KABUL - President Ashraf Ghani on Tuesday said Afghanistan was not a place for religious conflicts and the Afghans both Sunni and Shia had sacrificed their lives for the protection of each other and the defense of the country.
Addressing a ceremony honoring the revelation of the Holy Quran at the Presidential Palace, Ghani said Islam was the religion of humanity, unity, solidarity and brotherhood.
Participated by many Islamic scholars, the president told the event that it was the responsibility of ulema to spread awareness about Islamic rules.
Addressing the attackers of Masjid Al-Zahra, Ghani said: “If you think you can create religious problems among Afghans by targeting sacred places, you should be assured that every Sunni defends the mosque of Shia and every Shia defends the mosque of Sunni.”
“If anyone wants to debate with our ulema, they are welcomed and I can put in service this palace for them, I once again repeat that the brotherhood among Sunni and Shia Ulema is unique that is our pride,” he said.
He called the ongoing year a horrific and depressing period for the Afghan people, particularly Kabul residents, saying all Afghans were in grief.
Ghani asked religious scholars to pray to the God to protect Afghans against more bloodshed.
He also asked the scholars to struggle to end the war, calm down seditions and eradicate illiteracy and violations as such things had no place in Islam.
“The fate of every Afghan has tied with Islam in the way that cannot be cut off, we believe that we were Muslims, are Muslims and would remain Muslims,” he added.
He called the holy Quran guidance for humans and said: “If we face a hard day, we find relief in Quran, if we face with a happy day, we celebrate it with the Quranic verses, Quran is the guide in humans’ every situation, because we cannot reach stability without this holy book.”
A number of Ulema at the meeting asked the president to create Quranic education faculties in universities and create a commission for implementation of this demand. (Pajhwok)