The Covenant of the Hearth: Bridging Heritage and Tenure in the heart of Old Kabul

At the inaugural ceremony for issuing property documents for informal, unplanned homes

Keypoints:

• Legal Security: Formalizing informal homes to protect ownership.
• Siddiq Philosophy: Prioritizing service to the most vulnerable.
• Social Capital: Reviving Kabul’s values of solidarity and cooperation.
• Cultural Preservation: Kharabat as a cultural hub and national art museum.
• Civilizational Identity: Building New Kabul with Islamic heritage.
• Administrative Reform: Simple, low-cost property registration.
• Economic Non-Exploitation: No profit from issuing property titles.
• National Pride: Linking Babur and Amanullah’s visions for a proud capital.

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

Dear fellow citizens of Kabul, residents of District 1, especially the people of the Kharabat neighborhood; Honorable Mr. Hamahang, the neighborhood representative; distinguished members of the Cabinet; members of the urban sector; Mr. Paikar; Mr. Mayor; Mr. Yelani; all my brothers and sisters; and honorable members of parliament: Peace be upon you, and the mercy and blessings of Allah!

The Primary Obligation: Protecting the Citizen

The first duty of a responsible government is the protection of the property and lives of its citizens. The property of the Afghan people living under informal, customary, or unofficial conditions is not secure. Put yourselves in the place of one of your brothers or sisters whose tomorrow is not safe.

1. Investment: Who can invest in their own home today?

2. Ownership: Who can truly call their house their own today?

3. Inheritance: Who can transfer their home to their children today?

This very anxiety is what keeps me awake at night. Today, I congratulate Mr. Paikar and his colleagues for reducing this anxiety in the Kharabat neighborhood. You may sleep peacefully tonight; perhaps we, too, will sleep peacefully for a few moments. While this is a small step for an individual, it is, in reality, a giant leap for the security of a family, a neighborhood, and ultimately, this city and nation. The promise of this government to you is that, Insha’Allah, the property of all Afghans throughout Afghanistan will become legally recognized and secure.

The Relationship Between Property and Ownership

When there is property, a sense of ownership follows. Today, how can those who do not have secure property feel like the owners of this city and country?

• The Injustice of the Past: The fewer assets an individual has, the more their security should be guaranteed; but conversely, the "bad legacy" we have inherited is that the fewer assets one has, the less security they enjoy.

• The Struggle for Shelter: Consider how hard our fellow citizens have worked over the last fifteen years to own a shelter. Yet today, five or ten parallel lawsuits surround that same shelter just to seize the fruits of their labor and usurp their land. This is unacceptable. This is contrary to Sharia and the law, and we do not accept it. Our promise is to fulfill our word, and Insha’Allah, this is the first step.

The Cultural University: Categorizing the Icons of Kharabat

Secondly, I wish to mention Kharabat. Some of the greatest personalities of this country grew up in Kharabat, lived there, and transformed it into a cultural university for Afghanistan.

1. Ustad Qasim: He was the one who compelled the British ambassador to play the melody of Afghan independence on the piano; a man who, in every regime after Amanullah Khan, never wavered for a single day in his loyalty to the national hero.

2. Ustad Sarahang: The number of medals he earned in India and the Ragas he sang there were unparalleled.

3. Ustad Hamahang: The father of the late Sultan Hamahang, whose voice truly possessed melody (ahang).

4. Ustad Hashem: The world-famous tabla player, along with dozens of other figures.

Because of this, it is not only fitting that we begin today in Kharabat, but I also direct Mr. Paikar to purchase an art center with government funds, renovate it, and transform it into the National Museum of Afghan Art.

The Values of Old Kabul and Social Capital

I have the honor of having spent the first five years of my life near Kharabat in the Formuliha neighborhood. The culture of the Old City of Kabul was a culture of neighborliness and solidarity. After 60 years, when you see the old neighborhood residents, a sense of solidarity still exists—a sense of cooperation and participation. Today, in modern terms, they call this:

1. Social Capital

2. Cultural Capital

Kabul was a model of positive human connection. Dr. Qayoumi and I are examples of that Kabul. Therefore, our commitment is to revive a "New Kabul" based on those values of solidarity. The revival of Kabul is underway. Today, the first step is taken. Mr. Naderi, our very active minister; Mr. Hotaki, responsible for the capital zone; the Mayor; and all our colleagues are at work. Specifically, the comprehensive guidance of Dr. Qayoumi, a national asset, will result in you seeing a New Kabul.

Urban Planning and Islamic Identity

The center of Kabul will never be sacrificed for economic interests. Like the Kabul of 400 years ago where Babur lived, it will be our center of civilization. In this Kabul:

1. Architecture: All engineering must be Islamic engineering.

2. Order: The entire arrangement must reflect Islamic culture.

3. National Pride: Every Kabuli should consider Kabul their own, and every Afghan should take pride in it as their heart.

Other programs are being implemented: the Eidgah Mosque, Pul-e Khishti Mosque, and Darul Aman Palace are under renovation. We want to hold the vision of Babur and Amanullah Khan simultaneously. Today’s Kabul is disconnected from the city described by our Dari and Pashto poets; the Kabul of our new generation must have an essential connection to that history and be livable.

Rejection of Rumors and Administrative Gratitude

In conclusion, I first congratulate my very dear fellow citizens in Kabul, especially in Kharabat. I thank you for your active role and for not believing in baseless rumors. I know people came to you saying the goal was to take your property. As long as this servant of yours is here, no one can take your property.

I must express my gratitude to:

• Dr. Qayoumi: A national asset whose heart has always burned for this country. I also thank his wife, Najia Jan, who has written poems defining the beauty and the suffering of Kabul.

• Mr. Paikar: Land management (Arazi) is not easy, but he manages it with an understanding of history and how to build a bridge to a secure tomorrow.

• Minister Naderi: For the specific momentum he brought to the urban sector.

• Mr. Hotaki, Mr. Habibzada, and Engineer Habib: For their lasting commitment and patience.

• Mr. Rahimi: Who carries the weight of the Cabinet, often without thanks.

• Minister of Finance: For his role in our economic momentum.

• International Partners: USAID (represented by Dr. Satyanooti), the World Bank, UN-HABITAT, and all others.

The Road Ahead: Overcoming Obstacles

For our people to be secure, we must have a roadmap and the will to implement it.

1. Opposition: In theory, opposition is low, but in practice, groups will emerge to create propaganda or obstacles.

2. The Goal: May God grant us success in implementing what Abu Bakr Siddiq (RA) said: to always serve the most deprived and vulnerable, and to have the resolve to overcome those who stand in the way.

The technical things said to you today were complicated—the English words were so numerous even I was surprised! But the purpose is simple: use technology to ensure your property is secure, the cost is low, and the result is correct. Mr. Mayor, some of your colleagues wanted to generate revenue from this—but no. You cannot take money from ownership. Ownership is priceless.

long live Afghanistan! Zindabad Afghanistan! Yashasin Afghanistan!