Congratulatory Message from His Highness Amir al-Mu'minin, Sheikh al-Quran wal-Hadith, Mawlawi Hibatullah Akhundzada (may Allah protect him), on the Auspicious Occasion of Eid al-Adha

Congratulatory Message from His Highness Amir al-Mu'minin, Sheikh al-Quran wal-Hadith, Mawlawi Hibatullah Akhundzada (may Allah protect him), on the Auspicious Occasion of Eid al-Adha

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

ﷲ أکبر ﷲ أکبر، لا إله إلا ﷲ وﷲ أکبر، ﷲ أکبر ولله الحمد

الحمد لله نحمده ونستعينه ونستغفره ونعوذ بﷲ من شرور أنفسنا ومن سيئات أعمالنا من يهده ﷲ فلا مضل له ومن يضلل فلا هادي له وأشهد أن لا إله إلا ﷲ وحده لا شريك له وأشهد أن محمدا عبده ورسوله.

To proceed: Verily, Allah, Blessed and Exalted, has said:

ــــ  قُلۡ  اِنَّ صَلَاتِیۡ  وَ نُسُکِیۡ وَ مَحۡیَایَ وَ مَمَاتِیۡ   لِلّٰہِ   رَبِّ  الۡعٰلَمِیۡنَ ﴿۱۶۲﴾ۙ [سورة الأنعام]

Translation: And say (O Mohammad) to them: Indeed, my prayer, my sacrifice, my life (in obedience), and my death (upon righteous deeds) are solely for Allah — the Lord (Sustainer) of all the worlds. [Tafsir Kabuli]

ــ وَ اَتِمُّوا الۡحَجَّ وَ الۡعُمۡرَۃَ  لِلّٰہِ ؕ... وَ اتَّقُوا اللّٰہَ وَ اعۡلَمُوۡۤا  اَنَّ اللّٰہَ  شَدِیۡدُ  الۡعِقَابِ﴿۱۹۶﴾ [سُورَةُ البَقَرَة]

Translation: And perform Hajj and ‘Umrah completely and solely for Allah, Glorious is His Majesty. And fear Allah, Glorious is His Majesty, and know that indeed Allah is severe in punishment. [Tafsir Kabuli]

ــ عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ رضی ﷲ تعالی عنه  قَالَ : ضَحَّى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى ﷲ عليه وسلم- بِكَبْشَيْنِ أَمْلَحَيْنِ أَقْرَنَيْنِ ذَبَحَهُمَا بِيَدِهِ وسَمّى وَكَبّرُ قال: رَأَيْتُهُ وَاضِعًا قَدَمَهُ عَلَى صِفَاحِهِمَا وَيَقُولُ بسم ﷲ وﷲ اکبر، متفق عليه.

Translation: It is narrated from Hazrat Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) sacrificed two rams with long horns (or its horns were not broken) and had two colors (black and white). The Prophet (peace be upon him) slaughtered them with his own blessed hand while saying Bismillah (In the name of Allah) and Allahu Akbar (Allah is the Greatest). Hazrat Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that he saw the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) place his blessed foot on the side of the animal and said Bismillah, Allahu Akbar. [Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim]

To summarize, the Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) sacrificed two rams with horns. He performed the slaughter himself, saying Bismillah and Takbir, and placed his foot gently on their sides during the act.

ــ عَنْ عَائِشَةَ رضی ﷲ تعالی عنها أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ -صلى ﷲ عليه وسلم- قَالَ « مَا عَمِلَ آدَمِىٌّ مِنْ عَمَلٍ يَوْمَ النَّحْرِ أَحَبَّ إِلَى اللَّهِ مِنْ إِهْرَاقِ الدَّمِ إِنَّهَا لَتَأْتِى يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ بِقُرُونِهَا وَأَشْعَارِهَا وَأَظْلاَفِهَا وَإِنَّ الدَّمَ لَيَقَعُ مِنَ اللَّهِ بِمَكَانٍ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَقَعَ مِنَ الأَرْضِ فَطِيبُوا بِهَا نَفْسًا» [مشکوة المصابیح]     

Translation: Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: There is no deed on the Day of Sacrifice (Eid al-Adha) more beloved to Allah than the shedding of the sacrificial blood. On the Day of Resurrection, the sacrificed animal will come with its horns, hair, and hooves, and its blood will have been accepted by Allah even before it falls to the earth (that is, at the moment of slaughter). Therefore, rejoice with this sacrifice and make your soul happy.

