Introduction | Shaikh-ul-Islam Mawlana Abdolhamid departed for the holy land on May 16th, 2025 to perform the Hajj pilgrimage. Near the end of the pilgrimage, as Iranian pilgrims were preparing to return home, the Israeli regime carried out a military attack on parts of Iranian territory. As a result, all flights to Iran were canceled, disrupting the return plans of the pilgrims.
Following this incident, neighboring countries such as Iraq, Pakistan, and Afghanistan announced their readiness to host Iranian pilgrims and facilitate their return home. Considering Afghanistan to be the safest of the available routes, Mawlana Abdolhamid decided to return to Iran through Afghanistan. On his way back, he traveled from Saudi Arabia to Kabul, then to Herat, and finally to Nimruz, from where he entered Iran through the Nimruz border.
During this unexpected and very brief visit to Afghanistan, Mawlana Abdolhamid was accompanied by:
• Mawlana Hafiz Ahmad Goharkouhi (Director of Miftah-ul-Uloom Seminary, Goharkouh, Taftan),
• Mawlawi Hafiz Mohammad Esmaeil Molazahi (Administrative Deputy and Lecturer at Darululoom Zahedan),
• Mawlawi Hafiz Zakaria Esmaeilzahi (Lecturer at Darululoom Zahedan).
In response to invitations and insistence from scholars and the public in Kabul, Herat, and Zaranj (Nimruz province), Mawlana Abdolhamid visited several religious and academic centers and delivered speeches to scholars and residents of these areas.
Mawlana Abdolhamid at Jami‘ah Riaz-ul-Uloom, Kabul
As part of this short visit, Mawlana Abdolhamid, upon the invitation of Mawlana Abdullah Motaqqi, director of Jami‘ah Riaz-ul-Uloom in Kabul, visited the academic and cultural institution on the evening of Wednesday, June 25th, 2025. He met with the teachers and students of the school.
Upon arrival, Mawlana Abdolhamid was warmly welcomed by the faculty and students. After touring various parts of the institution, he expressed his delight and addressed the staff and scholars with the following remarks (excerpted below):
📌— “We are very pleased for the opportunity that Allah Almighty granted us to visit this major academic and cultural institution, Jami‘ah Riaz-ul-Uloom, and meet its esteemed teachers and beloved students. May Allah Almighty grant prosperity and advancement to this academic center and turn it into a major training ground for producing beneficial individuals for society.”
📌— “Dear students! You have chosen the right path. But remember that knowledge is attained through effort, perseverance, and sincerity.”
📌— “Knowledge is the legacy of the Prophets (peace be upon them), the greatest asset, a beacon of light, a vital necessity for human society, and the path to achieving success in this world and the Hereafter.”
📌— “Action without knowledge is not possible. Without knowledge, one cannot know how to worship Allah or serve humanity.”
📌— “Through knowledge, a person attains the recognition of God (Ma’rifah).”
📌— “The greatest gift and treasure that the Prophets brought to the world was knowledge, insight, and awareness of God.”
📌— “Acquiring knowledge has true value and earns divine pleasure only when done solely for the sake of Allah, not for worldly status, fame, or position.”
📌— “Alongside acquiring knowledge, attention to purification of the soul (Tazkiyah) is also essential.”
📌— “Dear students, seek both the external knowledge (Zahir) and the inner knowledge (Tazkiyah).”
📌— “A scholar who possesses knowledge and has also undergone spiritual purification is among the greatest assets of a society.”
📌— “Society is in dire need of righteous, sincere, and God-fearing scholars.”
📌— “We can only reach Allah when we let go of ego and pride and adopt humility and modesty.”
📌— “Sincerity is the condition for the acceptance of knowledge, and purification and reform are the conditions for its effectiveness.”
📌— “In Afghanistan, one can observe the power of God; Allah Almighty caused two great powers to be defeated by a barefooted, unarmed nation with no resources.”
📌— “First the former Soviet Union, and then NATO—with all their claims and power—entered Afghanistan, but were struck by the force of Jihad. The Mujahid people of Afghanistan resisted and liberated their homeland from occupation.”
