Sunni Shia Unity Declaration

We, the undersigned,

Are deeply apprehensive at the ways in which description and commentary on Muslims and Muslim affairs have increasingly come to assume a sectarian dimension.

We are aware that the entrenchment of a sectarian fault line adds to the tensions reproduced in our beleaguered communities along axes of loyalty and moderation as a consequence of the ‘war on terror’

We witness with great sorrow the destructive potential of sectarian strife as evidenced in present day Iraq.

We ask Muslims to recall how strategies of ‘divide and rule’ were used by colonial powers in the past to subjugate the Muslim world.

We call on all Muslims to recognize that, as in the past, ethnic and sectarian fragmentation can only benefit those who oppose Muslim self-determination.

We urge Muslims throughout the world to shun the language of sectarian fitna in favour of a sacred struggle for justice and freedom.

We appeal to all Muslims to be inspired by the spirit and principles of mutual recognition, pluralism and solidarity embodied in the Amman Statement.

We remind all Muslims that:

Whosoever is an adherent of one of the four Sunni Schools of Jurisprudence (Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi’i and Hanbali), the Ja’fari (Shi’i) School of Jurisprudence, the Zaydi School of Jurisprudence, the Ibadi School of Jurisprudence, or the Thahiri School, or any other recognized school of Jurisprudence, is a Muslim.
It is not possible to declare as apostates any group of Muslims who believes in Allah the Mighty and Sublime and Allah’s Messenger (may Peace and Blessings be upon him) and respects the pillars of Islam.
There exists more in common between the various Schools of Jurisprudence than there is difference. The adherents to the eight Schools of Jurisprudence are in agreement as regards the basic Islamic principles. All are in agreement about the five pillars of Islam. All are also in agreement about the foundations of belief. Acknowledging the diversity of Schools of Jurisprudence and affirming discussion and engagement between them ensures fairness, moderation, mutual forgiveness, compassion, and only by engaging in dialogue with our fellow Muslims can we advance our understanding of our faith.


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Signatories
Below are the main signatories to the declaration. To add your name, use the comments form below

Harfiyah Abdal Haleem
IFEES, UK

M.A.S Abdel Haleem
SOAS, University of London, UK

Prof. Arif Abdul Hussein
Founder, The Mahdi Institute, UK

Hussein Aggrama
Chicago University, USA

Prof. Yasin Aktay
Selcuk University, Turkey

Sayyid Fadhil H Al-Milani
Dean of International Colleges for Islamic Studies, London, UK

Dr Talal Asad
CUNY Graduate Centre, USA

Prof. Cemil Aydin
University of North Carolina, USA

Jamal Badawi
St. Mary’s University, Halifax, NS, Canada

Asma Barlas
Ithaca College, USA

Golbarg Bashi
University of Bristol

Mehmet Bekaroglu
Secretary of East Conference, Turkey

Yahya Birt
City Circle, London

Myriam Blin
SOAS, University of London, UK

Dr. Maliha Chishti
University of Toronto, Canada

Dr. Rikia Elaroui Cornell
USA

Prof. Vincent Cornell
Emory University, USA

Dr. Gill Cressey
University of Birmingham, UK

Prof. Hamid Dabashi
Hagop Kevorkian Professor of Iranian Studies and Comparative Literature, Columbia University

Mahomed Faizal Dawjee
London

Dr. Mohamed Elmasry
National president of the Canadian Islamic Congress

Prof. Farid Esack
Harvard Divinity School, USA

Mohammad Fadel
University of Toronto, Canada

Sadek Hamid
The University of Chester, UK

Prof. Hasan Hanafi

Cairo University, Egypt

Cemalettin Hasimi Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore

Dr. H. A. Hellyer
Visiting Fellow, The Brookings Institution (USA).

Atif Imtiaz
Bradford, UK

Amina Jamal
SUNY College at Potsdam, NY, USA.

Na’eem Jeenah
President, MYM, South Africa

Dr. Mohja Kahf
University of Arkansas, USA

Yusuf Kaplan
Academic/Columnist

Saeed Khan
Wayne State University, USA

Tanvir Ahmad Khan
Former Foreign Secretary and Ambassador of Pakistan

Dr. Karima Laachir
University of Birmingham, UK

Maleiha Malik
King’s College, London, UK

Dr. Rabia Malik
The Marlborough Cultural Therapy Centre, UK

Parvez Manzoor
Sweden

Nasar Meer
Bristol University, UK

Prof. Tariq Modood
University of Bristol, UK

Omer M. Mozaffar
University of Chicago, USA

Sayyed-Mohammad Musawi
World Ahlul bayt Islamic League (WABIL)

Im Dr. A. Rashied Omar
University of Notre Dame, USA

M.A. Qavi
UK

Asifa Quraishi
UW Law School, Canada

Kaz Rahman
Visual Artist, Canada

Khalid Rahman
Director General, Insitute of Policy Studies Islamabad, Pakistan

Momade Bachir Remtula
President, Comunidade Xiita de Portugal/ Khoja Shia Ithna-Asheri Muslim Jamaat of Portugal

Amer Sabet
Department of Political Science, University of Helsinki, Finland

Omid Safi
Colegate University, Canada

Ziauddin Sardar
City University, UK

Dr. S. Sayyid
University of Leeds, UK

Dr. Mohammad Siddique Seddon
Centre for the Study of Islam in the UK , Cardiff University, UK

Shahina Siddiqui
Muslim Community Activist, Canada

Itrath Syed
Simon Fraser University, Canada

Prof. AbdulKader Tayob
University of Cape Town, South Africa

Mahdi Tourage,

Colgate University, Canada

Abdool Magid Vakil
President, Comunidade Islâmica de Lisboa, Portugal

AbdoolKarim Vakil
King’s College London, UK

Ahmed Versi
Editor, Muslim News, UK

Councillor Salma Yaqoob
Sparkbrook, Birmingham, UK

Nuh YILMAZ
George Mason University, USA

Almas Zakiuddin
University of British Columbia, Canada