ISLAMABAD: Islamic scholars have expressed grave concern over reports that Afghan society is being divided into free and enslaved classes in the name of Sharia, calling such actions contrary to the Qur’an and Sunnah.

This was stated by Pakistan Ulema Council Chairman Maulana Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi, Maulana Shafi Qasmi, Maulana Maqbool Ahmed, and other scholars in a joint statement.

The orders being issued by the interim Afghan government are in no way in accordance with the commands of the Qur’an and Sunnah, they said.

They said there is a serious concern over reports stating that, in the name of Islamic Sharia and the teachings of the Qur’an and Sunnah, a decision has been made to divide Afghan society into different segments, and contrary to the commands of the Qur’an and Sunnah, society is being divided into free people and slaves.

Resemblance with Hindu religious teachings

The religious scholars said this division is in no way in accordance with the commands of the Qur’an and Sunnah; rather, it resembles Hindu religious teachings, in which society is divided along the same four foundations now being applied in Afghanistan.

The Afghan Taliban government, which calls itself a Sharia-based Islamic government, should immediately present its stance on these matters to the world and should not re-impose the laws and customs of the Age of Ignorance (Jahiliyyah) in the name of Islam, they demanded.

The Islamic scholars said that after the advent of Islam and the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him), the era of ignorance had ended, an era in which human beings were enslaved, women’s rights were usurped, and society was divided into different classes.

They questioned whether the Afghan Taliban are unaware of the saying of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) that no black person has superiority over a white person, no white person over a black person, no Arab over a non-Arab, and no non-Arab over an Arab, except by piety and fear of Allah.

The approach being adopted here reflects an insult and humiliation of humanity, and such orders cannot be called Sharia rulings; rather, they can only be described as a new era of ignorance, they said.

Articles tagged with "Pakistan Ulema Council"

Scholars warn Taliban policies divide Afghan society, violate Qur’an, Sunnah