📌— “Dear people of Afghanistan, do not attribute these victories to yourselves or boast of your strength. Rather, see them as signs of God’s greatness and take pride in the power of Allah. It is Allah who grants honor or disgrace, and victory comes only from Him.”
Mawlana Abdolhamid at Darululoom Herat
While returning to Iran, Shaikh-ul-Islam Mawlana Abdolhamid, at the invitation of Mawlana Mufti Ghulam Sarwar, Director of Darululoom Herat, departed from the Afghan capital on the morning of Thursday, June 26th, 2025 for the city of Herat. During his few-hour stop in Herat, he toured various sections of Darululoom Herat, held discussions with the faculty, and addressed a large gathering of scholars, students, and the general public at the mosque of the seminary.
Highlights from Mawlana Abdolhamid’s speech to the people of Herat:
📌— “I find no phrase more fitting than ‘Alhamdulillahi Rabbil-‘Aalameen’ to express my gratitude to the Almighty for granting me the long-awaited opportunity to travel to Afghanistan and meet you—dear, devout, warm-hearted, and hospitable people.”
📌— “I sincerely thank both the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and the country’s scholars and beloved people for their hospitality and expressions of kindness.”
📌— “Herat is an ancient city—home to saints, scholars, righteous individuals, and spiritual figures such as Allamah Mawlana Jalilullah and the martyred Mawlana Mujibur Rahman Ansari (may Allah have mercy on them).”
📌— “One realization during Hajj is that despite all ethnic, linguistic, and regional differences, all pilgrims are united by one common goal: seeking the pleasure of Allah.”
📌— “Another powerful takeaway from Hajj is that the struggles and sacrifices of the Prophet Muhammad and his companions spread Islam throughout the world. Today, people of different languages, attire, and backgrounds gather in the holy lands—this is the outcome of their efforts.”
📌— “What pleases Allah and the Prophet of mercy is the continuation of Islam, the spreading of its prophetic mission, and the integration of religion and knowledge into people’s lives.”
📌— “All members of the Ummah are the spiritual children of the Prophet Muhammad . Therefore, they must love his life and traditions and implement them in practice.”
📌— “Religious awakening is crucial. We must provide the means for people to build both their worldly and eternal lives.”
📌— “Knowledge—both religious and worldly—is essential for human development and progress.”
📌— “The world was created for humans, and humans were created for the Hereafter. A truly successful nation is one that develops both its worldly life and its eternal life.”
📌— “The Prophet , his companions, and righteous servants not only built their own Hereafter but also helped others succeed in both worlds.”
📌— “A nation that focuses only on secular knowledge and neglects religious education will face severe loss and misguidance.”
📌— “Religious schools and Qur’anic institutions where the Qur’an is recited are blessings from the Almighty. Thankfully, Afghanistan has seen a great revival of these spiritual spaces.”
📌— “My request to the scholars and dear students is to maintain a strong personal connection with Allah and to help strengthen the people’s relationship with their Creator. Connection with Allah and His Messenger is the source of life for any nation.”
📌— “Any land where the name of Allah is remembered and worship is performed will be blessed with divine mercy. But lands dominated by sin, corruption, and unjust bloodshed fall under divine wrath and curse.”
📌— “The spiritual presence and effects of the worship and devotion of personalities like Khwaja Abdullah Ansari, Shaikh Abdulrahman Jami, and other saints (may Allah have mercy on them) are still felt in Herat today.”
📌— “Let us make the most of this life to spread religion and knowledge.”
Mawlana Abdolhamid at Ihya al-Uloom Religious Institute, Zaranj
On the afternoon of Thursday, June 26th, 2025, Mawlana Abdolhamid, bid farewell by people from all walks of life in Herat, headed to Nimruz Province in southwestern Afghanistan. The Ihya al-Uloom Religious Institute, located in Zaranj, the capital of Nimruz, hosted Shaikh-ul-Islam Mawlana Abdolhamid and his delegation.
This well-known and active religious center is led by Mawlana Ahmadullah Habibi, a respected figure in the region.
