GHAZNI (SW) – In the wake of mounting attacks on religious places, all activities at various shrines and other sacred places in Ghazni province have been halted.
In the last few days, the ‘zikr circles’ (circles of remembrance) and other gatherings at the monasteries of Ghazni city have been halted and the entry of young disciples to these monasteries has been banned.
A number of followers of Sufism in the province say the decision was made to prevent possible security incidents in the area.
Amanullah, a disciple in Ghazni, said: “”In the past, we used to go in the morning to pray up till at eight o’clock. Recently, in order to prevent any security incidents from happening, it is decided that the youth should not come.”
Samiullah, a resident of Gharni, who lives in the neighborhood of one of the monasteries in the “old city” of this city, says that for several days now, the gate of the “Qaderieya Sharif” monastery in this neighborhood has been closed.
Officials of the Ghazni Department of Information and Culture, however, reject the suspension of programs and circles of remembrance and prayers in the province. Mansour Afghan, director of intelligence at the Ghazni Department of Information and Culture, told Salam Watandar that the banquets and programs of monasteries in Ghazni had not stopped and that the officials of the Islamic Emirate were assuring the people of security in all parts of the province.
There are currently 11 monasteries in Ghazni, where more than 10,000 disciples are engaged in Sufism and mysticism. Also, more than 15 guides of Sufism, more commonly known as the “righteous caliphs” in Ghazni province, are engaged in guiding, teaching and presenting the lessons and mysteries of mysticism and Sufism for their followers.
Of the four Sufism sects known in the Islamic world, which include the Qaderiya, Naqshbandiya, Cheshtiya and Suhrawardiya sects, only two Qadiriyya and Naqshbandiyya sects have followers in Ghazni province.
Abdul Baqi Hilaman Ghaznavi, a writer and researcher on mystical studies, says that monasteries and Sufism are not specific to Muslims and the religion of Islam, and exist in all religions, and that monastic people are sympathetic, sincere, and pro-coexistent in the world.
It is worth mentioning that Sufism, mysticism and the activity of monasteries in Islamic societies have their roots in the first century of the emergence of Islam. Most Sufi and mystical sects in Afghanistan attribute the origin of their Sufi and mystical activities to the true caliphs, imams and companions of Muhammad, the Prophet of Islam.
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