De-Islamizing Islam: Taliban Style

Let us look at the history of Afghanistan in this connection. According to early tradition, Islam entered Afghanistan during the lifetime of the Prophet Muhammad himself. Later, the Prophet’s close Companion, Khalid ibn Walid came here with other believers. At that time the majority of the population was Buddhist. Many of them converted to Islam. This process of the peaceful propagation of Islam continued and, by the end of the 10th century A.D., Islam had spread throughout Afghanistan. It is worth noting here that the statues of Gautam Buddha had already been carved out of the mountainsides of Afghanistan 500 years before Islam’s entry into the country during the time of the Prophet Muhammad. Just as these statues were safe prior to the advent of Islam, they continued to remain safe throughout the fourteen hundred years of the Islamic era. It is only in recent times, during Taliban rule, that these statues have been held to be unIslamic and subjected to demolition. Now the question arises as to whether the Taliban have a better knowledge of Islam than that of the Sahaba (the Prophet’s companions), the Tabiun (the Companions’ disciples) and other great Islamic scholars of the past. The truth is that while the Taliban are ostensibly smashing idols, what in reality they are doing is demolishing Islam. Far from serving the interests of Islam, this initiative is doing it the greatest harm. Islam believes in the principle of tolerance between different religions. This verse was revealed in the Quran during the Makkan period: “For you your religion, for me mine.” (109:6) If this Islamic principle was formulated, it could be worded like this: “Follow one and respect all.” We find many practical examples of adherence to this principle in Islamic history. For instance, during the period of Umar Faruq, the Second Caliph of Islam, Palestine was