Identity has been integral to politics since the dawn of human civilization. Political boundaries have been drawn, resources claimed, and conflicts justified through the articulation of identity. Even in early Islamic history, the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) emphasized a unifying human identity that reduced internal strife and fostered communal cohesion. Today, identity remains a potent instrument in political mobilization, electoral strategies, and the legitimization of both governance and violence.
Afghan Core Identities and Political Mobilization
The political landscape of Afghanistan is characterized by a blend of primordial and acquired identities. Fundamental notions of Islamic and national identity have profoundly shaped the country’s political discourse over the past eight decades. Reforms introduced by modernizing leaders, such as King Amanullah, encountered stiff resistance, as these initiatives were framed as contravening established Islamic norms. Similarly, key historical events—including the ethnic undertones surrounding royal assassinations, the resistance to reform under successive regimes, and the civil conflicts of the 1990s—demonstrate how ethnic and religious identities have been mobilized to contest authority and shape political allegiances. Importantly, many of the contemporary radical and violent movements in Afghanistan are not entirely indigenous; rather, they are influenced by external sponsorship and patronage aimed at altering regional geopolitical dynamics.
The Sufi Tradition: A Catalyst for Inclusive Society
Historically, Afghanistan has been a vital center for Sufi thought and practice. The enduring contributions of Sufi scholars and poets such as Jalaluddin Rumi, Abdul Rahman Jami, and Abdul Rahman Baba like many others have left an indelible mark on the literature of peace, love, and mysticism. Sufi teachings provided a framework for social integration by transcending sectarian and ethnic divides. Shrines, as emblematic spaces of Sufi tradition, have functioned as accessible forums for people of diverse faiths. Unlike mosques—which in many conservative settings may limit women’s interactions—Sufi shrines have traditionally offered a sanctuary for communal exchange and healing. While reformist scholars from institutions such as Al-Azhar have critiqued certain shrine practices as deviant innovations (bid‘ah), empirical observations suggest that these sites continue to foster genuine opportunity for discussion, exchange and interfaith dialogue and social cohesion. It is important to underline that peaceful exchange has often led to people embracing Islam.
The Rise of Wahabism and Its Impact
In recent decades, the ascendance of Wahabi-inspired ideologies has dramatically altered Afghanistan’s social fabric. The emergence of radical groups such as the Islamic State of Khorasan, alongside other violent movements, represents a deliberate departure from Afghanistan’s longstanding pluralistic traditions. These groups have appropriated the language of Islamic governance—particularly the concept of Khilafat—in order to legitimize their brutal campaigns, which have included not only targeted violence against dissenters but also sexual violence and cultural suppression Wahabism, by contrast to Sufi inclusivity, rejects traditional avenues of spiritual and cultural exchange, instead promoting a rigid and exclusivist interpretation of Islam. Their calculated infiltration of religious and educational institutions aims to reshape both the state and society, thereby threatening the historically harmonious coexistence of Afghanistan’s diverse communities.
Wahabi Ideology and Its Implications for Islamic Identity
Wahabi ideology, which often masquerades as Salafism, employs a divisive binary framework that classifies the world into two distinct spheres: Darul-Islam and Darul-Arb. According to the militant narrative of groups such as the Islamic State of Khorasan, Darul-Islam is a territory governed by Sharia law and inhabited exclusively by Muslims committed to Khilafat, while Darul-Arb encompasses all other regions, where even self-identified Muslims are considered outsiders. This rigid dichotomy leaves no neutral ground for those who might otherwise embody a plurality of Islamic identities. The group has captured majority of the institutions in many Muslims countries and are drastically redefining Islamic practices in line with the script handed over by the Jews who have been frustrated with the arrival of Islam. The ideology is not only divisive but clearly attempts to weaken Islamic practices and spirituality.
The Global Pursuit of Khilafat and the Hijacking of Islamic Discourse
Across diverse regions in the Islamic world, extremist movements—including Hezi-Tahrir, Daesh, and Al Qaeda—share a common objective: the establishment of a global Khilafat. This unifying aim fosters a hostile binary that demands unequivocal allegiance, forcing individuals to adopt positions either in support of or against the concept of Khilafat. Notably, while some scholars, such as Dr. Israr Ahmad, have argued that a borderless Islamic state is intrinsic to Islamic essence, adversarial forces have co-opted this narrative to either formed pseudo religions-institutions or reshaped the existing one to preach their agendas . These entities seek to control mosques and other religious forums, thereby intensifying internal divisions both globally and even at the level of individual households. The recent hand-shake between Trump and Al-Jolani and the conspicuous silence of the Wabahis on genocide in Gaza provide ample evidence for the intellectual conclusion about the division the enemies have sown in Islamic societies.
