Hassan Abbas—
Throughout the history of the Muslim world, the way Islam has manifested and operated within various societies has taken many forms. Religious scholars and clergy have enjoyed positions of great influence across various regions through the rule of different dynasties, while the mystical appeal of Sufism or Irfan (spiritual knowledge) has made a lasting impression on the cultural landscapes of multiple Muslim nations. The case of South Asia is a particularly fascinating one, with these two currents penetrating deeply within society, meshing together intricately and, sometimes, quite disagreeably. To this day, the spectrum on which Islam exists within the region is a vast one, marked by ends more opposite than can be simply expressed. Unfortunately, this diversity has not been spared the bloody footprints of decades-long conflict sunken in chaos and violence, threatening the integrity of the broader region and replacing the once glorious legacy of religion with one of turmoil and terror. Worse yet, this conflict rages on today in a manner that risks preventing tolerance and peaceful coexistence in a truly disastrous manner. To better understand the complexity that lies beneath this multifaceted story, it is worth examining and analyzing the historical context that has helped create the Afghanistan of today.
Some would say the Taliban are, at root, more a religious organization than anything else. Is that correct, though? They could just as accurately be described as a political group, or a militant one. French scholar Olivier Roy suggests that while the Taliban were not prone to manipulation on certain issues such as in relation to women, they were profoundly expedient when it came to securing a power base.1 The Taliban’s use of, and relationship with religion has long been a deeply complex one, littered with controversies. Certainly, however, one cannot begin to understand the group’s past, present, or future without first acknowledging the religious ideology that fuels their activities. Let us look now at the primary basis of their religious mindset, before delving into how it came to be and what is challenged in the process. We must first understand the Islamic roots of the group to comprehend how they achieved their supposed spiritual legitimacy and built their base. This is part of a larger issue—the degeneration of Islamic theological study within the Muslim world, as well as the politicization of Islamic principles.
The Taliban are adherents of the Sunni sect of Islam, and specifically the Hanafi school of thought, one of four sub-sects within Sunnism. Within that, they also belong to a political brand in South Asia known as the Deobandi school of thought—a relatively new incarnation of the religious ideology of South Asian politics from the nineteenth century.2 It is critical to look at and understand the dynamics of the Taliban beginning from their ideology—therein lies their soul. While the group is seen as radical, with people often disregarding their Islamic label, it is their hardline interpretation of religion that underlies all they do, like the air they breathe. Within the region and South Asian context especially, this religious grounding is vital.
From Return of the Taliban: Afghanistan after the Americans Left by Hassan Abbas. Published by Yale University Press in 2024. Reproduced with permission.
Hassan Abbas is Distinguished Professor of International Relations at the Near East South Asia Strategic Studies Center, National Defense University, in Washington, DC. He is the author of numerous books, including The Taliban Revival and The Prophet’s Heir.