Al-Muraja'at (book)

Al-Muraja'at (Arabic|المراجعات), "The Referendums" or "The Written Consultations"), also translated as The Right Path, is a foundational Islamic text comprising a series of letters exchanged between the Lebanese Twelver Shia scholar Sayyid 'Abd al-Husayn Sharaf al-Din al-Musawi and Shaykh Salim al-Bishri, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar University, the foremost seat of Sunni learning in the early 20th century (Sharaf al-Din al-Musawi, 2022). Written between 1913 and 1914, the work is widely regarded as a landmark in modern ecumenical discourse, systematically addressing theological and historical points of divergence between the two major Muslim sects through a respectfully argued, source-critical methodology (American University of Beirut Libraries, n.d.).

Author and historical context

Sayyid 'Abd al-Husayn Sharaf al-Din al-Musawi (1872–1957) was born in Kadhimiya, Baghdad (then part of the Ottoman Empire), into a family of scholars tracing descent from the Prophet Muhammad (Nadvi, 2015, p. 112). He studied in the great Shia seminaries of Samarra and Najaf under teachers such as Muhammad Kazim Khorasani and Fath Allah al-Isfahani, eventually attaining the rank of mujtahid (independent legal reasoning) at the age of 32 (Misbah, 2014, pp. 43–45). A social reformer and anti-colonial activist, Sharaf al-Din was deeply committed to Pan-Islamism as a means of resisting European colonial domination of Muslim lands (Misbah, 2014, p. 12).

In 1913, Sharaf al-Din traveled to Egypt and requested a formal meeting with Shaykh Salim al-Bishri (1832–1917), the Maliki jurist who served as head of Al-Azhar University. Al-Bishri was respected for his moderate, ecumenical outlook (Sharaf al-Din al-Musawi, 2022). The two scholars agreed to a structured written dialogue in which each question and answer would be meticulously documented, producing what became Al-Muraja'at (Sharaf al-Din al-Musawi, 2006, pp. 2–5).

Structure and content

Al-Muraja'at consists of 112 letters (or "referendums"), with Sharaf al-Din signing his contributions as 'Sh' and al-Bishri as 'S' (Sharaf al-Din al-Musawi, 2022). The correspondence methodically examines the central theological and historical point of divergence between Shia and Sunni Islam: the question of legitimate leadership (Imamate / Caliphate) following the death of the Prophet Muhammad.

Methodological premise

Sharaf al-Din, in his opening letters, explains that Shia Muslims adhere to the teachings of the Ahl al-Bayt (the Prophet's household) because they believe the Prophet explicitly mandated this in authentic traditions found in Sunni sources. He states that unity among Muslims does not require abandoning Shia doctrines but rather mutual respect grounded in shared textual authorities (Sharaf al-Din al-Musawi, n.d., Letters 1–4).

Evidence from Sunni sources

A distinctive feature of Al-Muraja'at is that Sharaf al-Din deliberately restricts his evidence to the Qur'an and the Kutub al-Sittah (the six major Sunni Hadith collections) (Misbah, 2014, p. 55). Key prophetic traditions cited include:

Hadith al-Thaqalayn (the tradition of the "Two Weighty Things"): The Prophet reportedly stated, "I am leaving among you two weighty things: the Book of God and my progeny (Itrah), my Ahl al-Bayt. If you hold fast to them, you will never stray after me" (Sharaf al-Din al-Musawi, n.d., Letter 6). Sharaf al-Din argues this establishes the Ahl al-Bayt as an authoritative source of guidance alongside the Qur'an (Sharaf al-Din al-Musawi, n.d., Letter 7).
Hadith al-Ghadir (the tradition of Ghadir Khumm): The Prophet, on his return from his Farewell Pilgrimage at the pond of Ghadir Khumm, declared of Ali ibn Abi Talib: "Whoever I am his mawla (master/guardian), Ali is his mawla" (Sharaf al-Din al-Musawi, n.d., Letter 12). Shia tradition interprets this as a designation of Ali as the Prophet's successor, while Sunni interpretations vary.

The correspondence also addresses the Event of the Mubahala, the Hadith of the Cloak, and numerous other traditions demonstrating the special status of the Ahl al-Bayt (Sharaf al-Din al-Musawi, n.d., Letters 20–25).

