His Highness the Amir al-Mu'minin (May Allah Protect Him) met with the governors, heads of Ulema Councils, and presidents of Appeal Courts from the North-Western and North-Eastern zones. The meeting was also attended by the Governor of Kandahar, officials of the Kandahar Ulema Council, the Military Deputy of the Supreme Court, the Director General of the Central Dar al-Ifta, the Director of Religious Publications Review, and a number of teachers and madrasa administrators.
The meeting commenced with the recitation of the Holy Qur’an.
Thereafter, His Highness the Amir al-Mu'minin (May Allah Protect Him) delivered important guidance and recommendations to the participants. He commended the efforts of the officials from the North-Western and North-Eastern provinces and stated that “enjoining one another to the truth and enjoining one another to patience” through mutual advice and consultation is essential for Muslims and should be practiced among them. Through this, faith is strengthened. Those entrusted with responsibilities are in greater need of such reminders and consultations. Therefore, he urged them to continue these discussions, mutual counsel, and the practice of advising one another towards truth and patience so that negligence does not enter their affairs. He described this as a necessary requirement for reform.
He further stated that religion is founded upon sincere counsel and goodwill. Officials should strive to demonstrate goodwill in all matters. Goodwill towards Muslims includes inviting them towards unity and solidarity, as the strength of Muslims lies in unity, and through strength the Islamic system becomes firm and stable. Division and discord weaken the strength of Muslims and ultimately enable their enemies to prevail over them.
His Highness also informed the officials that Allah Almighty has granted them a valuable opportunity to serve. He urged them to serve the religion of Allah, implement Sharia, fulfil their responsibilities properly, and discharge their duties faithfully. Their objective, he said, should be the elevation of Allah’s religion. They should strive for the success of Muslims rather than their failure, call people towards Allah, encourage them to worship and obey Him, engage frequently in the remembrance of Allah, and continually turn to Him in repentance and reliance.
Addressing the governors and scholars, His Highness stated that the general amnesty previously announced was intended to prevent acts of revenge and to bring peace and reconciliation to Afghanistan. The Mujahideen had been instructed not to seek revenge, and former adversaries were instructed to lay down their weapons with the assurance that they would neither be killed nor held accountable. They laid down their arms, and the amnesty was granted to them. No reckoning was made with them then, nor is any being made now.
He added that if such a comprehensive amnesty could be granted after twenty years of conflict, during which many injustices had occurred, then efforts should also be made to encourage people to forgive one another. Many individuals still harbour longstanding grievances and enmities. Officials and scholars should work to help people move beyond these hostilities, reconcile among themselves, and grant forgiveness so that such disputes are not inherited by future generations and do not result in further bloodshed.
His Highness stated that Allah has provided scholars and officials with an opportunity to bring reconciliation among people. The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) himself actively pursued reconciliation; therefore, scholars and officials should likewise work to establish peace, eliminate discord among people, and pay special attention to reconciliation efforts. Influential elders and respected community leaders should assist in these efforts. Through their influence and through direct efforts, people should be freed from longstanding enmities.
He further emphasized that Afghanistan, during the era of the scholars, should become a country free from wrongdoing and insecurity from any quarter. He urged all present to work towards this objective. Reconciliation among Muslims, he said, carries immense virtue and reward. He prayed that Allah grant success in these efforts and noted that the general peace established in Afghanistan is itself a historic achievement for the scholars. Likewise, scholars and officials should devote attention to local and individual reconciliations and encourage people to pursue them.
At the conclusion of his address, His Highness the Amir al-Mu'minin (May Allah Protect Him) provided further guidance and recommendations regarding piety, humility, modesty, and the administration of justice among people. He stressed that officials should seek only the pleasure of Allah in the discharge of their responsibilities and strive to become a means for the guidance of others.
He advised them to implement Sharia first in their own lives so that people may observe their example and follow it. He instructed them to uphold the principles of enjoining good and forbidding evil, participate in jurisprudential gatherings, and benefit from scholarly discussions, which strengthen knowledge and foster love and unity among scholars. Allah Almighty, he said, has entrusted scholars with the inheritance of the Prophets (peace be upon them), whereby they acquire knowledge and guide people in accordance with the teachings of Sharia.
He further instructed scholars and officials to first implement the decrees issued by the Islamic Emirate upon themselves and then explain and convey them to the public. They should ensure that people properly understand these decrees and appreciate their significance and status.
At the conclusion of the gathering, all the scholars once again renewed their pledge of allegiance to His Highness the Amir al-Mu'minin (May Allah Protect Him) and pledged to exert their utmost efforts in upholding the authority of the Islamic system.
The meeting concluded with a supplication recited by His Highness the Amir al-Mu'minin (May Allah Protect Him) for the Sharia-based government and the people.
