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The World Forum for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought

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The World Forum for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought
Formation1990
FounderAli Khamenei
PurposeProximity of Islamic Schools of Thought
Location
Official language
Persian, Arabic, English
LeaderHamid Shahriari
Websitehttp://www.taghrib.com/

The World Forum for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought (WFPIST) as well as Tehran's Ecumenical Society (Persian: مجمع جهانی تقریب مذاهب اسلامی) is a forum established in October 1990 by order of Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei in Tehran for the reconciliation between different Islamic schools and branches.[1]

Background of the establishment

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Main article: Islamic schools and branches

Islamic scholars from various schools have worked to bring unity between the different branches of Islam. For instance, Iranian scholar Sheikh Mohamad Taqi Qomi emigrated to Egypt in the mid-twentieth century. There he established a forum in Cairo that was named jam'iyyat al-tagrib bayn al-madhahib al-islamiyya (Arabic: دارالتقریب بین المذاهب الاسلامیة بالقاهره) in 1948. A number of scholars of Al-Azhar and some Egyptian politicians supported this forum and its secretary general Sheikh Qomi. Another attempt to achieve proximity between different schools of Islam was the publication of Risalat al-Islam Magazine (Arabic: مجلة رسالة الاسلام) by jam'iyyat al-tagrib bayn al-madhahib al-islamiyya in Cairo.[2][3] Then in 1990, Ayatollah Khamenei founded The World Forum for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought in Tehran.[1][3]

Schools recognized by the Forum

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This world forum recognizes these Islamic Sects: The Hanafi, Shafi'i, Maliki and Hanbali from Sunnis Sects, Twelver and Zaidiyyah from Shias Sects. Also, this forum recognizes Ibadi.[4]

Further information: Amman Message

Activities of the Forum

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Conferences

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The annual international conference is held every year during the Islamic Unity Week. So far, twenty-five Islamic Unity conferences are held by forum. The last annual conference was held on January 7 to 10 2015. Sixty-nine countries attend this conference.[5][6] Except annual conferences, many conferences are held by forum for specific ceremonies. For example Holding the commemoration for Ayatollah Muhammad Baqir al-Sadr in April 2015.[7]

Publications

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Books

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The forum publishes books in three main subjects:

  • Charters of Conferences of Islamic unity;
  • Writings of the Center for Scientific Research of Forum;
  • Approved books in Book Council.[8]

Journals

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  • Risalat al-Taqrib (Arabic: رسالة التقریب): This magazine is published every two months in Arabic;
  • Thought of Proximity (Persian: اندیشه تقریب): This journal is published quarterly in Persian;
  • Courier of Proximity (Persian: پیک تقریب): This indoor journal is published monthly about forum's news;
  • Risalat al-Islam: After stop publishing of Risalat al-Islam in Cairo, for importance of that, the forum in association with Astan Quds Razavi republished that magazine;
  • Islam from the West viewpoint (Persian: اسلام در نگاه غرب): This journal is published for introduction and review and critique of latest English books by topic anti-Islam unity.[8]

Goals

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According to its statute, the forum has the following objectives:

  • Working to restore and expand Islamic culture while defending the Quran and Sunnah.
  • Aiming to build familiarity and deeper understanding among scholars, elites, and leaders of Islamic societies; especially in matters of belief and Islamic law (Fiqh), particularly in cultural and political areas.
  • Working to bring Islamic viewpoints closer together and inform Muslims about the efforts of Enemies of Islam to create divisions the followers of different Islamic schools.
  • Aiming to solve misunderstandings and conflicts between Muslims of different sects.
  • Striving to strengthen and expand the practice of Ijtihad.
  • Aiming to align efforts and build a united front against the propaganda and cultural attacks from enemies of Islam.[1][4][9]

Hierarchical structure

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General Assembly

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The members of General Assembly are chosen by the Supreme Council for a period of six years. These include scholars, thinkers and Islamic religious leaders from around the world. The assembly is held every two years.[9]

Supreme Council

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According its statute, members of Supreme Council are chosen by Vali-e-Faqih for six years.[10]

President

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Its president is chosen by majority vote. The first president of forum was Ayatollah Mohammad Baqir al-Hakim.[4] Ayatollah Mohammad-Ali Taskhiri is the current forum president.[11]

General Secretary

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According to the forum's statute, the General Secretary has the highest executive status in the forum. Vali-e-Faqih elects General Secretary among the candidates who are nominated by Supreme Council, for a period of four years. The Secretary General is a member of the Supreme Council. The first General Secretary was Ayatollah Taskhiri.[4] Ayatollah Mohsen Araki is currently the General Secretary of forum.[12]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Rainer Brunner, Werner Ende (January 2001). The Twelver Shia in Modern Times: Religious Culture and Political History. Brill. ISBN 9004118039.
  2. ^ Ende, Werner. "Sunni Polemical Writings on the Shi ′ a and the Iranian Revolution" (PDF). University of Freiburg. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
  3. ^ a b Sheikh Zaki al-Milad. "Defence of thoughts of proximity in the time of sorrows". Art and Cultural Institute of Allame Askari. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
  4. ^ a b c d Alenezi, Fahaad J.M.M. DurhamE-Theses Usuli Shi'ism and state approaches to Islamic unity: the ecumenical movement in post-Safavid Iran (PDF). Durham University.
  5. ^ "Holding Islamic Unity Conference by 69 countries". Fars News Agency. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
  6. ^ "Conferences". The World Forum for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  7. ^ "The commemoration for Ayatollah Muhammad Baqir al-Sadr". Fars News Agency. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
  8. ^ a b "The Objectives, Structure and Activities of The World Forum for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought". Data base of Hawzah. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  9. ^ a b "Objectives, structure and activities of The World Forum for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought". Researchers (12, 13): 73.
  10. ^ "The World Forum for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought". Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
  11. ^ Ofra Bengio, Meir Litvak (7 November 2011). The Sunna and Shi'a in History: Division and Ecumenism in the Muslim Middle East. ISBN 9780230370739.
  12. ^ "The World Forum for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought held the inauguration ceremony of the new Secretary General". AVA. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
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