Ramadan

In photos: Afghan forces protect mosques during Ramadan

By Omar

Afghan soldiers share an iftar meal April 17 at the compound of the 207th Zafar Corps in Herat province. [Omar/Salaam Times]

Afghan soldiers share an iftar meal April 17 at the compound of the 207th Zafar Corps in Herat province. [Omar/Salaam Times]

An Afghan police officer searches a traveller at a checkpoint in Guzara district, Herat province, April 23. [Omar/Salaam Times]

An Afghan police officer searches a traveller at a checkpoint in Guzara district, Herat province, April 23. [Omar/Salaam Times]

Herat police man a checkpoint in Guzara district April 23. [Omar/Salaam Times]

Herat police man a checkpoint in Guzara district April 23. [Omar/Salaam Times]

Afghan soldiers perform evening prayers April 17 at a mosque on the compound of the 207th Zafar Corps in Herat province. [Omar/Salaam Times]

Afghan soldiers perform evening prayers April 17 at a mosque on the compound of the 207th Zafar Corps in Herat province. [Omar/Salaam Times]

Afghan soldiers perform evening prayers in a mosque on the compound of the 207th Zafar Corps in Herat province April 17. [Omar/Salaam Times]

Afghan soldiers perform evening prayers in a mosque on the compound of the 207th Zafar Corps in Herat province April 17. [Omar/Salaam Times]

An Afghan police officer searches a man before he enters a mosque on April 25 in the Badghis provincial capital of Qala-e-Naw. [Shameel Mashal/Salaam Times]

An Afghan police officer searches a man before he enters a mosque on April 25 in the Badghis provincial capital of Qala-e-Naw. [Shameel Mashal/Salaam Times]

Afghan National Army officers, soldiers and local authorities participate in evening prayers in Guzara district, Herat province, last May 15. [Omar/Salaam Times]

Afghan National Army officers, soldiers and local authorities participate in evening prayers in Guzara district, Herat province, last May 15. [Omar/Salaam Times]

Afghan soldiers hold cups of water as they wait to break their fast in Guzara district, Herat province, last May 15. [Omar/Salaam Times]

Afghan soldiers hold cups of water as they wait to break their fast in Guzara district, Herat province, last May 15. [Omar/Salaam Times]

HERAT -- Afghan National Police (ANP) Lt. Jalil Ahmad Akbari, who is stationed at a security outpost in Guzara district, Herat province, has been ensuring no weapons or explosives pass his checkpoint during the holy month of Ramadan.

Akbari is one of many members of the Afghan security forces who are protecting worshippers and religious sites during Ramadan, even as they observe the fast themselves.

"We will not let the Taliban disrupt the public's tranquility during Ramadan," Akbari said. "We want to reassure Afghan Muslims so they can perform their prayers in mosques with peace of mind."

Ramazan Mohammadi, an ANP officer in the Badghis provincial capital of Qala-e-Naw, is responsible for providing security at the city's main mosque.

A member of the Badghis police stands guard April 25 at Qala-e-Naw mosque as worshippers perform prayers. [Shameel Mashal/Salaam Times]

A member of the Badghis police stands guard April 25 at Qala-e-Naw mosque as worshippers perform prayers. [Shameel Mashal/Salaam Times]

"I keep watch around the mosque day and night to make sure the Taliban do not attack the worshippers," he said. "Like other Muslims, I am observing Ramadan and offering prayers."

"Worship during Ramadan is the duty of every Muslim, but the Taliban's terrorist attacks and suicide bombings have prevented civilians from performing their religious activities peacefully," he said.

Security forces are ready to provide security in cities and districts day and night, and they will spare no efforts in repelling attacks, Ramazan said.

Khan Mohammad Oryakhail, who is serving with the Afghan National Army (ANA) in Herat province, said he has been fasting during Ramadan while carrying out his duties at a security checkpoint.

"Our aim is to provide security for the public so that it can go to mosques and offer its prayers," he said, adding that security forces will not allow the Taliban to target innocent civilians.

'Stop shedding Muslim blood'

"Security forces are fighting to protect Afghans' rights and defend their country," said Mawlawi Ali Mohammad Rahmani, a religious scholar in Qala-e-Naw.

"As we move towards building a durable peace amid the foreign forces' withdrawal from the country, there is no excuse for waging war, and the Taliban's claim of jihad is false and baseless," he said.

"I call on the Taliban to stop shedding the blood of their Muslim brothers."

The Taliban's fight against the security forces has no religious justification, said Abdul Khaliq Haqqani, Herat province's director of Hajj and religious affairs.

"Muslim scholars from around the world recently issued a fatwa saying the ongoing fighting in Afghanistan is not justifiable, and therefore, the Taliban cannot declare their war as jihad," he said.

"Fighting in Afghanistan is between Muslims, and the only victims are Muslims," Haqqani added, noting that Islam prohibits Muslims from fighting each other.

"With the announcement of a timeline for the withdrawal of foreign forces, the Taliban have no legitimate reason to continue their war," he added.

"The continuation of the Taliban's war clearly indicates they disobey the teachings and values of Islam."

Ignorance of Islamic principles

"The Taliban call themselves Muslims and consider their war jihad, but it is not true because their hands are stained with the blood of the innocent Afghans every day," said Herat province resident Mohammad Qasim Alizada.

"Although civilians fast and visit mosques to pray, the Taliban think only they are Muslims, and everyone else is Afghanistan is not, and they kill civilians and don't allow them to worship in peace," he added.

The Taliban do not adhere to Islamic teachings, because they ruthlessly target and kill innocent Afghans during the month of Ramadan, he said.

They cannot justify their war and the killing of innocents, he added, noting that they commit such acts as they are unfamiliar with basic Islamic principles.

The Taliban's bloodshed during Ramadan is a crime, said Mawlawi Mohammad Ibrahim Dawlatyar, a religious scholar in the Ghor provincial capital of Firoz Koh.

"The security forces and the Afghan people are all Muslims, and it is not permissible to kill them," he said. "The continuation of the war and of killing by the Taliban is an un-Islamic act."

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Shame on us with this kind of Islam we practice. Shame on us. Death and disgrace on us. What a disgrace it is as all seek refuge in God and the house of God from evil, calamity and misfortune, but we Muslims are not safe even in the house of God today. By God, I have not seen disrespect to such an extent. Again our illiterate and ignorant people thank the soldiers for ensuring the security of worshipers. During the 12 years of the caliphate of Hazrat Omar Farooq, only one Muslim, who was Hazrat Omar Farooq himself, was killed by the infidels while performing prayer. Compare 1400 years ago with today. ‘O God, send an Omar to this land so that he administers justice.'

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They are doing good thing. May God bless them, as they take security of their Muslims during the month of Ramadan so that they worship in a peaceful environment. Dissidents of the government must repent, come and protect their people and take part in the construction of their country alongside the Afghan security forces. This country has suffered a lot of injuries and needs cure. May God bring a nationwide peace with the blessing of the holy month of Ramadan to our dear country Afghanistan so that people start a peaceful life after forty years. Long live the peace lovers; down with the peace destroyers.

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We support our Muslim and brave forces. Our forces are unrivaled in the world, because they are dealing with the most ignorant people in the most dangerous country of the world. This is not an easy task; it needs valor or courage. Only our brave forces have the courage to fight against the ignorance and terror of today’s extremism. Long live the brave and patriotic Afghan forces.

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