The Enduring Faith Of Afghanistan: A Historical Perspective On Islam's Dominance

Afghanistan has been predominantly Muslim since the 9th century, though the country's religious demographics have shifted numerous times throughout history. Islam was introduced to the region in the 7th century AD when the Rashidun Caliphate conquered parts of the region. The local tribes began converting to Islam in the 7th to 10th centuries, with the last holdouts submitting in the late 19th century. Since the 9th century, Islam has dominated the country's religious landscape.

Islam was introduced to Afghanistan in the 7th century

Many inhabitants of northern Afghanistan accepted Islam through Umayyad missionary efforts, particularly under the reigns of Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik and Umar ibn AbdulAziz. In the south, Abdur Rahman bin Samara made incursions into Zabulistan, which was ruled by the Zunbils. During the reign of Al-Mu'tasim, Islam was generally practiced by most inhabitants of the region, and after Abbasid decline, under Ya'qub-i Laith Saffari, Islam was the predominant religion of Kabul and other major cities of Afghanistan.

The Samanids propagated Sunni Islam deep into Central Asia, and the first complete translation of the Quran into Persian was made in the 9th century. Since then, Islam has dominated the country's religious landscape.

By the 9th century, Islam had become the predominant religion in Afghanistan

The Muslim conquest of Afghanistan began in the 7th century, when the Rashidun Caliphate Arabs entered the territory that is now Afghanistan after defeating the Sassanian Persians in Nihawand. Islam gradually became the predominant religion in the region, with the last holdouts to conversion submitting in the late 19th century. By the 9th century, Islam had become the predominant religion in Afghanistan.

The first Muslim dynasties in Afghanistan emerged in the 9th and 10th centuries, with the Tahirids of Khorasan, the Saffarids of Sistan, and the Samanids of Bukhara being some of the earliest. The Ghaznavids, who ruled from the city of Ghazni in eastern Afghanistan, were the first to subdue Kabul Shahi kings. The Ghaznavids were replaced by the Ghurids, who expanded the already powerful Islamic empire.

Islam was generally practiced by most inhabitants of the region during the reign of Al-Mu'tasim, and by the time of Ya'qub-i Laith Saffari, Islam was the predominant religion of Kabul and other major cities of Afghanistan. The Samanids propagated Sunni Islam deep into Central Asia, and the first complete translation of the Quran into Persian was made in the 9th century. Since then, Islam has dominated the country's religious landscape.

Afghanistan became an Islamic state in 1996

Afghanistan has been predominantly Muslim since the 7th century, when the Rashidun Caliphate conquered parts of the region. Islam gradually became the primary religion in the region, and by the 9th century, it was the predominant religion of Kabul and other major cities.

In 1996, the Taliban took control of Kabul and established the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, an Islamic state and theocracy that imposed the Taliban's version of Islam on the parts of the country it controlled. The Taliban's harsh interpretation of Islamic law resulted in the brutal treatment of many Afghans, especially women. During their rule, the Taliban banned most girls from attending secondary school, prohibited all women from working outside the home, and enforced the wearing of the burqa.

The Taliban were condemned internationally for their treatment of women and their strict interpretation of Islamic law. In 2001, the Taliban were overthrown by a US-led invasion, and a new Islamic Republic was established in 2004.

In 2021, the Taliban returned to power, and once again established the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.

99.7% of Afghans are Muslim

Afghanistan has a long history of conquest and religious conversion. The land that is now Afghanistan was conquered by various empires and rulers, including Alexander the Great of Macedonia in 329 B.C. and Genghis Khan in the 13th century.

Islam was introduced to the region in the 7th century A.D. when the Rashidun Caliphate conquered parts of the region. The Umayyad Arab Muslims entered the area in 642 A.D. after defeating the Sassanians in the Battle of Nihawand. Many inhabitants of the region of northern Afghanistan accepted Islam through Umayyad missionary efforts, particularly under the reigns of Caliph Hisham and Umar ibn AbdulAziz.

During the reign of Al-Mu'tasim, Islam was generally practiced by most inhabitants of the region. After the Abbasid decline, under Ya'qub-i Laith Saffari, Islam was the predominant religion of Kabul and other major cities of Afghanistan. Later, the Samanids propagated Islam deep into the heart of Central Asia, and the first complete translation of the Quran into Persian occurred in the 9th century. Since then, Islam has dominated the country's religious landscape.

By the 20th century, Islam made up as much as 99 percent of the population. Afghanistan is officially an Islamic state, and approximately 99.7% of Afghans are Muslim. Roughly 90% practice Sunni Islam, while around 10% are Shias. Most Shias belong to the Twelver branch, and only a small number follow Ismailism.

Islam is a central, pervasive influence throughout Afghan society

Because Islam is a totalitarian way of life and functions as a comprehensive code of social behavior, individual and family status depends on the proper observance of the society's value system, which is based on concepts defined in Islam. These are characterized by honesty, frugality, generosity, virtuousness, piousness, fairness, truthfulness, tolerance, and respect for others. To uphold family honor, elders also control the behavior of their children according to these Islamic prescriptions. At times, even competitive relations between tribal or ethnic groups are expressed in terms claiming religious superiority. In short, Islam structures the day-to-day interactions of all members of the community.

Frequently asked questions