Mawlana Abdolhamid and his companions arrived in Zaranj on the morning of Friday, June 27th,2025, where they were warmly received by local scholars and students of Nimruz. Upon arrival at the Ihya al-Uloom seminary, they toured different parts of the school. In a brief address to the teachers and students, Mawlana described the institute as:
“A vibrant and dynamic center committed to the preservation and dissemination of Islamic sciences and the Prophetic traditions.”
He expressed his delight at the spiritual and scholarly atmosphere of the institution and prayed for its continued progress and prosperity.
Mawlana Abdolhamid’s Address at Ihya al-Uloom in Zaranj
Despite the insistence of the scholars of Nimruz province for Mawlana Abdolhamid to deliver the Friday sermon in Zaranj, he was determined to return and attend Jumu’ah prayer in Zahedan. Therefore, after the Fajr prayer at the Ihya al-Uloom mosque in Zaranj, he had a brief meeting with local scholars, elders, intellectuals, and other members of the community and addressed them with the following points:
📌— “This year, I was honored to perform the Hajj pilgrimage at the Holy Kaaba, where a large number of pilgrims from Afghanistan—especially from Nimruz—were also present.”
📌— “Through the obligation of Hajj, Allah Almighty has created a gathering where people of different languages, cultures, and perspectives come together in one place, all with the shared goal of seeking His pleasure.”
📌— “At Hajj, millions of people from around the world with diverse thoughts and backgrounds coexist peacefully—without the need for security forces—as the Qur’an says: ‘There shall be no sexual relations, misconduct, or arguments during Hajj’ [Surah Al-Baqarah: 197].”
📌— “Anyone sincerely seeking the truth of Islam only needs to reflect upon Hajj—one of the main pillars of Islam—to find faith.”
📌— “Visiting Afghanistan had long been a heartfelt wish of mine, and I never imagined that this opportunity would arise in such a way, even though it is a brief and transit-based visit.”
📌— “The Afghan nation has liberated its country from foreign occupation twice—once from the former Soviet Union and once from the Western powers and NATO. In doing so, it brought pride to the Muslim world.”
📌— “Thanks be to Allah, Afghanistan is now enjoying a remarkable level of security.”
📌— “Among worldly blessings, there is no greater blessing than security. As Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) prayed for Makkah: ‘My Lord, make this a secure city and provide its people with fruits—those among them who believe in Allah and the Last Day’ [Surah Al-Baqarah: 126]. He prayed for security first, and then for provision.”
📌— “I am very pleased to have met the respected scholars, dear students, and hospitable people of Nimruz. I hope that in the future, challenges will be resolved and such visits will continue.”
📌— “Knowledge is vital, and any effort to spread knowledge is the greatest form of Jihad.”
📌— “Wishing well for the people and standing by them is also among the greatest forms of Jihad.”
📌— “One brother told me that when we were engaged in physical Jihad in Afghanistan, we were happy—but now, in peacetime, we don’t feel the same joy. I told him that you are now in a different form of Jihad—that is, serving the people. Ensuring the safety and comfort of the people is among the best and highest forms of striving in the path of God.”
📌— “Cultural and intellectual Jihad is among the noblest of struggles. The Prophet Muhammad instructed his companions to learn knowledge and the languages of nations so they could deliver Islam in their native tongues.”
📌— “Scholars, preachers, and all segments of society should strive to promote the religion, guide the community, and practice the teachings and traditions of the Prophet .”
📌— “The scholars and noble people of Afghanistan should cherish the opportunity they have in their country and use it to spread knowledge, teach religion, and reform the people.”
📌— “The responsibility of scholars in reforming society is heavier than that of other social groups.”
📌— “Revive piety, righteousness, and the moral values loved by Allah in society.”
📌— “We must not be indifferent to the sins and negligence we see in our communities.”
📌— “Support religious schools, institutions, and any initiative that serves the purpose of guidance and benefits the people.”
Return to the Homeland
Shaikh-ul-Islam Mawlana Abdolhamid, accompanied by a warm and emotional farewell from the scholars, students, local leaders, and the general public of Nimruz—as well as provincial officials who accompanied him up to the zero border point—left Afghanistan for Iran.
After spending 42 days in the holy lands of Makkah and Madinah and completing a brief yet memorable visit to Afghanistan, he arrived in the city of Zahedan on the morning of Friday, June 27th, 2025).