A Significant Muslim Population: Afghanistan's Religious Landscape

Afghanistan is an Islamic state, with approximately 99.7% of its population being Muslim. The country's official religion is Sunni Islam, practised by around 90% of the population, while the remaining 10% are Shias. The cultural and national identity of Afghanistan is deeply shaped by Islam, with faith influencing dress, dietary codes, language, and daily routines. While the majority of Afghans believe in God and the holy Quran, not all are formally educated in the religion, with varying levels of literacy across the country.

Afghanistan is an Islamic state with Islam as its official religion

Islam was introduced to Afghanistan in the 7th century AD when the Rashidun Caliphate conquered parts of the region. It gradually became the primary religion, replacing Zoroastrianism, Hinduism, and Buddhism. By the 9th century, Islam dominated the country's religious landscape.

There are two main variations of Islam practised in Afghanistan: Sunni and Shi'a. Sunni Muslims constitute between 80% and 89.7% of the population, while Shi'a Muslims make up between 10% and 15%. The Shi'a population is predominantly Jaafari, but it also includes Ismailis. The largest Shi'a group is the Hazaras, who constitute about 10-12% of Afghanistan's population.

The Afghan government is established as a Sunni Islamic Republic, and there is strong societal pressure to adhere to Sunni Islamic traditions. The moral code of Islamic doctrine influences the political, economic, and legal aspects of an Afghan's life. However, not all Afghans are strictly observant Muslims, and there are varying interpretations of the religion across the country.

While Islam is the dominant religion, there are small residual communities of other faiths, including Christians, Sikhs, Hindus, and Baha'is. These minority groups have declined in number over the years due to fleeing sectarian tensions and conflict.

The constitution of Afghanistan establishes Islam as the state religion but stipulates that followers of other religions may exercise their faith within the limits of the law. However, conversion from Islam to another religion is considered apostasy, which is punishable by death, imprisonment, or confiscation of property according to Sunni Islam's Hanafi school of jurisprudence.

Sunni Muslims constitute between 84.7% and 90% of the population

Islam is the official religion of Afghanistan, with approximately 99.7% of the population being Muslim. Sunni Muslims constitute between 84.7% and 90% of the population, while Shia Muslims make up between 10% and 15%. The remaining 0.3% of the population follows other religions, including Christianity, Sikhism, Hinduism, and Baha'i.

The cultural and national identity of Afghanistan is deeply shaped by Islam. This is reflected in various aspects of daily life, such as dress, dietary codes, language, and regular prayers. While most Afghans believe in God and the holy Quran, not all may have a formal education in the religion due to low literacy rates in the country.

The Afghan government is established as a Sunni Islamic Republic, exerting strong societal pressure to adhere to Sunni Islamic traditions. The moral code of Islamic doctrine influences the political, economic, and legal aspects of Afghans' lives. However, it is important to note that not all Afghans are strictly observant Muslims, and there may be varying views regarding the role of religion in the country.

The two main variations of Islam in Afghanistan, Sunni and Shi'a, differ primarily in their interpretation of the succession of leadership within the religion. An Afghan's ethnicity is generally presumed to determine their denomination, with most Pashtuns, Tajiks, and Uzbeks following Sunni Islam, while Hazaras constitute the largest Shi'a population.

While the statistical estimations of each Muslim denomination's size in Afghanistan are unclear, sectarian tensions between Sunni and Shi'a populations have been prevalent. Sunni-dominated governments have been accused of discriminating against minority Shi'ites, and the Taliban, a radicalized Sunni terrorist group, has targeted and killed members of minority religious communities.

In conclusion, Sunni Muslims constitute a significant majority in Afghanistan, ranging from 84.7% to 90% of the population. This dominant religious group plays a crucial role in shaping the cultural, social, and political landscape of the country, while also navigating complex dynamics with minority religious groups.

Shia Muslims constitute between 10% and 15% of the population

Afghanistan is an Islamic state, with approximately 99.7% of the population being Muslim. Islam is the official state religion, and it is central to the cultural and national identity of the country. The faith is noticeable in dress, dietary codes, language, and daily routines.

The Hazara are a distinct ethnic group from the Pashtun-dominated Taliban, and they are also targeted because of their physical features. The Taliban have a history of persecuting the Hazara, declaring them non-Muslims (kafirs) and ordering their massacre in the 1990s. The Taliban blew up a statue of Hazara leader Abdul Ali Mazari, who is considered a champion of the Hazara cause for seeking equality with other Muslims in Afghanistan.

Shia Islam made its way to southern Afghanistan during the Safavid rule in the 16th century. Politically aware Shia students formed the Afghan Maoist movement in the 1960s and 1970s. After the Saur Revolution of 1978 and the Iranian Revolution of 1979, Shia rebel groups in the Hazarajat region became active in mujahideen activities, fighting against the Soviet-backed Afghan government and other mujahideen groups.

Shia Muslims in Afghanistan are a source of tension between Afghanistan and its neighbour Iran. The Taliban follow Sunni beliefs, while Iran is dominated by Shia Islam. The treatment of Afghanistan's Shia minority affects relations with one of the country's most important neighbours.

Hazaras are mostly Shia Muslims and form about 10-12% of Afghanistan's population

Afghanistan is an Islamic state, with approximately 99.7% of the population being Muslim. The country's official religion is Sunni Islam, with around 90% of the population practising this branch of the religion. The remaining 10% are Shia Muslims, most of whom belong to the Twelver branch.

The Hazara are an ethnic group and one of the largest ethnic minorities in Afghanistan, accounting for up to 20% of the country's population. They primarily reside in the Hazaristan (Hazarajat) region in central Afghanistan, as well as in significant numbers in the cities. They are also a significant minority group in Pakistan, mainly in Quetta, and in Iran, mainly in Mashhad. The Hazaras are of mixed Persian, Mongolian, and Turkic ancestry, and their language, Hazaragi, is a dialect of Persian with many Mongolian and Turkic words.

Hazaras are mostly Shia Muslims, with a significant Sunni minority. They are said to be descendants of Genghis Khan, the founder of the Mongol Empire, and the Mongol soldiers who swept through the region in the 13th century. They are believed to have converted to Shi'a Islam during the Safavid Dynasty in Persia, likely during the early 16th century.

Hazaras constitute about 10-12% of Afghanistan's population. They are one of the most persecuted groups in the country, facing discrimination and violence from the Taliban and other extremist groups. They have been targeted due to their religious beliefs and ethnic differences, with the Taliban declaring them non-Muslims (or kafirs) and ordering their massacre during their rule in the 1990s. Hazaras have also been marginalised and displaced, with their lands taken and distributed to loyalist villagers. Despite the Taliban's assurances that they will not revert to their previous policies, Hazaras continue to feel threatened and discriminated against.

Islam was introduced to Afghanistan in the 7th century

In the 7th century, the Rashidun Caliphate Arabs entered the territory that is now Afghanistan after defeating the Sassanian Persians in Nihawand. The last Sassanid emperor, Yazdegerd III, fled eastward into Central Asia, and the Arabs entered the area from northeastern Iran via Herat. A large portion of their army was stationed in Herat before advancing toward northern Afghanistan.

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

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. The Samanids propagated Sunni Islam deep into Central Asia. The Friday Mosque of Herat, believed to have been built under the Ghurids in the 12th century, is one of the oldest mosques in the country.

Islam is the official state religion of Afghanistan, with approximately 99.7% of the population being Muslim. Roughly 90% follow Sunni Islam, while around 10% are Shias.

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