Religious Rites, National Sacrifice, and the Ethics of Governance

(Speech at Kabul Airport meeting, the departing Hajj pilgrims)

Keypoints:

• Sacred Journey: Hajj is a transformative spiritual journey and a central pillar of Islam.
• Peaceful Islam: Islam stands for peace and brotherhood, not the violence of a few deviants.
• Honoring Sacrifice: The families of martyrs merit the nation’s deepest gratitude.
• Servant Leadership: The President presents himself as a servant of the people, not a ruler over them.
• Radical Equality: Ihram represents complete equality among Muslims beyond race or status.
• Administrative Responsibility: The state pledges high-quality services and logistics for all pilgrims.
• National Prayer: A call for unity and prayer in the Holy Land for Afghanistan’s peace and prosperity.

Honorable Minister Osmani, Mr. Sultanzoy, Mr. Rahimi, Mr. Haqnawaz, Mr. Sharifi—but most importantly, the sisters and brothers who are the pilgrims (Hajis)! First of all, I offer you the greeting of the Leader of Humanity: Peace be upon you, and the mercy and blessings of Allah!

Secondly, I congratulate you. Every time I have visited the House of Allah ﷻ, I have seen a Light that I can never forget. For those of you going for the first time, I wish you a magnificent experience; I know that none of you will forget this until the end of your lives. And for those going for the second or third time, you will see that the impact increases every time; when one stands at the Station of Abraham (Maqam Ibrahim), one understands the greatness of Islam.

We possess a religious heritage that prohibited the sacrifice of human beings; Allah ﷻ commanded Gabriel (AS) to offer a sheep for sacrifice in place of the son of Prophet Abraham (AS). Understand this philosophy: Islam is a holy religion of peace, brotherhood, and sisterhood; it is a religion of spiritual values and purity. A few deviant individuals cannot put this great religion and civilization at risk.

Honor for the Families of Martyrs

One reason I came here was to see the families of the martyrs personally. I want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart. These martyrs are martyrs of the path of Truth. Whether they were the sons of the Mawlawi Sahib, or your brothers, sons, or husbands, they were all noble and heroic children of this homeland. I thank you sincerely that they gave their blood and their lives for the Truth. I stand before you as a humble servant. I am not an official; I am your servant, because a President is meaningless without the nation.

The President as a Servant of the People

The meaning of being President is to seek out the sorrow and pain of the nation and to be ready to serve. My second reason for being here is that we have crossed twenty thousand peaks and have finally reached the path and the summit; we have reached the mountaintop, and it is my hope that service has been provided in a fundamental way. All our effort is to ensure that this great pillar among the five pillars of Islam, which every Afghan wishes to perform without exception, is carried out.

Our request was to increase your numbers significantly, but as you know, Saudi Arabia does not have the capacity for more. When we spoke with the King (of Saudi Arabia), he said that if we give you more slots, every other country’s system would demand the same. However, the quality of service is in our hands, and I express my gratitude to the Minister of Hajj and Religious Affairs, Mr. Sultanzoy, all the officials at the airport, the Kabul Police Chief, and other elders who I hope have been at your service.

Equality and Universal Brotherhood

Again, I congratulate you on an experience that cannot be forgotten. Traveling anywhere else is a simple thing, but going to the "Two Holy Mosques" is an experience that changes a person's entire life. When we walk in the footsteps of the Leader of Humanity, when we see at every point what this great human—the Seal of the Prophets ﷺ—has left to us and what heritage he left for humanity, your hearts become pure.

Every grudge in a person's heart is cleansed in the Two Holy Mosques. Every anger one has is forgotten. You will perceive the equality of Islam. We are all in the Ihram because in the holy religion of Islam and the rites of Hajj, there is no poor or rich, no prince or pauper—we are all, and only, Muslims. Within one message, there is absolutely no difference between black, red, yellow, or white. I will not take more of your time; I offer my congratulations.

A Call for National Prayer and Unity

When you return, God willing, I will arrange a great reception for you. I receive reports on a daily and weekly basis. If there is a problem, the Minister, Mr. Sultanzoy, and others report it immediately, and I hope this great experience is successful.

I request that you pray at the Court of Allah ﷻ for a future Afghanistan that is in peace, dignity, and prosperity; pray that we all—with national unity, firm will, and the sincere intentions of brothers and sisters—can build this country and turn it into a model for the world.

Have a good night. Have a safe flight. Go in peace. Return in peace. And God willing, when you return, we will welcome you again.

Long live Afghanistan! May you be safe. May you be in peace.