Oowais Qassim Ali
Well-Known Member
Taliban, Kitab Al Tawheed & Deoband
As Arab Salafis grapple with what they perceive as a betrayal of their goodwill—as a book they cherish most is banned in Afghanistan. They must understand that, for Afghans, the issue isn’t Kitab al-Tawhid. Its actually the person of Muhammad ibn Abdul Wahhab himself. Their confusion stems from a longstanding assumption that Taliban theological and historical sensibilities align with Deoband—which at least since the 1920s, has shown a soft spot for MIAW as a figure.. rather than a wholesale embrace of his works or ideas.
Yes, the Taliban may trace their scholarly roots to Deoband, but labeling them purely Deobandi would be an oversimplification. This is because:
a) Their Sufi lineage is primarily tied to local Afghan Mashaikh who are independent of Deoband, and are fiercely anti-MIAW.
b) They lack Deoband’s historical soft spot for Muhammad ibn Abdul Wahhab, a distinction that becomes particularly evident in their practices and attitudes.
Here is a typical attitude of Afghan ulema toward’s MIAW:
“Sultan Selim III concluded a peace treaty with Russia through the mediation of the British in the year (1207 AH). During his reign, many disturbances occurred, including the Wahhabi uprising. The founder of this uprising was Muhammad ibn Abdul Wahhab, originally from the East and belonging to the Banu Tamim tribe. The fighting began between the Wahhabis and the Emir of Mecca, Mawlana Sharif Ghalib ibn Musa’id, who was a deputy of the Sublime Ottoman Sultanate over the Hijazi regions in the year (1205 AH). The emergence of the Wahhabis had taken place many years prior, and their strength and influence first grew in their own lands. Subsequently, their harm increased, their damage multiplied, and they killed countless people, plundering their wealth and enslaving their women.”
Source: Tammat al-Niẓām fī Tārīkh al-Qaḍāʾ fī al-Islām by ʿAbd al-Ḥakīm Ḥaqqānī
Also, for a lot of Afghans, “Wahhabiyano” still evoke memories of Sayyaf, whom the Taliban see as the ultimate traitor, and Jamil al-Rahman.
Abdulrab Rasul Sayyaf, a former Afghan mujahideen leader was closely linked with Saudi Arabia and had ties with international jihadists, including those who might be labeled as Wahhabis.
Sayyaf, seen as a traitor by the Taliban due to his opposition to them, was part of the Northern Alliance against the Taliban.
Jamil al-Rahman was a Salafist leader in Kunar Province, Afghanistan, who led a group that was theologically close to Wahhabism. His assassination in 1991 led to the dissolution of the Islamic Emirate of Kunar, highlighting the internal conflicts and the complex religious landscape in Afghanistan.
OP : https://x.com/movetomuscat/status/1880985783483642068?t=JXG55AEIZk_MsinhA8decg&s=19
There is another argument being perpetuated amongst also :
The prayer behind Deobandīs would vary from Makrūh to Ḥalāl as we have Deobandīs who are inclined towards Wahhābism and we have Deobandīs in Afghanistan who aren’t Wahhābīs but are Māturīdī Ṣūfīs who don’t condone any blasphemy.
(https://x.com/ClarifyingLight/status/1875999587900747983?t=iHIOaqYEJopaKdUmtaM4og&s=19)
As Arab Salafis grapple with what they perceive as a betrayal of their goodwill—as a book they cherish most is banned in Afghanistan. They must understand that, for Afghans, the issue isn’t Kitab al-Tawhid. Its actually the person of Muhammad ibn Abdul Wahhab himself. Their confusion stems from a longstanding assumption that Taliban theological and historical sensibilities align with Deoband—which at least since the 1920s, has shown a soft spot for MIAW as a figure.. rather than a wholesale embrace of his works or ideas.
Yes, the Taliban may trace their scholarly roots to Deoband, but labeling them purely Deobandi would be an oversimplification. This is because:
a) Their Sufi lineage is primarily tied to local Afghan Mashaikh who are independent of Deoband, and are fiercely anti-MIAW.
b) They lack Deoband’s historical soft spot for Muhammad ibn Abdul Wahhab, a distinction that becomes particularly evident in their practices and attitudes.
Here is a typical attitude of Afghan ulema toward’s MIAW:
“Sultan Selim III concluded a peace treaty with Russia through the mediation of the British in the year (1207 AH). During his reign, many disturbances occurred, including the Wahhabi uprising. The founder of this uprising was Muhammad ibn Abdul Wahhab, originally from the East and belonging to the Banu Tamim tribe. The fighting began between the Wahhabis and the Emir of Mecca, Mawlana Sharif Ghalib ibn Musa’id, who was a deputy of the Sublime Ottoman Sultanate over the Hijazi regions in the year (1205 AH). The emergence of the Wahhabis had taken place many years prior, and their strength and influence first grew in their own lands. Subsequently, their harm increased, their damage multiplied, and they killed countless people, plundering their wealth and enslaving their women.”
Source: Tammat al-Niẓām fī Tārīkh al-Qaḍāʾ fī al-Islām by ʿAbd al-Ḥakīm Ḥaqqānī
Also, for a lot of Afghans, “Wahhabiyano” still evoke memories of Sayyaf, whom the Taliban see as the ultimate traitor, and Jamil al-Rahman.
Abdulrab Rasul Sayyaf, a former Afghan mujahideen leader was closely linked with Saudi Arabia and had ties with international jihadists, including those who might be labeled as Wahhabis.
Sayyaf, seen as a traitor by the Taliban due to his opposition to them, was part of the Northern Alliance against the Taliban.
Jamil al-Rahman was a Salafist leader in Kunar Province, Afghanistan, who led a group that was theologically close to Wahhabism. His assassination in 1991 led to the dissolution of the Islamic Emirate of Kunar, highlighting the internal conflicts and the complex religious landscape in Afghanistan.
OP : https://x.com/movetomuscat/status/1880985783483642068?t=JXG55AEIZk_MsinhA8decg&s=19
There is another argument being perpetuated amongst also :
The prayer behind Deobandīs would vary from Makrūh to Ḥalāl as we have Deobandīs who are inclined towards Wahhābism and we have Deobandīs in Afghanistan who aren’t Wahhābīs but are Māturīdī Ṣūfīs who don’t condone any blasphemy.
(https://x.com/ClarifyingLight/status/1875999587900747983?t=iHIOaqYEJopaKdUmtaM4og&s=19)