To all my faithful Afghan Mujahideen and Muslim brothers!

May the peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah SWT be upon you!

First of all, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all of you on the occasion of Eid al-Adha. May Allah accept your worship, sacrifices, pilgrimages, charity, and all your good deeds.

As we commemorate these holy days of devotion and sacrifice, our hearts are filled with gratitude to Allah for His blessings notably the implementation of the Shariah system, along with the peace and security that prevail. These achievements have been made possible by the Islamic Emirate, the selfless sacrifices of our martyrs and disabled brothers, and the continuous prayers of the Muslim Ummah. It is therefore our duty to sincerely thank Allah for these blessings.

Dear brothers, this moment calls for a shared responsibility to seize this opportunity fully. We must renew our efforts to advance and ensure the success of the Shariah system, strengthen our unity and cooperation, and hold every leader and individual accountable in fulfilling their responsibilities. Carelessness must be avoided; each person must carry out their duties on time, work harmoniously with others, respect each other’s roles, and strive earnestly to apply the Shariah in their own lives first, and then encourage its implementation by others.

The respected scholars hold the greatest responsibility in our community. Allah Almighty has said about them:

وَ اِذۡ اَخَذَ اللّٰہُ مِیۡثَاقَ الَّذِیۡنَ اُوۡتُوا الۡکِتٰبَ لَتُبَیِّنُنَّہٗ لِلنَّاسِ وَ لَا تَکۡتُمُوۡنَہٗ ۫ فَنَبَذُوۡہُ  وَرَآءَ ظُہُوۡرِہِمۡ وَ اشۡتَرَوۡا بِہٖ ثَمَنًا قَلِیۡلًا ؕ فَبِئۡسَ مَا یَشۡتَرُوۡنَ ﴿۱۸۷﴾ [سورة ال عمران]

Translation: And (remember) when Allah took a firm covenant from those to whom the Scripture was given: “You shall surely make it known to the people and not conceal it.” But they threw it away behind their backs and exchanged it for a small price. What an evil trade they made.

Tafsir: This means that a solemn pledge was taken from certain scholars among the People of the Book (Ahl al-Kitab) to faithfully communicate the laws and glad tidings in Allah’s Book to others, without concealing or distorting any part. They were commanded not to change the meanings or manipulate the words. However, they neglected these duties, and for the sake of a small worldly benefit, they broke their promises and altered the divine rulings. They introduced both literal and interpretive corruptions into Allah’s revelations.

They even hid the most important truths, including the glad tidings about the Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him). Just as they are miserly in spending their wealth, they are also reluctant to share knowledge. This stinginess stems from their love of wealth, status, and worldly pleasures.

A warning is also given here to the scholars of Islam: do not become consumed by worldly desires. Rather, at all times, in every place, and before all people, uphold the duty of enjoining good and forbidding evil. Never conceal the rulings of Shariah from others. The Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) said: Whoever hides knowledge from those who deserve to know it will face a punishment with a fire hotter than theirs. [Tafsir Kabuli]

Likewise, influential leaders and community elders bear a crucial responsibility to steadfastly implement Allah’s Shariah rulings within society. They must ensure that individuals receive their rightful rights and that order is maintained in every aspect. Should these leaders stray from the path of religion, the entire Shariah system and social stability would be at risk of collapse.

