Dr. Ashraf Ghani

Speech at International Conference Honoring the Life and Work of Shahid Muhammad Musa Shafiq

Keypoints:

Heroic Service: Muhammad Musa Shafiq served Afghanistan with courage.
Knowledge Mastery: He excelled in Islamic, Eastern, Western education.
Political Leadership: He served as prime minister, shaping Afghan governance.
Cultural Contribution: He enriched Afghan literature as writer and poet.
Legal Reform: He helped develop civil and criminal law.
Moderation & Unity: He promoted stability, balance, national cohesion.
National Defense: He protected Afghan interests and encouraged respect.
Legacy of Effort: His life shows integrity and effort lead to impact.

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

The respected family of the late Shafiq; honorable and esteemed brother, the Speaker of the Meshrano Jirga; the Chairman of the Ulema Council; Mr. Atmar; the Honorable Minister of Foreign Affairs; respected members of the Cabinet; all distinguished guests, men of letters, masters of the literature, history, and diplomacy of the late Shafiq; and Dr. Zaidan: Khosh Amaded! Bana Raghlast! Khosh Keldiying! (Welcome!)

Distinguished guests! I am pleased that an international scientific seminar is being held to honor and appreciate a true servant of the country, a scholarly personality, and a martyred Prime Minister, Mohammad Musa Shafiq. I thank the honorable members of the designated commission, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the National Security Advisor, and all others—including Ustad Ghazanfar, Ustad Lal Pacha Azmoon, and all men of letters and admirers of the late Shafiq—who organized this great gathering. I also thank all the scholars who have written and conducted research on this occasion.

A Dialogue Between Generations: The 1964 Loya Jirga

Honorable audience! I wish to begin my remarks regarding Martyr Shafiq with the 1964 (1343) Constitutional Loya Jirga. This session took place in the Salam Khana Palace of the ARG. Scholars and elders of Afghanistan had come from across the country to evaluate the draft constitution. Among this gathering were a white-bearded father and his young son. The elderly father had criticisms regarding constitutional matters, but his young son, who was the secretary of the Constitutional Drafting Commission, argued to convince his father.

This interesting and fascinating discussion was, in fact, between the great religious scholar of that time, "Mawlawi Mohammad Ibrahim Kamawi," and his capable and talented son, "Mohammad Musa Shafiq." This debate holds two interesting points: first, it shows that our Afghan society has the capacity and tolerance for free debate; second, it is a fine example of respect and understanding in a struggle between two generations—one favoring the status quo and the other interested in change. Between continuity and transformation, the late Musa Shafiq turned the middle, national, and Islamic path into a reality.

A Synthesis of Knowledge: From Al-Azhar to Columbia

Mohammad Musa Shafiq’s father was educated in our traditional madrasas and was a prominent scholar and judge of his time. His son not only studied at the Dar-ul-Uloom in the country but was also a graduate of Al-Azhar, the world's most famous university for Islamic sciences. To become better acquainted with the modern era and new sciences, he pursued further studies at Columbia University in America. Remember that the late Musa Shafiq went to Columbia University through his own talent, not state funds; among all the Egyptians, he earned such a status that he went directly from Egypt to Columbia University.

The personality of Mohammad Musa Shafiq is a magnificent combination of Islamic knowledge, Eastern knowledge, and Western knowledge, and his deep thought is the result of these diverse educations and experiences. Martyr Shafiq was highly proficient in the Arabic language. After completing his studies at Al-Azhar, he went to America and studied Law. The late Dr. ظاهر خان (Zahir Khan), Musa Shafiq, and I are among the three Afghans who studied at Columbia University. When I was a young man heading to Columbia University, I met the late Shafiq in Kabul, and he gave me advice. This was during Daoud Khan's era; he had just been released from prison and was a very close friend of my father. In a two-hour meeting with him, I became even more convinced that he possessed extraordinary talent and knowledge. His descendants are right to say he was a hero of the nation.

The Man of Letters and the Man of Action

Even if Shafiq Sahib had not been a great politician, a great legislator, or a religious scholar, he would still be a great personality of Afghanistan, because as a poet and storyteller, he holds his place in the history of Afghan culture. There are some individuals whose writings form their primary identity, and others, like Sayyid Jamaluddin Afghani, are largely occupied with practical activities, and their practical efforts constitute their primary character. Shafiq Sahib was a man of both the pen and action. If only those few stories from the small book Abqariyan (The Geniuses) remained from him, he would still be an important figure in the contemporary history of our culture.

We previously only knew his collection of stories, Abqariyan, and his collection of poems, Paygham (The Message). Fortunately, a few years ago, another work of the late author titled Da Nangarhar Sha’eran (The Poets of Nangarhar) was discovered and printed. I have learned that on the occasion of this seminar, some of Shafiq Sahib’s articles published in the press of that time have also been collected and printed, for which I am grateful, and I hope these efforts continue. Abqariyan remains an example of pure Dari and demonstrates that our great Dari culture belongs to all Afghans, especially to the Pashto speakers of this country.

