Sheikh al-Hadith Mawlavi Hibatullah Akhundzada Sahib is the son of Sheikh Mawlavi Muhammad Khan Akhundzada Sahib, the grandson of Mawlavi Fateh Muhammad Akhundzada Sahib, and the great-grandson of Mawlavi Khudai Rahim Akhundzada Sahib. He was born into a scholarly and religious family on the 15th of Rajab al-Murajjab, 1387 AH (October 28, 1967) in the village of Miralzoi, Nakhoni area of Panjwayi District in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan. He spent the early stage of his life under the academic guidance and care of his respected father.
Family:
Sheikh Sahib's scholarly family has enjoyed a reputation for knowledge, virtue, and piety in the region for many generations.
The original residence of this renowned scholarly family is in the Takht-e-Pul District of Kandahar Province in southwestern Afghanistan. Later, the family relocated to the Panjwayi District of Kandahar. Sheikh Hibatullah Akhundzada Sahib himself was born in the village of Miralzoi in the Nakhoni area of Panjwayi District.
His father, Sheikh Mawlavi Muhammad Khan Akhundzada Sahib, was the most renowned scholar of his time in the region, known for his religious knowledge and jurisprudential expertise. He held a distinguished scholarly and social status within his community.
As a religious scholar, he played a significant role in the religious education and reform of the people of the region. He actively engaged in teaching, preaching, inviting to Islam, and reforming society, and he trained numerous students in the service and defense of Islam.
In 1357 SH (1978), when the communists, led by Noor Muhammad Taraki, staged a coup and seized political power in Afghanistan, Sheikh Mawlavi Muhammad Khan Akhundzada Sahib was among the first religious scholars in the region who rose up against the communists and their atheistic rule. The Muslim residents of the area, who had long been influenced by Sheikh Sahib’s Islamic teachings and preaching, stood firmly behind him in this jihadi uprising.
This resistance was seen as a threat to the new communist regime. The atheistic regime's security forces attempted to capture Sheikh Sahib by raiding his home and madrasa, but Allah Almighty saved him. Before they could arrest him, Sheikh Sahib migrated to the Reg area of Kandahar Province. There, along with other mujahideen, he began armed resistance against the communists.
As the jihadi resistance gained momentum and achieved gradual victories in Kandahar, Sheikh Mawlavi Muhammad Khan Akhundzada Sahib returned to populated areas and continued his scholarly and jihadi services until the end of his life.
After his father’s death, due to the brutal oppression of the Soviet occupiers in the region, Sheikh Hibatullah Akhundzada Sahib, like hundreds of thousands of other Afghans, was forced to leave his home and village. He migrated to the neighboring country of Pakistan, where he endured the bitter moments of exile for the sake of Afghanistan’s independence and the establishment of an Islamic government. He settled in the Jungle Pir-Alizai refugee camp in the border province of Baluchistan alongside other compatriots.
Religious Education of Sheikh Hibatullah Akhundzada (may Allah protect him):
Sheikh Hibatullah Akhundzada was the second son among the male children of his father, and he also began his Islamic education under the guidance of his father. He studied the recitation of the Holy Qur'an, introductory jurisprudence, Sarf (morphology), Nahw (grammar), Arabic literature, Ma'ani (semantics), and Usul al-Fiqh (principles of Islamic jurisprudence) up to the intermediate level from his father.
Afterward, he pursued advanced religious studies at the renowned madrasas and Islamic universities of the region. There, he completed all the prevalent disciplines, including Fiqh, Usul al-Fiqh, Hadith, Tafsir, Balagha, Nahw, Sarf, Adab, and Ilm al-Mirath (inheritance law). In 1411 Hijri (1990–91), he completed his final course of Hadith studies under the tutelage of the region’s prominent scholars, Sheikh al-Hadith Mawlavi Muhammad Jan Agha and Sheikh al-Hadith Mawlavi Habibullah Haqqani, and received his graduation degree in advanced religious studies.
Jihad and Political Struggle:
At the time when Sheikh Sahib was nearing the final stages of his religious education, the armed resistance against the Soviet occupiers was at its peak across Afghanistan.
This was a period when almost every Afghan; particularly the youth from scholarly and religious families, was eager to join the Jihadi fronts to fight against the Soviet invaders and the internal communists.