Wahabism: Origins, Doctrines, and Rejection of Pluralism
Rooted in the teachings of Abdul Wahab, Wahabism is characterized by its vehement rejection of Sufi traditions and other historically pluralistic Islamic practices. Followers, who claim to strictly adhere to a literal interpretation of the Quran, Hadith, and Sharia, denounce practices such as tomb veneration and the glorification of saints. These practices, which Wahabis categorize as shirk, kufr, apostasy, and bid’ah, represent for them a fundamental corruption of Islamic purity. This doctrinal rigidity not only repudiates centuries of Sufi thought and its inclusive ethos but also serves as the ideological foundation for a movement intent on marginalizing dissenting voices within the Muslim ummah. In reality, they have been eroding the central role of Prophet Mohammad (SAW) in delivering the Message and providing an exemplary character for Muslims to govern their societies and families. It is critical to mention that Prophet Mohammad (SAW) is recognized as the most influential man ever born by non-Muslim historians. The Wahabis have been working to gradually weaken the practice of the five pillars of Islam. They are anarchists, dividing Muslims down to the family level to keep them backward and away from education and development
Violence, Infiltration, and the Redefinition of Religious Identity
The aggressive agenda of Wahabi groups manifests not only in doctrinal denunciations but also in targeted acts of violence. In Afghanistan, numerous Sufi shrines have been attacked—an effort to erase alternative spiritual trajectories and consolidate a vision of Islam that recognizes only the Wahabi variant. In addition, Wahabi literature, often inflammatory in tone, is used to legitimize the suppression of those who adhere to Sufism or the Hanafi jurisprudence. This strategy of ideological purification extends to the political sphere as Wahabis openly advocate for an “Islamic Khilafat” and “Islamic Nizam,” envisioning a future in which their ideological hegemony is enforced through state power. Educational institutions are identified as key battlegrounds, where the gradual infiltration of Wahabi thought is expected to reshape policy and household practices. They are not doing out-reach to other faiths to invite them to embrace Islam but bleeding Muslim societies through thousand cuts.
Implications for Afghan Society and Regional Stability
The transformation of Afghanistan’s core religious identity under the influence of Wahabi ideology has profound implications. In the country’s delicate multi-ethnic landscape, the reengineering of religious identity—through measures such as imposition of strict dress codes, exclusionary practices, and the politicization of religious symbols—risks deepening societal fissures. With over 60 percent of the population comprising youth, many of whom are vulnerable to radicalization amid pervasive poverty and insecurity, the political aspirations voiced by Wahabis—to secure representation in high government offices once a certain demographic threshold is reached—could exacerbate communal tensions. Internally, violent actions such as those witnessed in Nangarhar’s Shinwari district could intensify. Externally, the extension of Wahabi influence into Central Asia may destabilize regional security, affecting neighboring powers such as China, Russia, and Iran.
Global Dimensions and the Future Trajectory of Wahabi Expansion
Beyond Afghanistan, the global strategy of Wahabi groups is bolstered by financial and political support from entities such as the House of Saud and the Zionists, which seeks to exert control over Sunni Muslims worldwide. The ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and the lack of robust support for oppressed populations (as exemplified in the situation in Gaza) further illustrate the destructive potential of a homogenized Wahabi ideology. The Wahabis have either divided Islamic society or attacked opponents of the West. The attack on Russia last year and fight against shias are example Wahabis playing more coercive role in polar world.
Conclusion
The forceful transition from a historically pluralistic Sufi identity to a rigid, exclusionary Wahabi framework represents a perilous shift for Afghan society and the broader Muslim world. Wahabi ideology, with its inherent binary worldview and aggressive political ambitions, not only undermines traditional Islamic pluralism but also imperils internal cohesion and regional stability. Immediate, coordinated measures are essential to counter this trend and to safeguard the diverse fabric of Muslim identities from being subsumed under a monolithic, and ultimately regressive, doctrinal paradigm which only serves the cause of those who fear Islam and have been trying to weaken it across the world. Muslims living in West can play critical role in informing Muslims in their home countries of the risks of Wahabis.
The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect Wesal TV’s editorial policy.
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