What is the land like in Afghanistan?
Tall, forbidding mountains and dry deserts cover most of the landscape of Afghanistan. The jagged mountain peaks are treacherous, and are snow covered for most of the year. Many Afghans live in the fertile valleys between the mountains and grow their crops and tend to their animals.
What are the top 3 religions in Afghanistan?
Religion in Afghanistan (2012) Sunni Islam (90%) Shia Islam (9.7%) Other religion (0.3%)
What is Afghanistan most known for?
It has six bordering countries that include Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Iran, Pakistan, and China. Afghanistan is famous for its pomegranates in Asia. Let’s explore more about this war-torn country with some interesting facts.
What is the religion of Afghanistan?
Islam
Islam is the official religion of Afghanistan and the majority of the population is Muslim (approximately 99.7%). There are some very small residual communities of other faiths, including Christians, Sikhs, Hindus and Baha’i.
What religion was in Afghanistan before Islam?
Before the arrival of Islam in the 7th century, there were a number of religions practiced in ancient Afghanistan, including Zoroastrianism, Surya worship, Paganism, Hinduism and Buddhism. The Kaffirstan region, in the Hindu Kush, was not converted until the 19th century.
Do they drink alcohol in Afghanistan?
Afghanistan is one of 16 countries in the world where the drinking of alcoholic beverages at any age is illegal for most of its citizens. Violation of the law by locals is subject to punishment in accordance with the Sharia law. In the northern part of the country, alcohol smuggling via Uzbekistan is a large business.
What kind of Islam do they have in Afghanistan?
Shia Islam in Afghanistan. Most Shias in Afghanistan belong to the Twelver branch. This includes the Hazara ethnic group and the smaller urbanized Qizilbash group, who are originally from eastern Iran. Politically aware Shia students formed the hardcore of the Afghan Maoist movement in the 1960s and early 1970s.
When did the Islamic State of Afghanistan start?
In time the prominent leaders accumulated wealth and power and, in contrast to the past, wealth became a determining factor in the delineation of power at all levels. With the departure of foreign troops and the long sought demise of Kabul’s leftist government, The Islamic State of Afghanistan finally came into being in April 1992.
Who was the leader of Islam in Afghanistan?
During the reign of Al-Mu’tasim, Islam was generally practiced by most inhabitants of the region, and under Ya’qub-i Laith Saffari, Islam was the predominant religion of Kabul and other major cities of Afghanistan.
Are there any ulama or Sufis in Afghanistan?
Afghanistan is unique in that there is little hostility between the ulama (religion scholars) and the Sufi orders. A number of Sufi leaders are considered as ulama, and many ulama closely associate with Sufi brotherhoods. The general populace accords Sufis respect for their learning and for possessing karamat,…