Being from a scholarly and Jihadi family himself, Sheikh Hibatullah Akhundzada had even greater enthusiasm and commitment toward intellectual and armed resistance against the Soviets and communists. He had created a schedule to join the frontlines even while continuing his education.
During annual school vacations, he would travel to the command post of Mullah Haji Muhammad Akhund, a renowned Jihadi commander in Kandahar province, and actively participate in the armed struggle against the Soviets.
Mullah Haji Muhammad Akhund’s command post was among the most well-known Jihadi fronts in southwestern Afghanistan. Many key Taliban leaders, including the later Amir al-Mu’minin Mullah Akhtar Muhammad (Mansoor) and Deputy Prime Minister Hajji Mullah Muhammad Hassan Akhund, were also part of this front.
Initially, this Jihadi group was affiliated with the Harakat-e-Inqilab-e-Islami led by the late Mawlavi Muhammad Nabi Mohammadi, and later it became aligned with Hezb-e-Islami under the late Mawlavi Muhammad Yunus Khalis.
Sheikh Hibatullah Akhundzada was a prominent member of this Jihadi front, known and respected both for his Jihadi commitment and scholarly background among fellow fighters.
During the fight against the Soviet invaders, he actively worked alongside both leaders of the Islamic Emirate: Amir al-Mu’minin Mullah Muhammad Omar Mujahid and the martyred Amir al-Mu’minin Mullah Akhtar Muhammad Mansoor in joint military centers of the Mujahideen, and was even wounded once.
At the time, Mujahideen in southwestern Afghanistan; especially in Kandahar, used the term "Otāq" room for their group centers. Sheikh Sahib would occasionally supervise these centers, although most of his time was spent either on Jihadi tasks or on educating and nurturing fellow Mujahideen in religious matters.
Even during his time at the battlefront, Sheikh Sahib emphasized the importance of intellectual and ideological training for Mujahideen. He often highlighted that Mujahideen must be ideologically prepared to counter atheism and other deviant ideologies because the Soviet communists, alongside their military invasion, were also waging an intellectual war against Afghanistan.
He believed that in many cases, countering intellectual invasions was even more critical than military confrontation.
Therefore, Sheikh Sahib was deeply committed to the ideological education of the Mujahideen both on the battlefield and in madrasas, and he played a notable role in this regard during his time.
Academic Excellence in Islamic Sciences:
Sheikh Hibatullah Akhundzada has demonstrated outstanding aptitude and expertise in the Islamic sciences, particularly in the fields of Fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence), Usul al-Fiqh (principles of Islamic jurisprudence), Tafsir (Qur’anic exegesis), and Hadith. Since his graduation in the year 1411 AH (1990–1991), despite his deep engagement in both jihadist activities and official responsibilities, he has consistently continued teaching these sacred sciences and has educated a significant number of students in this domain.
He earned the title of Sheikh due to his mastery in teaching the Sihah Sittah (the six canonical Hadith collections) and Usul al-Hadith (the principles of Hadith). His authorization (ijazah) for teaching Hadith traces through an unbroken chain (sanad muttasil) back to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, granted by two of his distinguished teachers: Sheikh al-Hadith Mawlavi Muhammad Jan Agha and Sheikh al-Hadith Mawlavi Habibullah Haqqani.
Foundational Role in the Taliban Islamic Movement:
Following the withdrawal of Soviet forces from Afghanistan and the subsequent collapse of the communist regime, a devastating civil war erupted, marked by factional infighting among various Mujahideen groups. During this turbulent period, Sheikh Hibatullah Akhundzada, like many of his fellow comrades from the jihadi front, distanced himself from the internecine conflict and devoted himself to scholarly and reformist pursuits.
Although Kandahar Province became a central battleground for these factional wars, Sheikh Sahib, serving as a religious teacher and mentor from a former jihadi front, remained committed to academic and moral instruction, deliberately avoiding participation in the power struggles of the time.
When the Taliban Islamic Movement emerged under the leadership of the late Mullah Muhammad Omar Mujahid as a response to the prevailing disorder and moral decay, Sheikh Hibatullah Akhundzada stood by the movement from its inception as a close jihadi companion of its founder.
As the movement gained ground in the southwestern region and expanded its organizational structure, a military court was established in Kandahar Province under the authority of the movement’s leadership. This court brought together prominent scholars and legal experts from across the country. Among them was Sheikh Hibatullah Akhundzada, who was recognized by the movement’s leadership during the jihad for his profound knowledge, juridical expertise, and piety.
