MOTIVATIONAL STORY OF MULLAH MUHAMMAD UMAR

(A SPEECH ON 30 March 1996)

Note: With thanks to Mr. Abdullah Achekzai for translation from Pashto to English

In the name of Allah, the most Gracious, the most Merciful

(Recitation of Surah Al-Asr from the Holy Qur’an)

Respected elders and scholars, I know it may seem inappropriate for me to speak before you, but I hope that, based on Islamic principles, my words may be beneficial. The mission and movement of the (Afghan) Taliban is a great challenge and responsibility.

The (Afghan) Taliban consistently state that their mission and purpose, as conveyed to journalists, countries, allies, enemies, or anyone else, is to implement the Law of Almighty Allah (Shariah) on His land. This has been their objective from the beginning. They have made, and continue to make, significant sacrifices to fulfill this duty. My message to the current ulama (religious scholars) here is to communicate this mission to other scholars who are not present.

I have noticed some negligence among our ulama. When we accept the challenge to implement Almighty Allah's Shariah Law, we must clarify who will actually carry it out. The (Afghan) Taliban, as soldiers, perform their duty by fighting, risking injury or death to cleanse the land of lawlessness, moral corruption, and criminal gangs. This is their role and service.

However, when the (Afghan) Taliban claim they will implement Shariah law in society, they must recognize that they have few ulama among them. They do have scholars to assist, but the (Afghan) Taliban cannot implement Shariah alone. Only the ulama fully understand the rules, regulations, and circumstances of Shariah law. The (Afghan) Taliban may have basic knowledge of Islam, enough to distinguish right from wrong, but resolving complex societal issues requires the expertise of the ulama.

I acknowledge that some ulama are fulfilling their duties, but others refer to Ayah 286 of Surah Al Baqarah in the Holy Quran, which states that Almighty Allah (SWT) never burdens anyone beyond their capacity. However, consider the people's rights and your responsibilities. When I was studying in a small madrasah with 15-20 students during the chaos and moral corruption of 1992-1994, I witnessed widespread crime, looting, and killing. No one could imagine how it would be stopped. If I had used Ayah 286 of Al Baqarah as an excuse, I could have claimed helplessness, saying it was beyond my capacity.

I decided to place my full trust in Almighty Allah, even though it was extremely difficult. I expect the ulama to do the same. People might question how this movement started, who secretly supported it, who trained it, and who was behind it. The beginning was simple: I closed my books and left my madrasah. My friend and I walked from the village of Sangisar to Zangawat, borrowed a motorcycle from Sarwar in Talukan village, and traveled to another village. There was no pre-planned strategy. We decided to visit another madrasah and talk to the students there. Starting in the morning, we gathered 14 students, emphasizing the need to trust in Allah (SWT). I explained that our religion was being insulted and practiced openly in anarchy—moral corruption, looting, rape, murder, and bodies left unburied in the streets.

I told them we couldn’t continue our studies while these issues persisted. We had to serve Allah (SWT) without any guarantees of economic support, relying only on voluntary help from people. The mission wasn’t for a few days, weeks, months, or years—it was a long-term commitment. I asked if they were ready. None of the 14 agreed, saying they might help in their free time. Disheartened, but still trusting in Allah (SWT), I went to another madrasah and spoke to seven students there. They all agreed to join me. This was a test of my faith.

By afternoon, we had gathered 53 people, all putting their trust in Allah (SWT). I told them to come to my village the next day, but they arrived before dawn. This marked the beginning of the (Afghan) Taliban movement. A follower of Fajr prayer in our village had a dream of angels visiting the village, affirming our path. By 10 am, we borrowed vehicles from Haji Bashir, traveled to Kashte Nakhud in the Maiwand district of Kandahar, and more people joined us. We borrowed weapons from locals and continued growing. All this was due to our trust in Allah (SWT), which never leads to failure.

We urge our ulama to also put their trust in Allah (SWT). Without their help, we cannot implement Shariah Law, as only they know the rules, regulations, and circumstances. We need their cooperation and dedication despite the challenges. The (Afghan) Taliban might forget basic Islamic practices and need to be retrained. Ulama must serve based on their abilities, as it is their obligation to Allah (SWT) and the people.

Some may see no personal gain in this service, but it is a religious duty. I fear Allah (SWT) and want to make it clear that our duty is to use force and provide security. Implementing Shariah law is impossible without the ulama. If any scholar finds me unfit for my job, I will resign immediately. The (Afghan) Taliban respect and obey the ulama. If we fail, the ulama will be responsible on the Day of Judgment, as they know Shariah rules better than us.

Ulama must be active, bring new ideas, and remember their responsibility to Allah (SWT) and the Day of Judgment. If we become corrupt, the ulama should stop or remove us. The ulama must come forward and stand firm. This is my message, and I ask the present ulama to convey it to those not here. We are only responsible for (giving) clear notification, as stated in Surah Yasin of the Quran.

Courtesy: Brother Furqan Iqbal, Multazim Rafiq of Tanzeem Islami, Brisbane, Australia.

Original Source: https://youtu.be/uNAR3CZhUKo