Points of agreement

Throughout the dialogue, both correspondents affirm:

The Qur'an is the supreme authority in Islam
The authentic Sunnah of the Prophet is binding on all Muslims
Mutual respect and avoidance of takfir (excommunication) are religious obligations (Sharaf al-Din al-Musawi, 2022)

Literary style and methodology

The book is noted for its unique epistolary format, which allows for point-by-point engagement with objections. The tone is consistently respectful, with both parties addressing one another with honorific titles and refraining from polemical rhetoric (Sharaf al-Din al-Musawi, 2022). According to the publisher's description, "The written form of the debates in book form has the advantage that the two parties had the opportunity to provide the best possible replies they could give. The book is written without any disrespect and under mutual fairness" (Sharaf al-Din al-Musawi, 2022).

Sharaf al-Din's style is characterized by extensive citation and footnoting, referencing specific page numbers and volumes of classical Sunni texts. He frequently responds to potential objections before they are raised, anticipating counter-arguments (Sharaf al-Din al-Musawi, n.d., Letters 15–18).

Historical impact and reception

Al-Muraja'at has been translated into over ten languages, including English, Persian, Urdu, Indonesian, and Spanish (Misbah, 2014, p. 78). The most widely distributed English translation is by Yasin T. al-Jibouri, first published in 1994 by the Imam Husayn Islamic Foundation in Beirut (American University of Beirut Libraries, n.d.). A 2022 edition was published by Al-Burāq Publications (Sharaf al-Din al-Musawi, 2022).

Among Shia Muslims, the book is regarded as a masterwork of ecumenical scholarship, praised for its "objective approach, depth, concise language and the strength of its arguments" (Sharaf al-Din al-Musawi, 2014). It is regularly taught in Shia seminaries (hawzas) in Najaf and Qom (Misbah, 2014, p. 80).

The book has also received Sunni critical responses, including Mahmoud al-Za'bi's Al-Bayyinat fi al-Radd 'ala Abatil al-Muraja'at ("The Clear Proofs in Refuting the Falsehoods of Al-Muraja'at") and the ongoing English work Shattering the Mirage (Sharaf al-Din al-Musawi, 2022).

Contemporary scholars have noted that Sharaf al-Din's approach—engaging respectfully with a senior Sunni authority and restricting evidence to mutually accepted sources—served as a practical model for inter-sectarian dialogue (Misbah, 2014, p. 90). One of his concrete unity-building measures was choosing to celebrate the Prophet's birthday on the 12th of Rabi' al-Awwal (the Sunni date) rather than the 17th (the Shia date), and leading mixed congregations in prayer—actions directly inspired by the spirit of this correspondence (Sharaf al-Din al-Musawi, 2006, p. 5).

Significance for Islamic unity

Scholars of Islamic studies regard Al-Muraja'at as significant because it demonstrates that theological differences need not preclude mutual recognition and respect. By framing Shia doctrines as rooted in prophetic commands—rather than later innovations—the work provides a theological basis for rejecting mutual excommunication (takfir) (Misbah, 2014, p. 92).

The book remains a foundational text in academic studies of sectarianism and ecumenical dialogue within Islam. It is frequently cited as an example of how classical Islamic legal reasoning (usul al-fiqh) can be employed to build bridges between interpretive traditions (Sharaf al-Din al-Musawi, 2022).

References

American University of Beirut Libraries. (n.d.). Al-Muraja'at : a Shi'i-Sunni dialogue. Retrieved May 31, 2026, from https://libcat.aub.edu.lb

Misbah, M. (2014). The Idea of Muslim Unity in the Thought of Sayyid Abd al-Husayn Sharaf al-Din al-Musawi (MA thesis). Walisongo State Islamic University, Semarang, Indonesia.

Nadvi, S. (2015). Islamic Research and Writing. Karachi: Academy of Islamic Research.

Sharaf al-Din al-Musawi, S. 'A. H. (n.d.). Al-Muraja'at (full text). Retrieved from Internet Archive.

Sharaf al-Din al-Musawi, S. 'A. H. (2006). Reseña biográfica del autor. In Al Muraya'at (Spanish translation, S. M. Ibarra, Trans.). London: Imam Ali Foundation.

Sharaf al-Din al-Musawi, S. 'A. H. (2014, April 21). Al Muraja'at Mazhabe ahlebait [SlideShare presentation]. Retrieved from https://www.slideshare.net

Sharaf al-Din al-Musawi, S. 'A. H. (2022). Al-Muraja'at: A Shi'i-Sunni Dialogue (Y. T. al-Jibouri, Trans.). Al-Burāq Publications.

External links

Full English text of Al-Muraja'at at the Internet Archive