A Nation's Spiritual Heart: Exploring Afghanistan's Abundance Of Mosques

Afghanistan is home to many mosques, including the Blue Mosque in Mazari Sharif, the Jama Masjid of Herat, the Great Mosque of Herat, and the Shrine of Ali, also in Mazari Sharif. The Shrine of Ali was constructed in 1118–1157 after a mullah dreamt that the bones of Ali bin Abi Talib were resting in what is now northwestern Afghanistan. The shrine was destroyed by Genghis Khan in the 13th century, but it was rebuilt in 1481 by Sultan Husayn Mizra. The Blue Mosque is known for being surrounded by thousands of white doves, and legend has it that any coloured dove will turn white upon entering the mosque's vicinity.

The Great Mosque of Herat

History

The mosque was built by the Ghurids under the rule of Sultan Ghiyath al-Din Muhammad Ghori, who laid its foundation in 1200 CE. It was the city's first congregational mosque, built on the site of two smaller Zoroastrian Fire temples, which had been destroyed by an earthquake and fire. The Ghurids seized power in Herat in 1175 CE, and the city was important to them due to its strategic position near the main commercial routes connecting the Mediterranean to India or China.

After Sultan Ghiyath al-Din Muhammed ibn San's death in 1203, his son, Sultan Ghayath-ul-din Mahmood, continued the work on the mosque, adding a madrassa, a religious school. The mosque was completed in 1210.

In 1221, Genghis Khan's forces conquered the province, and the mosque fell into ruin. It was rebuilt after 1245 under the rule of Shams al-Din Kart. The building was almost destroyed again in 1364 by a devastating earthquake, and it underwent several renovations and changes under different rulers over the centuries.

Design

The mosque has a rectangular design with a big verandah in the middle, filled with unique ornamentation and lavish tiling. It is laid out in a classical plan of four iwans (barrel-vaulted halls) with arcaded walls around a central courtyard nearly 100m long. There are two huge minarets flanking the main iwan. The mosque is covered in intricate and colourful mosaic, with blue bands of Quranic script. The minarets are decorated with repeated bands of stylised flowers, arabesques and geometric patterns.

The fundamental structure of the mosque from the Ghurid period has been preserved, but parts have been added and modified over time. The mosque's present appearance is largely due to renovations in the 20th century.

The Blue Mosque

Afghanistan is home to many mosques, including the famous Blue Mosque, officially known as the Shrine of Hazrat Ali. Located in the heart of Mazar-i-Sharif, the fourth-largest city in Afghanistan, the Blue Mosque is a magnificent structure surrounded by thousands of white doves. The city itself derives its name, which means "Noble Shrine" or "Tomb of the Exalted", from the large, blue-tiled sanctuary and mosque at its centre.

The founding of the shrine and the city of Mazar-i-Sharif is said to have originated from a dream. In the 12th century, a local mullah is said to have dreamt that Ali bin Abi Talib was secretly buried near the city of Balkh, close to present-day Mazar-i-Sharif. Captivated by this story, the Seljuk sultan Ahmed Sanjar ordered the construction of a city and shrine at this location. Unfortunately, this first shrine was destroyed by Genghis Khan in the 13th century.

In the 15th century, the shrine was rebuilt by Sultan Husayn Mirza Bayqarah, also known as Sultan Husayn Mizra, in an even grander fashion, resulting in the giant blue mosque that stands today. The Blue Mosque is a beautiful blend of Hindu and Islamic architecture, utilising intricately painted clay tiles to create the illusion of a floating structure. The peaceful atmosphere of the mosque provides a tranquil escape from the busy streets and bazaars of Mazar-i-Sharif.

Sunni mosques

Sunni Islam is the dominant form of Islam in Afghanistan, with around 90% of the country's Muslim population practising this branch of the faith. There are approximately 120,000 mullahs in Afghanistan, with 6,000 registered mullahs working directly for the Ministry of Hajj and Religious Affairs (MOHRA). MOHRA reports that there are 160,000 mosques in the country, with 66,000 of these registered. However, the Ministry does not have access to most of the country, especially in rural areas and villages, so the actual number of Sunni mosques may be higher. Sunni mosques in Afghanistan vary in size and significance, from large mosques in major cities like the Great Mosque of Herat to smaller community-maintained mosques in villages and neighbourhoods.

