Al-Azhar Grand Imam Calls to Foster Unity Among Islamic Schools of Thought

Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders, highlighted that ‘rapprochement’ between Sunnis and Shias has long captivated the scholars of the Muslim Ummah. They have diligently worked to sustain this objective within the consciousness of Muslim communities, ingraining it deeply and invoking it in their emotions whenever the seeds of division and discord threatened to emerge, disrupting their unity and undermining their stability and security. 

Speaking at the Intra-Islamic Dialogue Conference, themed "One Nation, One Shared Destiny," in Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain, His Eminence also noted that Despite considerable efforts, the issue of ‘rapprochement’ remains an open question, as if no scholar had ever written about it before. The likely reason for this is that most studies addressing rapprochement have approached it from a purely theoretical and polemical perspective, without making the transition from abstract discourse to practical implementation, integrating it into the realities of Muslim communities.

He also noted that Dar ِِAl-Taqrib in Cairo—under the supervision of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, represented by its scholars, including Al-Azhar professors, and scholars from the Twelver Shiite religious authorities—published the journal “Risalat Al-Islam” in nine volumes, spanning over 4,000 pages. This publication covered a period of eight years, from 1949 to 1957. Beyond this, dozens of studies, books, and university dissertations have been published and widely distributed by publishing houses in Egypt, Iraq, Iran, and Lebanon, as well as by Western European universities, in various languages and academic disciplines.

The Grand Imam emphasized the importance of acknowledging that we are living through a genuine crisis, one that Muslims everywhere are paying a high price for, regardless of where they are. There is no way to confront the contemporary challenges and successive crises except through the unity of Muslim nations, opening channels of communication among all components of the Muslim Ummah, without excluding any group or faction, while upholding respect for national sovereignty, borders, and independence.

The Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders expressed his confidence that this blessed conference would produce a serious and actionable plan to establish unity, mutual understanding, and cooperation among all Islamic schools of thought. It should also strive to ensure a perpetual dialogue, in which all causes of division, strife, and sectarian or ethnic conflict are eliminated while focusing on points of agreement and commonality. 

Furthermore, its resolutions must affirm the golden principle: “We cooperate on matters we agree upon, and we excuse one another in matters where we differ.” Additionally, there must be a firm commitment to ending hateful rhetoric, abandoning the practices of excommunication (takfir), condemning others for innovating new practices in religion (tabdi’), and declaring others sinful (tafsiq), and moving beyond both historical and contemporary conflicts with all their complications and harmful remnants. 

He further noted that this conference should bring together all participants with pure hearts and outstretched hands, genuinely committed to turning a new page and strengthening the Islamic cause. Muslims must remain vigilant against agents of discord, avoiding the trap of destabilizing nations and exploiting sectarianism as a means of interfering in the internal affairs of states. Above all, Muslims must reject any attempt to sow division among citizens of a single country, destabilizing its security, political stability, and social cohesion. These are heinous crimes that Islam categorically forbids, that human ethics abhor, and that international norms denounce unequivocally.

The Grand Imam urged that we draw from the experiences of our contemporaries to galvanize our resolve in establishing a cooperative Islamic ‘union’ that defends the rights of this Ummah and shields its people from injustice, arrogance, and tyranny. “Consider Europe, with its twenty-seven nations; despite their diverse ethnicities, languages exceeding twenty-four, and varied religious and sectarian beliefs, they have achieved a union that safeguards their citizens, enhances peace and stability, preserves their identity from erosion, fosters economic growth, and upholds democratic values. If non-Muslim nations, despite numerous obstacles, can attain a “union” that fortifies them in political, economic, and cultural arenas, should Muslims today be unable to realize a ‘union’ essential for their survival amidst fierce storms and destructive tempests? A union founded on shared elements unparalleled among other nations: geography, history, ethnicity, language, religion, heritage, culture, and a common destiny.”

The Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif highlighted the Palestinian cause as a critical example of the need for unity within the Ummah. He emphasized the conspiracy targeting its people and the entire Ummah, including efforts to displace the Palestinians of Gaza from their homes and seize their lands. 

He noted that by the grace of Allah, both the Arab and Islamic communities—encompassing both populations and leaders—have adopted a unified and dignified stance. This stance resolutely opposes the manifest injustice and aggression against the inhabitants of a blessed land and the sovereignty of neighboring Muslim states, revitalizing hope for unity across the Islamic community.

The Grand Imam of Al-Azhar presented a proposal to the scholars gathered at the Intra-Islamic Dialogue Conference in Bahrain, saying: “I propose what I consider a necessity rather than a mere enhancement: that the eminent scholars of the Ummah, representing various schools of thought and gathered at this conference, collaborate to draft a ‘Charter of the People of the Qiblah’ or ‘Religious Fraternity’. This charter would be introduced by the authentic hadith: ‘Whoever prays as we do, faces our Qiblah, and eats our slaughtered animals is a Muslim under Allah’s and His Messenger’s protection. So do not betray Allah by betraying those in His protection.’ The distinguished Imam Sheikh Abu Zahra—God rest his soul—previously suggested this initiative, outlining its foundational principles. It would be commendable if you would study and build upon his proposal.”