Islamic Ecumenism in the 20th Century: The Azhar and Shiism between Rapprochement and Restraint (Book)

Islamic Ecumenism in the 20th Century

Islamic Ecumenism in the 20th Century: The Azhar and Shiism between Rapprochement and Restraint is a 2004 academic monograph by German historian of Islam Rainer Brunner. Published by Brill Publishers, the book examines twentieth-century efforts at Sunni–Shiʿi rapprochement (taqrīb) with a particular focus on Al-Azhar University and its engagement with Twelver Shiʿism. The study is widely regarded as a foundational work in the field of modern intra-Islamic relations.

The book analyzes theological debates, institutional initiatives, and political contexts that shaped ecumenical discourse between Sunni and Shiʿi scholars from the late nineteenth century through the latter half of the twentieth century.

Background and Scope

Rainer Brunner, Institute for Advaned Study

Brunner situates Islamic ecumenism within the broader transformations of the modern Muslim world, including the decline of the Ottoman Empire, European colonialism, and the emergence of modern nation-states. He defines Islamic ecumenism as organized intellectual and institutional efforts aimed at fostering unity and mutual recognition among different Islamic legal and theological schools, particularly between Sunnism and Shiʿism.

Central to the book is the role of Al-Azhar as the most influential Sunni institution in the Arab world and its evolving attitudes toward Shiʿi jurisprudence and doctrine.

Structure and Content

The book is organized chronologically and thematically, tracing developments from early reformist encounters to later institutionalized dialogue.

Early Rapprochement Initiatives

Brunner documents early twentieth-century encounters between Sunni and Shiʿi scholars, including participation in international Islamic congresses and scholarly correspondence. Figures such as Muhammad Husayn Kashif al-Ghita are highlighted for their advocacy of cross-sectarian dialogue and legal pluralism.

Al-Azhar and Institutional Reform

A central section of the book examines internal reforms at Al-Azhar and their impact on Sunni perceptions of Shiʿism. Brunner analyzes curricular changes, theological debates, and the gradual emergence of a more inclusive discourse toward Shiʿi legal schools.

The Taqrīb Movement

The book provides a detailed account of the Committee for the Rapprochement of Islamic Schools of Thought (Lajnat al-taqrīb bayna al-madhāhib al-islāmiyya), founded in Cairo in the 1940s. Brunner examines its journal Risālat al-Islām and its role in promoting scholarly dialogue between Sunni and Shiʿi intellectuals.

The 1959 Al-Azhar Fatwa

One of the most frequently cited moments in the book is the 1959 fatwa by Grand Imam Mahmud Shaltut recognizing the Jaʿfari school of jurisprudence as a legitimate Islamic legal tradition. Brunner contextualizes this declaration within broader political and theological considerations rather than portraying it as a purely doctrinal shift.

Political Constraints and Decline

Later chapters explore how regional politics, including Arab nationalism, Cold War dynamics, and the Iranian Revolution of 1979, contributed to the decline of ecumenical initiatives. Brunner emphasizes that ecumenism remained vulnerable to changing political alliances and state interests.

Scholarly Reception

The book has been widely reviewed in academic journals and is frequently cited in studies of Sunni–Shiʿi relations. Reviewers have praised its extensive use of primary sources and its nuanced treatment of theology and politics.

Some scholars have noted that the book focuses primarily on elite scholars and institutions, with less attention to popular religious practice or grassroots reception of ecumenical ideas. Nonetheless, it is generally regarded as the most comprehensive historical study of twentieth-century Islamic ecumenism to date.

Significance

Islamic Ecumenism in the 20th Century is considered a standard reference for understanding modern Sunni–Shiʿi dialogue. By documenting both moments of rapprochement and structural limitations, the book contributes to broader discussions on religious pluralism, unity, and diversity within Islam.

The work is frequently cited in contemporary analyses of inter-sectarian relations and initiatives aimed at fostering intra-Muslim understanding.

Bibliography

• Brunner, R. (2004). Islamic Ecumenism in the 20th Century: The Azhar and Shiism between Rapprochement and Restraint. Leiden & Boston: Brill Publishers.