Risalat al-Islam (magazine)

Risalat al-Islam (Arabic: رسالة الإسلام, "The Message of Islam") was a monthly Islamic scholarly journal published in Cairo, Egypt, from 1949 to 1972. It served as the official organ of Dar al-Taqrib bayna al-Madhahib al-Islamiyya (Arabic:دار التقريب بين المذاهب الإسلامية, "The House of Proximity among Islamic Schools of Thought"), an organization founded in 1947 to foster rapprochement and unity between the various Islamic schools and branches, particularly Sunni and Shi'a Muslims.

History and publication

The journal began publication in 1949, with its first volume covering the years 1949–1950. It was published under the auspices of the Dar al-Taqrib organization in Cairo. The publication ran for approximately 60 issues before ceasing in 1972. The cessation of the magazine preceded the eventual closure of its parent institution, Dar al-Taqrib, in 1979, a decision attributed to the political climate following the Iranian Revolution and the subsequent deterioration of Egypt–Iran relations.

The motto of the journal was derived from the Qur'anic verse: "Indeed this, your religion, is one religion, and I am your Lord, so worship Me" (Surah Al-Anbiya, 21:92).

Editorial board and contributors

The journal was notable for bringing together prominent scholars from both Sunni and Shi'a traditions, making it a unique platform in the history of modern Islamic periodicals.

Sunni scholars: The institution had the support of four consecutive Grand Sheikhs of Al-Azhar: Muhammad Mustafa al-Maraghi, Mustafa Abd al-Razik, Abd al-Majid Salim, and Mahmoud Shaltout. Other notable Sunni contributors included Hassan al-Banna, founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, and prominent Egyptian writers and intellectuals such as Abbas Mahmoud al-Aqqad, Ahmad Amin, and Muhammad Farid Wajdi.

Shi'a scholars: Shi'a scholars were instrumental in the foundation of Dar al-Taqrib and the journal. Key figures included Mohammad Taqi Qomi, an Iranian scholar who was a primary founder of the organization, Mohammad Hossein Kashif al-Ghita, Muhammad Jawad Mughniya, and Grand Ayatollah Hossein Borujerdi.

Content and objectives

The primary objective of Risalat al-Islam was to promote unity and understanding between different Islamic sects, particularly by presenting the doctrines of the Imami Shi'a school in a clear and positive light to a broader Sunni audience. The journal's content focused on:

Narrowing sectarian differences: It sought to transcend narrow doctrinal disputes by emphasizing commonalities between Muslims, grounding its discourse in the Quran, the Sunnah, and the traditions of the Ahl al-Bayt (the family of the Prophet Muhammad).

Correcting misperceptions: A significant goal was to correct distorted or stereotypical images of Shi'a jurisprudence that were prevalent among some Sunni Muslims.

Legacy

Risalat al-Islam is considered a pioneering experiment in Islamic ecumenism. Its efforts contributed to a temporary thaw in Sunni-Shia relations and led to historic exchanges, such as the first official visit of an Al-Azhar delegation to Iran. Despite its discontinuation, the legacy of the magazine and its parent organization was revived when the World Forum for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought was established in Tehran in 1990. This forum subsequently republished Risalat al-Islam to continue the work of its predecessor.