Ayatollah Sheikh Abdul Karim Imam Zanjani Efforts for Islamic Unity

One of the great Shia scholars of our time who struggled for Islamic unity was Ayatollah Sheikh Abdul Karim Imam Zanjani, for which he went on missions to various countries and delivered lectures. On his mission, he also became friends with the president of Al-Azhar University, Muhammad Mustafa al-Maraghi. One of Ayatollah Zanjani’s most important activities for Islamic unity was his speech in the Congress of Islamic Scholars and Western Scholars in Damascus, which resulted in the historical resolution to recognize Twelver Shi’itism as one of the legitimate Islamic sects by Sunni scholars of the four sects.
Founding the Majlis A’lay Islami, with the companionship of Sheikh Mustafa Maraghi was another one of his achievements for Islamic unity. These two Muslim scholars believed that practical unity in jurisprudence among the Islamic nation creates the grounds for true Islamic unity.
Ayatollah Zanjani also sent letters to the leaders of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait which was welcomed by them. However, ill-thinking and grudge by jealous narrow-minded people flooded him with accusations by the public, which resulted in his isolation.
As well as introducing this great Shi’a scholar, this article reveals some of his activities on his path to Islamic unity.