Al-Mufawadah as the pedagogy of negotiation: intercultural communication strategy for conflict resolution

This article introduces Al-Mufawadah – an Arabic term for negotiation – as a culturally responsive model for conflict resolution in higher education. The term is rooted in the verb fawwada, meaning to delegate or share authority. By presenting Al-Mufawadah, the article challenges hegemonic and epistemic dominance. Educators can improve students’ understanding of negotiation practices grounded in cultural contexts as a pedagogical strategy. Incorporating Al-Mufawadah reduces tensions and promotes agreement. How can HE teaching resolve conflict, adopt non-Western epistemologies, and prepare students for peace processes? Negotiation is not merely a pragmatic dialogue but a culturally nuanced process shaped by historical, linguistic, and epistemic traditions. The article examines how pre-Islamic bartering and souq practices influence Al-Mufawadah and presents five principles shaping its ethics and application: ʿUrf (trust-building), Ḥilf (alliance-building), Ḥakam (mediation), Ḥikayat (storytelling), and Taslīm (ethical acceptance). It also considers how these can be adapted into higher-education practices for intercultural conflict resolution.