be prepared for the correction of the society.
The approach of the Quran to this issue is this:
1- Pointing to the fact that Moses (AS) went to pharaoh for a debate:
“Then, after them We sent Moses and Aaron with Our signs to Pharaoh and his Council. But they were arrogant, for they were a sinful nation.” (Verse 75 of Surah Yunus)
The first thing Moses (AS) did was go to pharaoh and the rulers of the society because one of his main programs was saving Bani Isra’il from pharaoh and his people and this would not be possible without holding a debate with pharaoh.
2- Verses about the debate between Moses (AS) and pharaoh.
“Moses said: ‘Pharaoh, I am a Messenger from the Lord of the Worlds, incumbent upon me is that I say nothing of Allah except the truth. I bring you a clear proof from your Lord. So let the Children of Israel depart with me.’ He answered: ‘If you have come with a sign, show it to us if you are of the truthful.’” (Verses 104-106 of Surah Al-Aaaraf)
At the beginning of Moses (AS) addresses pharaoh politely but without any titles or flattery and subservience.
