Special Analytical Column – en.tohed.comIn Afghanistan, the land has been made constricted for Ahl al-Hadith (Salafi) scholars. Those scholars who spent their entire lives calling to pure Tawheed, the authentic Sunnah, and speaking out against shirk and bid‘ah are today either martyred, rotting in prisons, or forced into a life of silence.
The Taliban government, which claims to establish an Islamic system, is in reality enforcing a particular juristic school through force. Anyone who disagrees with them is labeled “Daeshi,” “Khariji,” or “fitnah-maker,” and eventually declared “liable to be killed.”
Names of Martyred Salafi Scholars
Shaykh Abu ‘Ubaydullah MutawakkilA well-known Ahl al-Hadith khateeb of Kabul. After being abducted, his body was later found.
Mawlawi Muhammad Nabi MuhammadiHe used to clarify the creed of Tawheed in religious gatherings. He was killed without any trial.
Shaykh Isma‘il AfghanA famous Salafi muhaddith from Nangarhar. He was martyred in an attack while delivering lessons of Hadith.
Mawlawi Faheemullah HaqqaniThe imam of a grand mosque in Logar. After the Fajr prayer, Taliban personnel shot and martyred him.
Mawlawi Hanifullah BasharA well-known teacher from Kunar province. He received multiple threats and was eventually abducted; his body was later found in a deserted area.
Mawlawi ‘Abdur-Rahman SalikA Salafi scholar from Khost province. After his arrest, he was accused of being affiliated with Daesh and then killed.
This list is not complete. These are only the names of scholars whose information managed to reach the outside world. Many scholars disappeared without their bodies ever being found or any news being known.
Complete Ban on Ahl al-Hadith Religious Practices
The Taliban seized Salafi mosques and imposed a total ban on the following practices:
Raf‘ al-YadaynRaising the hands during prayer has been declared “bid‘ah” and prohibited.
Ameen bil-JahrWorshippers who say Ameen loudly after Surah al-Fatihah have been beaten, and some have been arrested.
Practicing Islam without blind following (taqleed)People who perform wudu or salah according to the Sunnah are monitored among the general public.
Performing funerals or shortened prayers based on the SunnahThis leads to questioning, threats, and at times physical abuse.
Crackdown on Madrasahs and Universities
The Taliban government formally launched a campaign to shut down Salafi madrasahs:
More than 60 Ahl al-Hadith madrasahs were closed in Nangarhar, Kunar, Paktia, and Logar. Salafi students were forcibly enrolled into Taliban madrasahs or compelled to return home. Lessons of Hadith, Tafsir, and ‘Aqeedah were halted. Many Salafi teachers were detained under the accusation of being “Daeshi trainers” and later disappeared.
Removal from Mosque Leadership
Salafi imams were forcibly removed, and many were martyred. In some areas, individuals from the Deobandi school were appointed as “caretaker imams” so that prayers would be conducted strictly according to Hanafi fiqh. Some khateebs who refused were stripped and beaten, while others had their beards shaved. If Tawheed or condemnation of bid‘ah is mentioned in the Friday sermon, immediate arrest follows.
Religious Genocide: Shedding Blood Based on Creed
All of this is not happening merely due to juristic disagreement. Rather, it is an organized religious genocide. The Taliban are specifically targeting Ahl al-Hadith because they spread an ideology that teaches worship of Allah directly, without blind following, amulets, or intermediaries.
In public gatherings, Salafi scholars are mocked and labeled as “Kharijis.” In marketplaces, individuals wearing Salafi attire are interrogated. In many areas, Ahl al-Hadith homes are also targeted in Taliban search operations.
Silence Is a Crime
Today, anyone who declares the Taliban’s so-called “Islamic system” to be pure Islam is either ignorant or a supporter of the oppressors. A system that kills scholars of the Qur’an and Sunnah and criminalizes acting upon the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ can never be an “Islamic Caliphate.”
The scholars who remain silent, the groups that remain silent over these atrocities, and those who praise the Taliban on social media are all equal partners in this bloodshed.
