Faculty of Islamic Laws

In the heart of Kabul, nestled within the bustling campus of Kabul University, stands the Faculty of Islamic Laws. This esteemed faculty, established in 1951, has weathered the storms of Afghanistan’s tumultuous history. It has served as a beacon of legal and religious scholarship. The Faculty of Islamic Laws wasn’t simply born from a desire for academic exploration. It emerged from a complex interplay of political and ideological forces. As Afghanistan grappled with modernization and the rise of communism in the mid-20th century, the government sought to strengthen its Islamic identity. The establishment of official madrasas and the Faculty of Shari’yat (Islamic Law) at Kabul University were key steps in this process. These institutions aimed to train a new generation of Islamic scholars. These scholars were meant to be well-versed in both traditional Islamic law and modern legal principles. The faculty’s early years were marked by a fascinating exchange of ideas. A group of young Afghan faculty members were sent to al-Azhar University in Egypt for graduate training. They returned home deeply influenced by the Islamist ideals of the Muslim Brotherhood. This influence shaped the faculty’s intellectual landscape and its role in Afghanistan’s political discourse. The Faculty of Islamic Laws became a hub for the study and discussion of Islamic legal thought. Scholars like Ghulam Muhammad Niyazi, who later became dean, nurtured the burgeoning Islamic movement within the university. The faculty’s influence extended beyond the academic realm, shaping political activism and resistance. The rise of the Sazman-i Javanani Musalman (Organization of Muslim Youth), with its student branch known as the Ikhwan-i-ha (the Brothers), further amplified the faculty’s impact on Afghan society. The Faculty of Islamic Laws, however, faced its share of trials. Following the communist coup in 1978, many faculty members, including Niyazi, were imprisoned and executed. Others, like Burhanuddin Rabbani and Golbuddin Hekmatyar, fled into exile. Despite these setbacks, the spirit of the Faculty of Islamic Laws endured. It continued to play a pivotal role in the tumultuous decades that followed, even as conflict and political instability engulfed the nation. Today, the Faculty of Islamic Laws at Kabul University continues its legacy. It stands as a testament to the enduring power of religious and legal scholarship. It has navigated Afghanistan’s complex history. The faculty offers a unique lens through which to understand the nation’s past, present, and future.