Once, a woman named Zainab from the Ahmas tribe posed a question to Abu Bakr Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him):

‎قَالَتْ مَا بَقَاؤُنَا عَلٰى هَذَا الأَمْرِ الصَّالِحِ الَّذِي جَاءَ اللّٰهُ بِهِ بَعْدَ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ قَالَ بَقَاؤُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ مَا اسْتَقَامَتْ بِكُمْ أَئِمَّتُكُمْ قَالَتْ وَمَا الأَئِمَّةُ قَالَ أَمَا كَانَ لِقَوْمِكِ رُؤُوسٌ وَأَشْرَافٌ يَأْمُرُونَهُمْ فَيُطِيعُونَهُمْ قَالَتْ بَلَى قَالَ فَهُمْ أُولٰئِكَ عَلَى النَّاسِ. رواه البخاري

Translation: She asked, “How long will we remain steadfast in this blessed state of Islam, which Allah granted us after the era of ignorance?” He replied, “You will remain steadfast in this good state as long as your leaders are sincere in their commitment to Islam.”

She then asked, who are these leaders? He responded, does your tribe not have chiefs and nobles whom the people obey? She answered, yes, they do. He said, these are the leaders of the people. If these leaders remain true to Islam and its Shariah, then the people will be righteous. However, if they abandon Shariah, the people will follow their example, and the responsibility for all the resulting misguidance will lie with these leaders.

Therefore, it is imperative that our leaders and influential figures take a firm and responsible stance in support of our Shariah-based system, our people, and our homeland.
Through their analyses, research, speeches, writings, and recommendations, they should help shape a positive mindset among the public. They must actively work to preserve unity and harmony in society and strive seriously to prevent discord and corruption.
Because people listen to them, their views play a significant role in guiding public opinion—and this, indeed, is one of the greatest services to the religion.

All judges and officials of the Islamic Emirate’s judiciary are reminded to uphold their noble responsibilities with utmost seriousness. They must strive with increased diligence to safeguard the legitimate rights of the people and to resolve disputes fairly and efficiently. Justice must be administered fairly, ensuring that both the strong and the weak are treated equally. All cases should be judged based on the offense itself, not on who committed it, and all rulings must follow the boundaries set by Allah (SWT).

It is imperative that the rights of the oppressed are protected, oppressors are held accountable, and public grievances are addressed swiftly and without unnecessary delays or obstacles.

The ultimate goal behind the sacrifices and struggles of our Mujahideen was the genuine establishment of an Islamic system and the implementation of Shariah law throughout society. The realization of this lofty aim is contingent upon the proper functioning and committed service of the judiciary.

The Ministries of Hajj and Religious Affairs, Propagation of Virtue, Prevention of Vice and Hearing Complaints, and Higher Education must likewise exert substantial effort. In cooperation with scholars and influential community figures, they should actively encourage the populace toward righteousness and adherence to the Sharia system within their respective areas of responsibility, employing all available capacities in this endeavor.

Our traders and industrialists must intensify their efforts for the development and prosperity of our country so that our nation becomes self-sufficient and free from dependence on others. If we truly wish to preserve our independence and freedom and stand firm against all forms of threats, then we must recognize that in today’s world, these objectives are deeply connected to resources and economic strength. Let us unite in our efforts to build and fortify our homeland.

The economic institutions of the Islamic Emirate must also enhance their support for traders and industrialists by facilitating improved conditions and aiding their progress.

The Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation, along with other pertinent institutions including provincial governors, must ensure the provision of adequate services to returning refugees. Their resettlement must be handled appropriately, and assistance should be provided for their transportation to the greatest extent possible.

All security and civil personnel of the Islamic Emirate must approach their responsibilities with seriousness and attentiveness. They should refrain from encroaching upon each other’s designated duties, as such interference results in disorder, mistrust, and widespread dissatisfaction. Serving the populace is considered an act of worship. Allah Almighty has entrusted you with the welfare of the people, and this constitutes a divine test. You are obliged to serve the people with full attention and diligence, as negligence is inexcusable. Remain vigilant, facilitate the fulfillment of people's needs, do not impose hardship, and ease their affairs—for Allah shall, in turn, ease yours. Do not squander people's time, do not shut them out, engage with them regularly, listen to their grievances and concerns, so that injustice may be averted, harm may be prevented, and rightful entitlements may be granted to all.