Head of the Military Court:
In 1996, when Kabul came under the control of the Islamic Emirate forces, Sheikh Hibatullah Akhundzada was appointed as the Head of the Military Court in Kabul by a special decree from the late Amir al-Mu’minin, Mullah Muhammad Omar (Mujahid).
After successfully organizing the military court in Kabul and implementing the necessary reforms, he was assigned responsibility for the Military Court in the Eastern Zone. Following two years of administrative and judicial activity in Nangarhar Province, he was recalled to Kabul by another directive from Mullah Muhammad Omar (Mujahid), where he continued to serve as the Head of the Military Court until the end of the Islamic Emirate’s rule.
Why Was He Assigned to the Military Court?
One of the most notable achievements of the Islamic Emirate's rule was the establishment of nationwide security in Afghanistan. The unprecedented peace maintained during this time is so evident that even opponents of the regime acknowledged it.
The enforcement of Islamic criminal law (Hudud) played a crucial role in maintaining this peace, alongside broader reforms in the judicial system. Despite the fact that the Islamic Emirate's administrative, security, judicial, and legal officials were new to governance and had minimal resources, it was precisely through the blessing of implementing the Islamic Hudud that the Islamic Emirate was able to bring lasting security to a country plagued by two decades of war and instability.
It is important to note that the enforcement of Hudud leads to stability only when it is implemented in accordance with authentic Islamic rulings. For this reason, the Islamic Emirate placed great emphasis on appointing qualified, pious, and learned individuals at the head of judicial and legal departments; individuals deeply versed in the Qur’an, Hadith, and the philosophy of Islamic law.
The entire responsibility for enforcing Hudud during the Islamic Emirate's rule was entrusted to the Sharia courts. Meanwhile, the responsibility for discipline, accountability, and reform within the military and security ranks was specifically assigned to the Military Court.
Thus, the role of Military Court Head required a person qualified both religiously and professionally to fulfill this vital and sensitive judicial responsibility.
Two main qualities were essential for appointment to such high-level judicial roles: a proven history of jihad and deep Islamic knowledge. Sheikh Hibatullah Akhundzada, by the acknowledgment of his contemporaries, possessed both of these attributes.
This combination of religious competence and battlefield experience is what led the late Amir al-Mu’minin to appoint him to this critical judicial post. Several key reasons underpinned this decision:
The Military Court in Kabul was the most critical body authorized to implement Hudud.
The application of Hudud, while pivotal for social reform, requires a profound level of scholarship, legal precision, and emotional sensitivity from its executor.
The executor must not only be well-versed in jurisprudence and Islamic sciences, but also compassionate and morally upright. The late Mullah Muhammad Omar (Mujahid) recognized these unique qualities in Sheikh Sahib and therefore entrusted him with this major responsibility.
Whenever a sentence of Qisas (retaliation) was issued by the Military Court judges and jurists, Sheikh Hibatullah Akhundzada would personally make the first appeal to the victim’s family to forgive the perpetrator. He would quote verses from the Qur’an and Hadith on the virtues of forgiveness and earnestly request clemency for the offender.
To assist in these efforts, he would invite other senior scholars and elders present at the scene to intercede with the victim’s family, encouraging them to grant a pardon.
Significantly, Sheikh Sahib did not make these appeals in his capacity as a government official but rather as a religious leader and compassionate elder, which often led to the offender being pardoned and given a second chance at life.
In cases involving criminal offenses, if judges delivered a ruling for the implementation of Hudud, Sheikh Sahib would meticulously ensure the rulings were grounded in strong juristic principles. He would exert every humanly possible effort to seek legal avenues, under the maxim "Hudud are averted by doubts", to avoid the implementation of Hudud when there was room for legal uncertainty.
A Legacy of Justice and Compassion:
This historical account highlights Sheikh Hibatullah Akhundzada’s distinguished service as a principled, cautious, and empathetic judicial figure during the Islamic Emirate’s first rule. His consistent adherence to Islamic legal norms continues to shape his leadership today as the Amir of the Islamic Emirate, where he remains committed to the implementation of Sharia-based governance within the limits and ethics prescribed by Islamic jurisprudence.
