Taqrib: A Study of Attempts at Sunni-Shia Rapprochement in History

The idea of bringing the Ahlus Sunnah and the Shia closer to one another has enjoyed much popularity in South Africa in the past two decades since the success of the Iranian Revolution in 1979. Actually, the idea of bridging the gorge that separate the Ahlus Sunnah from the Shia is much older than the Revolution. The banner of Taqrib (which literally means “to bring close”) has been raised at various stages in history by individuals, organisations, and even governments. In this study, the various endeavours towards the realisation of this goal of Taqrib are identified and an attempt is made to explore the reasons why not one of those endeavours has ever met with success. In the first three or four articles, we look at Taqrib endeavours before the twentieth century. Later articles in this series will look at collective as well as individual ventures in the twentieth century, In Sha Allah.

adapted from al Istiqamah – a bi monthly journal (est. 1997) by Molana Muhammad Taha Karan rahimahu Llah.

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Attempts at Taqrib in History

Baghdad in the 5th/11th century

Abu Jafar al Tusi (385 AH/995 CE – 460 AH/1068 CE)

Abu ‘Ali al Tabarsi (d. 548 AH/1153 CE)

Egypt in the 10th/16th century

Nadir Shah and the Najaf Conference (1156 AH/1743 CE)

Attempts at Taqrib in the twentieth century

Collective endeavours

Jama’at al Ukhuwwah al Islamiyyah

Dar al Insaf

Dar Ahlul Bayt

The Dar al Taqrib in Cairo

Beginning

Slogan

Publications

The idea of bringing the Ahlus Sunnah and the Shia closer to one another has enjoyed much popularity in South Africa in the past two decades since the success of the Iranian Revolution in 1979. Actually, the idea of bridging the gorge that separate the Ahlus Sunnah from the Shia is much older than the Revolution. The banner of Taqrib (which literally means “to bring close”) has been raised at various stages in history by individuals, organisations, and even governments. In this study, the various endeavours towards the realisation of this goal of Taqrib are identified and an attempt is made to explore the reasons why not one of those endeavours has ever met with success. In the first three or four articles, we look at Taqrib endeavours before the twentieth century. Later articles in this series will look at collective as well as individual ventures in the twentieth century, In Sha Allah.