The Sunni mosques in Afghanistan serve multiple functions beyond being places of worship. They are shelters for guests, meeting places for the community, the focus of social and religious festivities, and schools. Almost every Afghan has studied at a mosque school at some point during their youth, and for many, this is the only formal education they receive. The mosques are also places where children learn basic moral values and correct ritual practices. The mullahs who officiate at the mosques are normally appointed by the government after consultation with their communities. They are partially financed by the government but are largely dependent on community contributions, including shelter and a portion of the harvest.

Shia mosques

Shia Islam is practised by a significant minority in Afghanistan, with estimates of their population ranging from 7% to 35%. The majority of Afghanistan's Shia Muslims are Twelvers, primarily of the Hazara ethnicity. The next largest Twelver communities are the Farsiwan of the western Herat and Farah provinces. Other Shia communities in Afghanistan include the Ismailis, the Qizilbash, and the Sadat populations.

The Shia community in Afghanistan has been the target of numerous attacks by extremist groups such as ISIS-Khorasan (ISIS-K) and the Taliban. These attacks have included bombings and other targeted attacks on Shia mosques, schools, and workplaces. Human Rights Watch has accused the Taliban of failing to provide adequate security and protection for the Shia community, particularly the Hazara ethnic minority.

In April 2022, a suicide bomb attack claimed by ISIS-K at Abdul Rahim Shahid High School in West Kabul killed six people and injured at least 20. Two days later, 31 people were killed and 87 injured when ISIS-K bombed Seh Dokan mosque in Mazar-e-Sharif, one of Afghanistan's largest Shia mosques.

Previous attacks on Shia mosques in Afghanistan include:

• October 2021: A bombing at the Bibi Fatima mosque in Kandahar killed at least 63 people and injured dozens.
• October 2021: A suicide bombing during Friday prayers at a Shia mosque in Kunduz killed at least 72 people and injured over 140.
• August 2021: A suicide bombing at Kabul's airport killed 170 Afghans, most of them civilians.
• June 2021: Gunmen killed 10 humanitarian deminers in Baghlan after first asking who among them were Hazara.
• May 2021: A bomb exploded inside a Kabul mosque as worshippers gathered for Eid al-Fitr, killing at least 12 people and injuring 15.
• October 2016: Islamic State claimed responsibility for a suicide attack on a crowded Shia mosque in Kabul that killed more than 30 people and wounded dozens.
• June 2017: Six people were killed and over a dozen injured in a suicide attack at a crowded minority Shia mosque in West Kabul.
• August 2017: A suicide bomber and a gunman killed at least 29 people and wounded 63 at a packed Shia mosque in Herat.

The Afghan government has pledged to increase security around Shia mosques and has authorised the arming of Shia civilians to provide extra protection. However, members of the Shia community have stated that the government's efforts are insufficient and that they continue to lack adequate protection from attacks.

The Jama Masjid of Herat

The mosque is rectangular in design with a large verandah in the middle, filled with unique ornamentation. The lavish tiling that covers the mosque is the product of the mosque's tile workshop, an ongoing restoration project since the 1940s. While many of the mosaics are based on Timurid originals, the workshop has also introduced its own designs, colours, and calligraphy. This blend of traditional and modern has resulted in a gem of contemporary Islamic abstract expressionism.

The mosque is laid out in a classical plan of four iwans (barrel-vaulted halls) with arcaded walls around a central courtyard. Two huge minarets flank the main iwan. The mosque is covered in intricate and colourful mosaic, with blue bands of Quranic script. The minarets are decorated with repeated bands of stylised flowers, arabesques, and geometric patterns. The mosque originally had a plainer appearance, as the Ghurids preferred brick and stucco decoration. However, the Timurids introduced the bright mosaic work during their restoration in the 15th century.

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