Significant Role in Reviving Jihad Against the Occupiers:
In 2001, when the American invaders, along with their Western allies, attacked Afghanistan, and the Islamic Emirate’s leadership adopted a tactical pause, Sheikh Hibatullah Akhundzada, alongside other officials played a particularly vital role in reorganizing and reinvigorating the Mujahideen against the occupiers during this sensitive phase of the jihad.
At a time when heavy surveillance and pursuit by American forces had rendered any form of jihadi activity nearly impossible, Sheikh Hibatullah Akhundzada, together with a few other devout scholars and Mujahideen, undertook tireless efforts to reorganize and mobilize the resistance in the country’s most critical moment.
Among those who stood by Sheikh Hibatullah Akhundzada in this historic endeavor were the late Sheikh Ghulam Haidar, the martyred Sheikh Abdul Salam, and honorable Sheikh Abdul Hakim (may Allah protect him). Together, they called upon the Muslim people to join the ranks of resistance against the Crusader invaders. Spiritually, they motivated them through scholarly interpretation of Qur’anic guidance and prophetic traditions; encouraging jihad for the supremacy of God’s word and for defending their faith and creed.
Mobilizing a war-weary and weaponless Afghan population against the global crusading coalition led by the United States was no ordinary feat. These were the same Afghan people who had sacrificed over a million martyrs, seven million displaced persons, and millions of prisoners, wounded, and disabled individuals during the Soviet invasion in the name of jihad and Islamic defense. Unfortunately, due to internal conflicts and power struggles among some former Mujahideen leaders, those sacrifices were largely lost, leaving the Afghan people demoralized and disillusioned.
However, through the untiring efforts, scholarly speeches, and eloquent arguments of Sheikh Hibatullah and his determined companions, the spirit of jihad was revived among the Afghan people despite their exhaustion and despair. With nothing but faith and bare hands, they reignited the flames of resistance against the global coalition led by America.
Through this resistance, the Afghan Muslim nation demonstrated to the world that, even when weary, unarmed, and under pressure, they would rise again for jihad, fully confident that final victory against falsehood would ultimately be theirs. As the Qur’an says:
"And it was ever incumbent upon Us to help the believers."
During the resistance against the Crusader occupiers, it was the moral and spiritual support of committed scholars like Sheikh Hibatullah Akhundazada that stood firmly behind the Mujahideen. Their encouragement enabled the resistance fighters, with limited resources, to inflict historic defeats upon the U.S.-led coalition and NATO, the world’s most powerful military alliance.
Over the 15-year span of this resistance, Sheikh Hibatullah Akhundzada served in various roles, from leadership in preaching and guidance to heading judicial bodies and serving in other high-level responsibilities.
As Deputy Leader of the Islamic Emirate:
In 1394 Hijri Solar (2016), after the Islamic Emirate’s leadership council announced the passing of the founding leader, the late Amir al-Mu'minin Mullah Muhammad Omar Mujahid, and appointed Mullah Akhtar Muhammad Mansoor as his successor, Sheikh Hibatullah Akhundzada was appointed as his deputy.
Martyr Amir al-Mu’minin Mullah Akhtar Muhammad Mansoor was gifted with exceptional insight in selecting and appointing capable individuals. He personally knew nearly all key leaders within the Islamic Emirate and assigned roles to them based on their talents and understanding.
Among those trusted individuals was Sheikh Hibatullah Akhundzada. Recognizing his scholarly and administrative capabilities and his respected status among the Mujahideen, Mullah Mansoor appointed him as deputy to the Islamic Emirate, ensuring his skills would be utilized at the highest administrative level.
This appointment was a strategic success for the Emirate, as it led to the unification and strengthening of its military and administrative officials.
For ten full months, Sheikh Hibatullah Akhundzada served as deputy leader, a time when the Islamic Emirate was under intense pressure and threats from the Americans and their allies.
After the death of the founding Emir, some individuals voiced opposition to the appointment of the new leader. In that critical juncture, Sheikh Hibatullah Akhundzada played a key intellectual role in convincing and reconciling dissenters.
In this crucial chapter of the Emirate’s history, Sheikh Hibatullah exerted tremendous effort to ensure the unity of the Mujahideen. He held numerous meetings with scholars, national leaders, and veteran Mujahideen figures. In all those gatherings, Sheikh Sahib persistently emphasized unity and solidarity among the Mujahideen.
