The Safavid period is often regarded as the era characterized by heightened sectarian differences between Iran and the Ottoman Empire. Nevertheless, history also demonstrates leafs of unity, coexistence, and friendship between the two Muslim states. Following the signing of the Zahab Treaty (1049 A.H.; 1639 C.E.) between Shah Safi of Iran and the Ottoman Sultan Murad IV, the Ottomans abandoned their hostile policies towards Iran. Consequently, the effect of sectarian animosity, which was a factor of constant conflict between the two sides, subsided to a certain degree.
During the Afsharid period, Nader Shah of Iran fought the Ottomans for several years before he came to realize it was best to work for peace and reconciliation between Muslims. To bring about reconciliation between the Shi‘ah and the Sunnah he organized the “Najaf Religious Society” in 1156 A.H. In that deliberative congress, great Iraqi Shi‘i and Sunni ‘ulama’ (scholars) from the cities of Najaf, Karbala’, Baghdad, Kadhimiyah, and Hillah participated next to scholars from Iran, Afghanistan, and Bukhara.
)