The Professor and the Legislator

Martyr Shafiq also served his people and country in the position of a university professor. Some members of my family were his students in the Faculty of Law, and I have heard many stories of his good behavior and conduct. When he examined a student, he would first give them tea so they could answer questions with a calm mind. He was a kind and soft-spoken professor and treated students with special respect and kindness. The culture that the late Shafiq represented is the culture that our universities must fundamentally promote today.

Shafiq Sahib performed great services in the Ministry of Justice. He was very young when he became the Deputy Minister of Justice, and there he played a major role in drafting the Civil Code and the Penal Code. Mr. Baha worked very closely with Shafiq, and these are the laws upon which the foundation of the Rule of Law in Afghanistan is established. God willing, they will be re-explained with changes in these coming months. Every time I look at the Penal and Civil codes, I refresh the memory of the late Shafiq; his memory will always be with us. Likewise, his role in drafting the 1964 Constitution was magnificent.

Just as the discussion of contemporary Afghan literature seems incomplete without mentioning Shafiq Sahib, the discussion of drafting modern laws in the country is deficient without mentioning his efforts. Read the story of "The Doctor" again; in it, you will be reminded of the Martyr Majrooh. This story was, to a large extent, an analysis of one aspect of Majrooh Sahib’s personality. They were very close friends; the pens of both are worthy of remembrance, both are true martyrs of the nation, and both must be honored.

Sovereignty and the Helmand Water Treaty

Shafiq Sahib had a multi-dimensional personality. He holds a high position in the contemporary history of Afghanistan as a politician as well. The late Shafiq was Prime Minister of Afghanistan for only a few months, and in this short time, he did not find the opportunity to realize his great dreams for the prosperity of Afghanistan. The unfinished chapter of our history inherited from King Amanullah Khan remained, unfortunately, unfinished again. However, despite that, he was able to perform some important tasks. One of his important works was the treaty between Afghanistan and Iran regarding the Helmand River, concluded during his premiership, approved by the National Assembly at that time, and signed by the King.

Shafiq Sahib faced criticism and great pressure not to conclude this treaty, but he believed that Afghanistan and its neighbors must understand their shared interests and act toward one another not as rivals, but as friends and collaborators. Article 5 of this treaty states: "Iran has no claim to the water of the Helmand more than the amount established according to this treaty, even if more water is available in the lower delta of the Helmand and could be used by Iran." Bless your home, Shafiq Sahib! I wish you had remained for a few more years so that all of Afghanistan’s waters could have had such organization. Our task now is the implementation of this treaty—a treaty that is entirely to the benefit of the people and the government of Afghanistan, and to peace and stability.

The Message to Youth and the Unfinished Chapter

Studying the life and achievements of the late Shafiq carries important messages for us, especially for our youth. One is that he was a thinker, and by virtue of his intellectual coherence, he performed great and useful works. Another is that he had a multi-dimensional personality; anyone interested in a successful life in the current world must be familiar with the various dimensions of modern life. Most importantly, he had a national and Islamic personality, and all his other lessons were merged into this great personality and thought. He was a true student and a practical messenger of Sayyid Jamaluddin Afghani, a source of pride not only for Afghanistan but for Al-Azhar and the Islamic world.

Attention to the importance of the law and respect for the Rule of Law is another message from the life and achievements of Martyr Shafiq. In thought and action, he was a moderate man and always emphasized moderation. Extremism and negligence have always caused unrest and crisis in our country. The late Shafiq’s policy represented the idea that Afghanistan must remain loyal to the fundamental stability of the system, and "Balance" is the principle that can bring this society to welfare and stability.

Martyr Shafiq favored good relations with neighbors and believed that neighbors must respect each other's legitimate interests and emphasize common points of cooperation. However, this cooperation was always based on national sovereignty and national interests. Martyr Shafiq did not deviate an inch from national interests; his red line was always the protection of Afghanistan’s national interests.

Shafiq Sahib was born into a village family that was not wealthy in material terms but was very rich spiritually. Through his work and effort, he reached the position of Prime Minister. This aspect of his life carries the message to the younger generation that a young person, even in difficult conditions and with limitations, can make great progress through effort, hard work, and organized thought.

The most important message of Martyr Shafiq to us is the completion of the unfinished chapter that began with Amanullah Khan and which he continued. Today, we have a clear and firm will that Afghanistan shall not have an unfinished chapter again and shall reach lasting welfare and stability—serving both the welfare of our own people and the stability of the region. Therefore, we pray for the souls of all servants of the country, especially the martyrs of the country. May their souls be happy!

Zenda bad Afghanistan! (Long live Afghanistan!)

Yashasin Afghanistan! (Long live Afghanistan!)

Zhwanday de wi Afghanistan! (Long live Afghanistan!)