Taqreeb

Taqreeb is an Arabic word that literally means "to bring closer." It is based on the consonant root letters Q-R-B, with the derivatives qareeb (close) and qurbat (closeness); many Indian languages, such as Hindi and Urdu, have appropriated this word over the years. In the form “taqreeb,” the word expresses an active effort to “bring closer.” As such, it succinctly conveys the mindset of building bridges and bringing people together in peace and harmony.

The concept of Taqreeb, as we define it, is the propagation of inter/intra faith and community understanding so that we may better unite for peaceful causes. In our attempt to understand each other's ideologies, it does not mean that we must homogenize diverse groups or ignore differences. It does not mean "taking things lying down" or giving up your rights or culture. We believe there is nothing passive about Taqreeb.  It is an active effort to understand differences and commonalities.

Our aim is to learn to respect the differences we cannot reconcile and find common ground on which we can build our relationships. Our hope is that these concepts and ideas will develop exponentially in academia and have positive reverberations in the communities we live in through grassroots movements and policy decisions.