Reviewing the Islamic Approximation Projects and Examining its Disadvantages

Throughout the Islamic history, with various motivations, several political, social and religious activists and religious scholars have always tried to create unity and approximation between Islamic denominations, and in some eras they have pursued projects such as the movement of Nādir Shāh and Sayyid Jamāl ul-Dīn Asadabadi, and the establishment of “Dār al-Taghrīb” and “The World Forum for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought” can be considered as the most important. Approximation projects have always faced disadvantages such as: ambiguity in goals and meaning, management and structural challenges, and have suffered from the lack of a clear theory. Also, they have paid less attention to knowledge issues and religious differences that are the main point of division. These damages, alongside with the existence of obstacles such as the disharmony of political elements or the interference of foreigners, the existence of extreme and radical currents, went hand in hand and leaved the approximation projects and Islamic solidarity unsuccessful. Therefore, one should look for a new plan with a comprehensive approach that can overcome these challenges and damages.