The invasion of Kabul by the Taliban has opened a whole new chapter in the life of the Afghan people.
The modus operandi adopted by them for the implementation of Islam may be criticised vis-a-vis the implementation strategy and the true meaning of Islam.
‘Adulterers and addicts to face stoning’, ‘Grow beards or face punishment’, ‘Women not to report for work’ are the few examples of the headlines of local newspapers that swirled after a few days of the fall of Kabul to Taliban. An in-depth analysis of these headlines and the detailed news quickly divert one’s attention towards the way Taliban are implementing Islam in Afghanistan. The question that rises in one’s mind at this time is: Are they doing the right thing at the right time? In our humble opinion the answer to this question is in the negative.
What is the sunnah (custom, way) of Allah regarding the implementation of religion? The answer lies in the first and foremost source of Islam -- the Qur’ān. It is stated in the Qur’ān that God does not hold a person responsible beyond his or her capacity. Moreover, the period of 23 years in which the Qur’ān was gradually revealed is a witness to the sunnah of Allah, that is Allah desires a gradual but a deep rooted change in the minds and souls of human beings, which ultimately reflects from their actions. The philosophy of this gradual implementation of religion is the avoidance of imbalance in the life of an individual and in the society, which can lead to the denunciation of religion by the people.
A criticism on this argument can be that the gradual implementation of Islam was restricted only to the time of its revelation, and now there are no reasons for the delay in the implementation of Islam. The answer is that all the laws related to moral values were already present in the previous religions, and Islam did not introduce those laws for the first time. For example, the punishment of adultery in Torah is stoning to death. But we know that it was some time after the establishment of the Islamic government in Madīnah that these laws were implemented. So it can be safely concluded that Islam only holds an individual responsible for his or her deeds after it provides the environment in which the violation of laws can have no justification.
As far as the correct interpretation of Islam is concerned, only that interpretation is reliable which emanates from the Qur’ān and the Sunnah or the establishment principles of human intellect and nature.
Now, if we focus on the current situation in the above mentioned context, we safely conclude that Taliban are neither striving to implement Islam in a gradual manner nor are they trying to evaluate the true Islam and understand the needs and requirements of the twentieth century. Ultimately, the outcome of the whole situation may be that after a short while it will become impossible for the people to act upon various principles of Islam, which may result in either a hatred for Islam or a strong retaliation against the Taliban government.
If people retaliate against them then according to the principle of Islam their own government will become un-Islamic as the Taliban are not in the majority (see the Qur’ān 42:38).
Now let us take a look at some of the steps taken by the Taliban:
i) No education for women:
Imagine for a few moments what the fate of a country will be where women have no access to education. The whole nation will suffer generation after generation. The first school of a child is its mother. What is the legitimate reason in favour of education being forbidden for women?
ii) Hanging of Najeeb Ullah and his brother:
It seems that Taliban has forgotten the attitude of the Prophet (sws) on the conquest of Makkah when he even pardoned the murderer of his own close relative.
The bottom line is:
i) Are Taliban presenting the true picture of Islam in front of the world? If not, wouldn’t they be held responsible for distorting the religion of Allah on the day of Judgement and paving the way for the enemies of Islam in this world?
ii) Are they ready to face the wrath of Allah on the Day of Judgement as a result of taking out their swords against Muslims?