By Mufti Naqib Ahmad Hamidi
إِنَّا فَتَحْنَا لَكَ فَتْحًا مُّبِينًا
“Indeed, We have given you, [O Muhammad], a clear conquest.”
Some days do not remain merely as dates on the pages of time. They shine forever on the forehead of history. Some days flow through the veins of a nation’s memory like blood, passing from one generation to another, and whenever they are remembered, they bring with them not only the pain of the past, but also the sweet breath of victory.
The 24th of Asad is such a day. It is the day when the light of dawn spread across the edge of a long night. The day when freedom emerged from behind years of smoke, and a new chapter was opened in Afghanistan’s weary history.
But before the light of this dawn, a long and dark night had passed. Behind this day are the cries of countless mothers who, instead of hearing their sons return, received the news of their martyrdom. There are the silent tears of fathers who carried the coffins of their young sons on their shoulders. There are the eyes of children who were deprived of the warmth of their father’s kind hand. There are the white dresses of brides whose faces, instead of joy, were covered by the black shadow of grief. There are wives who kept their eyes fixed on the doorway, hoping to hear the footsteps of their beloved, only to receive the news of his martyrdom.
War did not only kill people. It brought down the roofs of homes, and with them, the hopes of many families. It wounded cities and villages, but the deepest wound it left was in the human heart. Some lost their kind father. Some lost their beloved son. Some lost their dear brother. Some lost the companion of their life. Some left their homes. Some left their land. Some left their businesses. Some lost the opportunity for an education that could have changed their entire lives. In every corner of Afghanistan, on its mountains and in its valleys, there is a painful and untold story of this long war.
Some stories are buried in the soil of graves. Some are in the eyes of mothers. Some are in the silence of orphans. Some are in the ruins of old homes that still echo with the sounds of footsteps from days gone by.
But the Afghan nation is not a nation that breaks in the waves of a storm. This is a nation that has seen storms without ever having its roots uprooted. Like the mountains, it has stood firm as the storms of time passed over it.
For a believer, hard days are not the end of the road. They are a test. And when the door of victory opens after the test, a person should prostrate instead of becoming arrogant, and give thanks instead of taking pride. For this reason, the 24th of Asad is not just a day of joy. It is also a day of gratitude.
It is a day of gratitude tied to the memory of those martyrs who gave their lives for this sacred system so that the next generation could breathe the air of freedom on their homeland’s soil, and once again see the Islamic flag flying freely.
But freedom is not honored through celebrations and gatherings alone.
If we truly want to honor the blood of the martyrs, we must further strengthen the foundations of this sacred Islamic system and lay the groundwork for the development of our country. Because the greatest memorial for a martyr who sacrificed himself for Islam must be an Islamic, sacred, and prosperous Afghanistan. An Afghanistan where a child opens his eyes not in fear, but in hope.
Let us commemorate the 24th of Asad not with the language of revenge, but with the language of reflection. Let us take from it a message of unity rather than hatred. Along with remembering the victory of the past, let us renew our resolve to build a strong Islamic system for the future. Let the 24th of Asad teach us that victory is not the end. It is the beginning of a new responsibility.
May Allah have mercy on our martyrs and grant patience and great reward to their families.
To those circles and countries that seek to disrupt Afghanistan’s security and reignite the flames of war, it should be clear that this nation is no longer a playground for the games of others. Afghanistan has emerged from the flames of decades of war. Let no one light the fire of discord on this land. The wounds of this people have not yet healed, and any attempt to bring war back will face the harsh lessons of history. Truth will always prevail.
We will stand firm at the gates of this land to protect the country’s peace and the Islamic system. Whoever tries to spread insecurity will receive a firm and crushing response. A nation that has passed through a storm no longer fears every sound of thunder.
Do not add to the grief of your children and families. Have mercy on yourselves and your families. Live in peace under the shelter of this Islamic system and the white flag.
