Taliban Foreign Minister’s Visit Revives Historic India–Afghanistan Link Through Deoband Seminary

When Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Foreign Minister of Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, visited Darul Uloom Deoband in Uttar Pradesh recently, it marked a significant moment for one of India’s most renowned Islamic seminaries. The visit rekindled the long-standing historical and religious ties between Afghanistan and Deoband.

Historical Background of Darul Uloom Deoband
Founded on May 31, 1866, in Deoband town of Saharanpur district, about 150 km from Delhi, the Darul Uloom Deoband was established in the aftermath of the 1857 Revolt. It emerged as a centre of Islamic learning and reform, envisioned as an alternative to British-run universities during colonial rule.

A Hub of Islamic Scholarship
Within a few years of its inception, the seminary became a magnet for students from across Asia and beyond, attracting scholars from Afghanistan, Iran, Bukhara, Samarkand, Burma (Myanmar), Indonesia, Malaysia, Turkey, and Africa. The curriculum focused on the Quran, Hadith, Shariah, and Tariqah (the spiritual path), establishing Deoband as a global centre of Sunni Islamic education.

The Deobandi Movement
Darul Uloom Deoband is the cradle of the Deobandi movement, a revivalist reform movement within Sunni Islam that follows the Hanafi school of jurisprudence. The movement emphasizes purity of faith, spiritual discipline, and education based on traditional Islamic principles.

Influence on Afghanistan’s Religious Landscape
Afghan students were among the earliest foreign scholars to study at Deoband. Upon returning home, they established similar madrasas in Afghanistan, embedding Deobandi teachings into the country’s religious and educational ethos. Over time, this helped shape Afghanistan’s religious institutions and fostered a shared intellectual and spiritual lineage between the two regions.

Significance of the Visit
Muttaqi’s visit to Deoband is symbolic of the historical connection between Indian and Afghan religious scholarship and underlines the continuing influence of Deobandi thought in South and Central Asia. It also serves as a reminder of the deep-rooted cultural and theological ties that transcend contemporary political boundaries.

(Source: IE)