“Capacities and Challenges of Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought in the Province of Kurdistan (With an Emphasis on New Documents and Field Research)”

Kordestan is one of the provinces of Iran in which two sects of Shia Asna Ashari and Sunni Shafi live together. Indeed, the companion would lead to some cultural capacities. The purpose of the present investigation is to introduce such capacities and their challenges. Data collection has been done through several methods including: referring to historical and analytical books, referring to official websites for introducing movements, using classified documents, and conversation. Based on the findings, there are great capacities for approximation of religions in Kordestan province as follow: 1. Love of Ahla bait (peace be upon them), 2. Respecting religious values, 3. Culture of martyrdom especially between clerics, 4. Some shared doctrines, 5. Sufi tendencies, 6. Patriotism and shared customs, 7. Regarding citizenship right. Despite these capacities, there are some challenges that put the issue of approximation into crisis, including: 1. Intrigues of Zionists, 2. Disrespect for Sunni’s values, 3. Nonconformist group, 4. The effect of  adversaries’ satellite channels, 5. Activities of Takfiri group throughout the province,  6. The effect of Kurd regions of Iraq and Turky. In spite of all these capacities and challenges, there are some solutions, including: 1. Regarding Kurdish language and culture, 2. Commuting of Ulamas (religious scholars), 3. Economic development and social reform.