Recently, and in thirty TV programs that were broadcasted in the month of Ramadan, Dr. Ahmad Tayyeb the Sheik of Al-Azhar offered various discussions regarding the Shiite-Sunnite discord and he suggested that the Sunnite and Shiite scholars have to convene and discuss such disagreements so as to find a way to make peace between the two sects.
He repeated this proposition time and again in various speeches of his that were broadcasted through different media. In response to this proposition, Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi sent a letter to Dr. Ahmad Tayyeb in which he expressed his gratitude regarding Dr. Ahmad Tayyeb’s efforts towards promoting the Shiite-Sunnite unity, and he also noted a number of very sensitive and important issues. Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi is now waiting for Dr. Ahmad Tayyeb’s response to his letter.
However, considering the widespread debate regarding this letter in the media, Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi allowed us to broadcast the contents of this letter, which was a private one, for the public to realize that he backed this idea and that he had already expressed his support for this proposition.
His eminence said in this regard: “but we believe that, in the beginning, there is no need for the Shiite religious authorities and the Sheik of Al-Azhar to meet; rather, it is necessary that, first, great Shiite and Sunnite scholars of various other academic levels convene and set the grounds for meetings in which scholars of high academic levels can take part and discuss the matters at hand. We hope that Dr. Tayyeb the Sheik of Al-Azhar will also agree with this suggestion so that the preparations for such a conference can be initiated”.
The letter that was sent privately by Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi to Dr. Ahmad Tayyeb is as follows:
In His Name Almighty
Dear Dr. Ahmad Tayyeb Sehik of the respectable Al-Azhar University
First of all, I would like to extend my gratitude due to the equanimity and fairness that filled your words and comments regarding the Shiite-Sunnite disagreement regarding the issues of Imamate and the Prophet’s companions, made in the TV program called “Words of the Sheik of Al-Azhar” that was broadcasted during the month of Ramadan. I also appreciate your constant efforts towards the realization of unity amongst Muslim people.
We are very pleased with some of your remarks in this regard; for instance, in one of your remarks, you said: “the Shiites and the Sunnites are the two wings of the Muslim Ummah and what is now going on between these two sects is an effort made to undermine all Muslims by making them take up arms against each other in sectarian conflicts”, and in another remark you said: “so long as the Shiites and Sunnites believe in the Shahadatayn (the statement of the Faith), they are both considered to be the same by Al-Azhar”. We believe that these remarks are in line with the general stance of the respectable Al-Azhar which has always sought to promote intellectual and religious moderation; however, a few points in this TV program seem to be noteworthy:
First, the issue of the vilification of some of the Prophet’s companions, as you also mentioned, have been condemned not only by some of the Shiite scholars, but by all of the Shiite religious authorities. There is a negligible minority of Shiite laymen that still do such things.
Second, we believe that some of the issues that you pointed out in this program regarding the Shiite beliefs and convictions might not be that accurate.
Also, with all due respect, we believe that discussing such issues in the media might lead to an increase in the Shiite-Sunnite discord, providing the enemies of Islam with an opportunity to further pursue their sinister plots against this Faith. I wish these issues were discussed in closed academic gatherings between the Shiite and Sunnite scholars and not in the media.
Therefore, we propose to invite the prominent Sunnite and Shiite scholars to attend a scientific conference in which they can examine and discuss the most significant barriers to Islamic unity and also to determine the most crucial steps that have to be taken towards strengthening unity between different Islamic sects. Finally, the findings of this conference can be presented as binding resolutions that would be acted upon by everyone.
I hope you will also accept this suggestion so that the Shiites would not be forced to answer the doubts that you discussed with regard to their convictions through mass media and satellite channels.
In the end, I would like to express my gratitude, yet again, regarding your commitment to the promotion of unity among Muslims. May Allah bless you and His grace be upon you.
Qom- Naser Makarem Shirazi
Ramadan 29th, 1436.
