Episode description

In this thought-provoking episode, we delve into the critical questions surrounding the Taliban’s actions and their claims of implementing Islamic law. Are the bans on girls’ education and the erasure of women from public life truly rooted in Islam, or do they represent a misinterpretation of the deen? We explore the contradiction between their professed adherence to the Hanafi school—renowned for its rational legal reasoning—and their oppressive policies, questioning whether tribal customs overshadow Islamic principles.

Beyond women’s rights, we discuss the Taliban’s broader atrocities, from targeting ethnic minorities to justifying acts of violence under the banner of Sharia. Do groups like the Taliban honor the maqāsid al-sharia—the higher objectives of Islamic law—or are they undermining the faith they claim to uphold?

Finally, we confront the silence of scholars and the lack of condemnation from the global Muslim community. How do these factors contribute to disillusionment among Afghan Muslims, and what can be done to inspire accountability and justice? Join us for a candid discussion on faith, politics, and the responsibilities of the Muslim world.

https://iqbalcentre.leeds.ac.uk/profiles/dr-mustapha-sheikh/

https://leeds.academia.edu/MustaphaSheikh

https://ahc.leeds.ac.uk/languages/staff/125/dr-mustapha-sheikh

https://global.oup.com/academic/product/ottoman-puritanism-and-its-discontents-9780198790761

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