Pledge of Mutual Respect and Cooperation Between Sunni Muslim
Scholars, Organizations, and Students of Sacred Knowledge

been accepted as the luminaries of Sunni Islam - as broadly defined.

Likewise, detailed discussions in matters of theology are the specific domain of trained
specialists, and proceed on the basis of well-defined principles and methodologies, which
are beyond the knowledge of the generality of Muslims.

Our forebears in faith, with all the dedication, brilliance and sincerity clearly manifested
in their works, have debated and discussed abstruse and complex issues of creed and
practice, and have failed in most instances to convince their opponents of the veracity and
accuracy of their positions.

The average Muslim is only responsible for knowing the basics of creed as they relate to
a simple belief in Allah, His Angels, Scriptures, the Prophets and Messengers, the Last
Day, and the Divine Decree.

Recognizing that the specter of sectarianism threatens to further weaken and debilitate
our struggling Muslim community at this critical time in human affairs, and recognizing
that Allah, Exalted is He, has given the Muslim community in the West a unique
historical opportunity to advance the cause of peace, cooperation, and goodwill amongst
the people of the world, we the undersigned respectfully:

- Urge Muslims to categorically cease all attacks on individual Muslims and
organizations whose varying positions can be substantiated based on the broad scholarly
tradition of the Sunni Muslims. We especially urge the immediate cessation of all implicit
or explicit charges of disbelief;

- Urge Muslim scholars and students of sacred knowledge to take the lead in working to
end ad hominem attacks on other scholars and students; to cease unproductive, overly
polemical writings and oral discourse; and to work to stimulate greater understanding and
cooperation between Muslims, at both the level of the leadership and the general
community;

-Urge Muslims in the West, especially our youth, to leave off unproductive and divisive
discussions of involved theological issues that are the proper domain of trained
specialists, and we especially discourage participation in those internet chat rooms,
campus discussion groups, and other forums that only serve to create ill-will among many
Muslims, while fostering a divisive, sectarian spirit;

-Urge all teachers to instruct their students, especially those attending intensive programs,
to respect the diverse nature of our communities and to refrain from aggressive
challenges to local scholars, especially those known for their learning and piety;

- Urge our brothers and sisters in faith to concentrate on enriching their lives by
deepening their practice of Islam through properly learning the basics of the faith,
adopting a consistent regimen of Qur'anic recitation, endeavoring to remember and
invoke Allah in the morning and evening, learning the basics of jurisprudence, attempting
to engage in voluntary fasting as much as possible, studying the Prophetic biography on a
consistent basis, studying the etiquettes that guide our interactions with our fellow
Muslims, and the performance of other beneficial religious acts, to the extent practical for
their circumstances;

- Finally, we urge the Believers to attempt to undertake individual and collective actions
that will help to counter the growing campaign of anti-Islamic misinformation and
propaganda that attempts to portray our religion as a violence-prone relic of the past
unsuitable for modern society, and by so doing justify indiscriminate wars against
Muslim peoples, occupation of Muslim lands, and usurpation of their resources.

Saying this, we do not deny the reality of legitimate differences and approaches, nor the
passionate advocacy of specific positions based on those differences. Such issues should
be rightfully discussed observing established rules of debate. However, we urge the
above measures to help prevent those differences from destroying the historical unity and
integrity of the Muslim community, and creating irreparable divisions between our
hearts. Further, we do not deny the urgency, especially in light of the situation in Iraq, of
efforts to foster greater cooperation between diverse Muslim communities. Hence, this
document should not be seen as negating any statements, or declarations designed to
foster greater peace and harmony between diverse Muslim communities. However, we
feel, as Sunni Muslims, a pressing need to first set our own affairs in order.

In conclusion, having called our brothers and sisters to act on these points, we, the
undersigned, pledge to be the first to actively implement them in response to the Divine
Word:

Do you enjoin righteousness on the people and refuse to follow it yourselves and all
along you are reciting the scripture!? Will you not reflect? (Qur'an (2:44)

We ask Allah for the ability to do that which He loves. And Allah alone is the Grantor of
Success.

Signed,

Abdelrahman Helbawi

Abdul Karim Khalil

Abdullah Adhami

Abdurraheem Green

Abdur-Rahman ibn Yusuf Mangera

Abu Aaliyah Surkheel Sharif

Abu Eesa Niamatullah

Aisha Faleh AlThani

 Asma Mirza

 Cheikhna B. Bayyah

 Dawood Yasin

Ebadur Rahman

 Faraz Rabbani

 Fuad Nahdi

 Gul Mohammad

Haitham al-Haddad

Hamza Yusuf

Hasan al-Banna

 Ibrahim Osi-Efa

 Jihad Hashim Brown

 M. Abdul Latif Finch

 M. Afifi al-Akiti

Mehdi Kader

Mokhtar Maghroui

 Muhammad Alshareef

Muhammad Ash-Shaybani

Muhammad ibn Adam

Omar Qureshi

 S. Abdal-Hakim Jackson

 Shamira Chothia Ahmed

Siddique Abdullah

 Suhaib Webb

Tahir Anwar

 Talal Al-Azem

Tanveer Hussain

 Tawfique Chowdhury

Usama Canon

 Usama Hasa

 Walead Mosaad

 Yahya Rhodus

 Yasir Qadhi

 Zaid Shakir