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| Who are the Taliban?
September 14, 1989 marked the day of victory for the Mujahideen, as the
last of their enemies (the Soviets) fled the land of Afghanistan, in disgrace
and humiliation.
The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger,
and strive with might and main for mischief through the land is: execution,
or crucifixion, or the cutting off of hands and feet from opposite sides,
or exile from the land: that is their disgrace in this world, and a heavy
punishment is theirs in the Hereafter. [Al-Maidah : 33]
On the other side, the American government, the British government, the
French, the Chinese, and all of the rest, supported the counter-revolutionaries
called the Mujahideen; There were seven parties only in Pakistan and eight
parties in Iran who fought the Russian occupation. And after the Russians
left, these parties went into Afghanistan. All of them had different ideologies,
and a lot of weapons. And instead of having a single administration, they
fought in Afghanistan. The destruction that they brought was worse than
the destruction the Russians brought. 63,000 people were only killed in
the capitol, Kabul. Another million people migrated because of this lawlessness.
A list of some of the atrocities committed by the tribes and those in
power, before the arrival of the Taliban may be found at the following
link: [http://www.institute-for-afghan-studies.org]
Amidst all the chaos and destruction, Allah Subhaanuhu wa Ta`ala gave rise
to a group of students of knowledge, who were destined to be the torch-bearers
of Islam, fulfilling their duty to once again bring peace, harmony and justice
to this terror-stricken nation, through the religion of Islam.
The struggle of the Taliban began in the southern province of Kandahar,
when a warlord kidnapped two girls and raped them. The parents of the two
girls went to a madrasah (institute of learning), and asked the teacher
to assist them. The teacher, Mullah Omar, along with his 53 students who
were armed with only sixteen guns, attacked the base of the war-lord, released
the girls and hung the war-lord. This news spread throughout the country.
Though it seemed minor at first, it kindled the fire of the hope in the
hearts of many of these desperate people yearning for peace and establishment
of law in this devastated nation. Many other students decided to join this
movement and as the number increased, so did the determination of the Taliban
to bring peace through Islam, to their country.
The Taliban set off from city to city trying to clean up the evil and
oppression. The citizens throughout Afghanistan offered their respect
and support to the Taliban. The tribal leaders were asked to surrender,
but if they did resist, they were fought against.
Who is the leader of the Taliban?
The leader of the Taliban Islamic Movement and the Ameer-ul-Mumineen
(Leader of the Believers) of Afghanistan is Sheikh Muhammad Umar (also
known as Mullah Muhammad Umar or just Mullah Umar). Mullah Umar was born
around 1959 and he studied Islamic knowledge from a young age. In the
80's and 90's he participated in the Jihad against the Soviets, during
which he was seriously wounded several times, losing his right eye. One
account of how he lost his eye says that during a battle, his eye was
hit by shrapnel and began to hang half-way out of his socket. Seeing that
there was nothing he could to save it, he pulled it out with his own hands,
wiping the blood on the walls of a mosque, and continued fighting. His
knowledge, piety and wisdom are unquestionable. Those who have had the
honour to meet him describe him as a pious individual, upon whose sight
one's Iman (faith) in Allah is increased. He never utters a sentence without
mentioning Allah's name in it. Hearts automatically love him at first
sight. Despite being the leader of millions of people, he eats simple
food and sleeps on the floor. He refuses to live a life of luxury, preferring
instead to live the simple lives that the Prophet (SAWS) and his Rightly-Guided
Caliphs lived 14 centuries ago. For this and other reasons, many Muslims
describe him as reminding them of the Sahabah, the Noble Companions of
the Prophet (SAWS). He once said to a Pakistani journalist, Rahimullah
Yusufzai:
"We took up arms to achieve the aims of the Afghan Jihad and save
our people from further suffering at the hands of the so-called Mujahideen.
We had complete faith in Allah the Almighty. We never forgot that. He
can bless us with victory or plunge us into defeat."
What is the Taliban's goal?
To make Islam prevail over all other ideologies and ways of life. To
defend Islam, Muslim blood, property, honour and land against the hatred-driven,
anti-Islamic unjust governments and their allies.
O ye who believe! obey Allah, and obey the Messenger, and those charged
with authority among you. If ye differ in anything among yourselves, refer
it to Allah and His Messenger, if ye do believe in Allah and the Last
Day: that is best, and most suitable for final determination. [An-Nisaa
: 59]
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Read BBC news about Taliban Dec 2000
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