As a result of the combined efforts of Sheikh Hibatullah, his fellow scholars, and the leadership of the martyred Amir al-Mu’minin Mullah Akhtar Muhammad Mansoor, Allah Almighty protected the unified front of the Islamic Emirate from fragmentation. The entire leadership council unanimously stood behind the new Amir (Leader), and all governors from the 34 provinces, military commanders, tribal leaders, and the general population pledged allegiance to him; reaffirming their commitment to continue the jihad against the American occupiers and their supporters.
The Leader and Amir al-Mu’minin of the Islamic Emirate:
On the 14th of Sha’ban, 1437 AH, following the martyrdom of Amir al-Mu’minin Mullah Akhtar Muhammad (Mansoor), may Allah have mercy on him, by an American drone strike, the Leadership Council of the Islamic Emirate unanimously selected Sheikh Hibatullah Akhundzada as the Amir (leader) of the Islamic Emirate. They also appointed Khalifa Sahib Sirajuddin (Haqqani) and Mawlavi Muhammad Yaqoob (Mujahid) as his deputies.
His appointment to the leadership of the Islamic Emirate was considered the best means to achieve jihad-related objectives, ensure the continuation of the armed resistance against the American invaders and their supporters, and maintain the unity of the Emirate’s jihadi front.
Although many members of the Leadership Council were individuals with significant military and political recognition, they all unanimously agreed that Sheikh Hibatullah Akhundzada was the most qualified and deserving due to his scholarly and jihadist merits, and more importantly, for his ability to preserve unity within the Emirate's ranks.
Sheikh Sahib is held in high regard and trusted by all the officials and mujahideen of the Emirate due to his sincere popularity in their hearts. Allah Almighty has endowed him with a unique ability to unite them all under his leadership.
Religious and Ideological Outlook:
Like other scholars of Afghanistan, Sheikh Hibatullah Akhundzada is a religious scholar and a follower of the Hanafi school within the Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama’ah. His intellectual path is grounded in adherence to the Sunnah and the way of the righteous predecessors (Salaf al-Salih).
He remains neutral and above all kinds of sectarian, ideological, and organizational biases. A staunch opponent of religious innovations (bid'ah) and superstitions, he believes that unity among Muslims is the key to their success, while division is the root cause of all misfortune.
He has a special love for the biography (Seerah) and jihadi life of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). This affection was evident when he traveled to the Sacred House of Allah (Mecca) in 1999 to perform Hajj. After completing the pilgrimage, he showed great enthusiasm for visiting the historic sites in Madinah, such as Mount Uhud and Mount Rumaah, where the Prophet was wounded during the Battle of Uhud, and where the chief of martyrs, Hamza (may Allah be pleased with him), was martyred.
Some of His Personal Characteristics:
Sheikh Hibatullah Akhundzada possesses several unique qualities in his scholarly and social life. All officials and members of the Islamic Emirate view him as a comprehensive and widely accepted personality.
For this reason, during the selection of the late Amir al-Mu’minin, Sheikh Sahib played a key role in uniting the mujahideen and in securing their pledge of allegiance. Likewise, following the martyrdom of the previous leader, all members and fighters of the Islamic Emirate unanimously accepted Sheikh Sahib’s leadership and pledged their allegiance to him without exception.
For the past ten consecutive years, Sheikh Sahib has been teaching the noble hadiths and the interpretation (tafsir) of the Qur’an. Today, he has countless scholars among his students throughout the country. In addition to his broad knowledge, he is also known for his eloquent speech and ability to convincingly express ideas, making it easy to persuade others.
He is determined, resolute, and serious in implementing decisions and policies. Although he often remains silent in gatherings, when he speaks, his words are impactful and effective.
Despite being in his fifties, he maintains a deep passion for jihad-related matters. Dignity, composure, and Islamic compassion are core characteristics of his personality.
His lifestyle is simple and unpretentious. No signs of luxury are seen in his food, drink, clothing, or residence. Meeting him gives one the feeling of being in the presence of a kind older brother or a compassionate teacher.
He devotes great attention to jihadi affairs and currently spends most of his time organizing, coordinating, and structuring jihadi efforts rather than scholarly teaching or personal study.
The End
Compiled and Organized by: History Department of the Cultural Affairs Commission
