A Shia Response to the Drumlanrig Accords
Why True Unity Cannot Compromise the Teachings of the Ahlul Bayt (AS)
The Drumlanrig Accords is a document signed by some Jewish and Muslim leaders calling for peace, friendship, and reconciliation between the two faiths. While promoting peace and respect is something all Muslims support, the Shia perspective has some strong objections to this document — not because we are against peace, but because the Accords confuse political goals with religious truth.
Let us explain why, step-by-step, with support from our scholars and sources:
1. The Accords Mix Political Unity with Religious Beliefs
What they say:
The Drumlanrig Accords say that Jews and Muslims should not just work together for peace, but also recognise each other's faiths as valid paths to God.
What Shia Islam teaches:
Imam Ali (AS) said:
“The truth is not known by the people; know the truth, and you will know its people.” (Nahjul Balagha, Saying 262)
We believe that Islam, as taught by the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and protected by the Ahlul Bayt (AS), is the final and complete religion. We can work with other religions for justice, but we cannot pretend that our beliefs are the same.
Maraji' like Ayatollah Sistani and Ayatollah Khamenei have supported interfaith respect—but they never said we should accept other religions as equally true after Islam was revealed. The Quran says clearly:
“Whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted from him.”
— Quran, Surah Aal-e-Imran, Chapter 3, The Family of Imran, Verse 85
So political cooperation? Yes.
Religious compromise? No.
2. Misuse of Quranic Verses
The Accords quote the verse:
“Come to a common word between us and you…”
— Quran, Surah Aal-e-Imran, Chapter 3, The Family of Imran, Verse 85
But this verse is actually a call to Tawheed (belief in One God) — not a call to say "all religions are equal." In fact, the verse continues:
“…that we worship none but Allah, and do not associate anything with Him.”
So the Quran is not calling for equal truth in all religions — it is calling People of the Book (Jews and Christians) to accept the oneness of Allah and the final message of Islam.
Imam Baqir (AS) explained that this verse was part of the invitation to Islam, not an agreement to stay separate but united.
3. Silence on Zionism and Injustice
What the Accords ignore:
There is no mention in the Drumlanrig document of the occupation of Palestine, the killing of innocent people, or the rights of Muslims around the world.
What Shia Islam teaches:
Imam Husayn (AS) said:
“I did not rise to spread corruption or seek power, but to reform the nation of my grandfather.”
We must stand with the oppressed, whether they are Muslim or not. The Quran commands us:
“And what is the matter with you that you do not fight in the cause of Allah and the oppressed among men, women, and children…”
— Quran, Surah an-Nisa, Chapter 4, The Women, Verse 75)
Ayatollah Khamenei, Ayatollah Sistani, and other maraji' have all made it clear:
Zionism is not just a political problem—it is a moral and religious one.
Ignoring this in the name of unity is betraying the oppressed.
4. Shia Scholars Have Always Warned Against False Unity
Historical voices:
Allama Tabataba’i (author of Tafsir al-Mizan) wrote that beliefs cannot be watered down in the name of peace.
Imam Khomeini (RA) said, “We must not mix up the enemies of Islam with the People of the Book who live in peace.”
Ayatollah Misbah Yazdi warned against dialogues that confuse tolerance with acceptance of false beliefs.
True Shia scholars support respectful dialogue, but only as long as it does not:
erase the truth about Islam,
hide the message of Ahlul Bayt (AS),
or support those who kill Muslims and take their land.
5. So What Kind of Unity Do We Support?
Shia Islam supports two types of unity:
Unity of Muslims (Tawhid al-Kalima)
Working with Sunni Muslims to defend Islam and resist oppression — even if we have theological differences.
Ayatollah Sistani is a strong voice for this.Respectful coexistence with non-Muslims
Yes, we must treat everyone with respect, including Jews and Christians.
But we cannot say their religion is true after the final message of Islam.
“The most honourable of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous.”
— Quran, Surah Hujurat, Chapter 49, The Chambers, Verse 13
We respect all humans — but we submit only to the truth of Islam.
Final Verdict on the Drumlanrig Accords
The Accords are:
Politically convenient,
Spiritually misleading,
And silent on injustice.
They promote peace without truth, and unity without justice.
From a Shia point of view, they:
Misuse Quran,
Ignore the rights of the oppressed,
Blur the truth of Islam,
And contradict the teachings of the Ahlul Bayt (AS).
References and Sources
Quran 3:64, 3:85, 4:75, 49:13
Nahjul Balagha, Saying 262
Tafsir al-Mizan by Allama Tabataba’i
Fatwas and statements of Ayatollah Sistani, Khamenei, and Misbah Yazdi
Statements of Imam Khomeini on interfaith relations and Zionism