The system must function as a guardian and caretaker for the people, akin to a parent. It is responsible for safeguarding their rights and protecting their entrusted matters.

It is narrated:

عن أبي الشماخ الأزدي، عن ابن عم له من أصحاب النبي صلی ﷲ عليه وسلم، أتی معاوية فدخل علیه، فقال: سمعت رسول ﷲ صلی ﷲ عليه وسلم يقول: " مَنْ وَلِيَ أَمْرًا مِنْ أَمْرِ النَّاسِ ثُمَّ أَغْلَقَ بَابَهُ دُونَ الْمِسْكِينِ وَالْمَظْلُومِ أَوْ ذِي الْحَاجَةِ، أَغْلَقَ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى دُونَهُ أَبْوَابَ رَحْمَتِهِ عِنْدَ حَاجَتِهِ وَفَقْرِهِ أَفْقَرَ مَا يَكُونُ إِلَيْهَا" [ أخرجه أحمد].

Translation: Abu Al-Shamakh Al-Azdi (may Allah have mercy on him) narrates from his uncle’s son, who was a companion of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and may Allah be pleased with him, that he once visited Mu’awiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) and said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) say: Whoever is entrusted with the affairs of the Muslims and then shuts his door to the poor, the oppressed, and the needy, Allah (SWT) will close the doors of His mercy upon him in his time of greatest need and poverty.

Adherence to the commands and directives of the leadership is obligatory. All are required to act within the bounds of this obedience.

Hazrat Umar (RA) stated:

إنه لا إسلام إلا بجماعة ، ولا جماعة إلا بإمارة ، ولا إمارة إلا بطاعة. [رواه عنه الدارمي.]

Translation: There is no Islam without community and unity; there is no community and unity without leadership (Emirate); and there is no leadership without obedience.

Students of madrasas, universities, and schools must remain committed to their studies and fulfill their responsibilities. They are to respect their teachers, books, and knowledge, and appreciate the opportunities afforded to them by making productive use of their time.

Be cautious not to waste time on futile pursuits. Anything that leads to idle or purposeless activity must be strictly avoided. Your attention must remain steadfast on your primary objective.

وَ الَّذِیۡنَ ہُمۡ عَنِ اللَّغۡوِ  مُعۡرِضُوۡنَ ﴿ۙ۳﴾[سورة المؤمنون]

Translation: And those who turn away from vain and idle activities.

The Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

من حسن اسلام المرء ترکه ما لا یعنیه.  [رواه الترمذي]

Translation: Among the signs of a person’s good practice of Islam is his avoidance of that which does not concern him.

Future generations will depend on your knowledge and experience; therefore, you must strive to become competent, knowledgeable individuals. Dedicate yourselves earnestly to academic and professional development in order to serve Islam, the Islamic system, and the people with excellence.

This year, approximately thirty thousand pilgrims from Afghanistan have traveled to the Sacred House of Allah to fulfill the great obligation of Hajj. I request these pilgrims—as well as all the honorable pilgrims who have arrived from across the world at the holy sanctuaries—to pray for us and for the entire Islamic Ummah.

The Zionist assaults and acts of oppression against women, children, and oppressed Muslims in Gaza and other regions of Palestine continue unabated. These actions constitute grave crimes against humanity and severe injustice. The Islamic Emirate once again declares its unwavering support for the oppressed people of Palestine, strongly condemns all forms of aggression and tyranny committed against them, and calls for their immediate cessation.

In conclusion, I once again extend heartfelt greetings on the occasion of Eid al-Adha to all Muslims. May Allah Almighty accept your worship, sacrifices, and Hajj, and may you always remain in happiness and prosperity.

Was-salamu ‘alaykum

With respect,

Amir al-Mu’minin Sheikh al-Qur’an wal-Hadith Mawlawi Hibatullah Akhundzada

 7/12/1446 AH

‌ 14/3/1404 SH

 2025/6/4 AD