Un-Islamic Customs of Pashtuns

[شمله ور خراساني]

Bismillah walhamdu lilah wa salaatu wa salaam alaa rasulilah

as salaamu alaykoum wa rahmatullah


We have discussed this topic before.

But since we live in an era where there is allot of misguidance, ignorance and opression, we need to constantly make ourselves aware of the social ailments of our people.

And we should use correct Islamic guidelines to imrpove oursleves and our community for better.

So I invite you all to discuss un-Islamic issues you have questions about.

I will start by talking about something I learned recently.

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In Pashto, usually people resolve their conflicts and issues by relying on Jirga's. A jirga in its essence is very similar to the Islam Shura.

However, problems occur when the decisions of the jirga are in accordance with Pashtunwalay but in contradiction to Shariah.

A specific issue is the rights of women. Women are not allowed to inherit land or any other property. And usually, when the women are widows or whatever, when their parents die, the brothers do not give them any share.

Neither do women receive any share from their husband. They are never allowed to claim for what is their shari'i entitlement.

I have a family problem right now. Some of my relatives do not want to allow a widowed relative to have her share of inheritence. And they argue that it is not of our custom to give her what she is entitled to. Even though they know that she is entitled to it, and she needs it.

Since I am not in Afghanistan, I cannot interfere in this issue. And it is difficult to advice people via a telephone call. Especially if they are ignorant.

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So, this was a specific case. There are many other cases where people do not give people what people are entitled to.

Please share you views regarding un-Islamic customs in our culture. I hope that we can have a beneficial discussion.

[sahil112]

islam is very important to me but so is pashtunwali as i am pashtun afterall. i love my culture and will live by its rules and follow pashtunwali along side islamic laws aswell.

[شمله ور خراساني]

islam is very important to me but so is pashtunwali as i am pashtun afterall. i love my culture and will live by its rules and follow pashtunwali along side islamic laws aswell.

But Pashtunwali is for only 70 or 80 % halal. At least 20 % of Pashtunwali is totally against Shariah.

[kakargirl]

Well in our familys the jirga system is there, but our women are given more than just inheritence due to our customs ,we recieve from both sides husbands and father side if its a widow extra help is provided by the whole family financially , i feel sorry for your relative.

[sahil112]

But Pashtunwali is for only 70 or 80 % halal. At least 20 % of Pashtunwali is totally against Shariah.

that may be so but i love who i am and my way of life and the way of life of my ancestors and will inshallah pass this on to next generation aswell if that ever happens. nothing is perfect in this world you have to accomadate.

[شمله ور خراساني]

Well in our familys the jirga system is there, but our women are given more than just inheritence due to our customs ,we recieve from both sides husbands and father side if its a widow extra help is provided by the whole family financially , i feel sorry for your relative.

thats very good mashaa allah. May allah make all pashtuns follow quran & sunnah instead of customs that deny people their shari'i rights.

[شمله ور خراساني]

that may be so but i love who i am and my way of life and the way of life of my ancestors and will inshallah pass this on to next generation aswell if that ever happens. nothing is perfect in this world you have to accomadate.

So suppose that you ancestors are mushrik and kuffaar. Would you say that you love who you are and whatever your forefathers were upon?

We have to follow Islam. That's Quran & Sunnah. ANd suppose that our forefathers use to have an un-Islamic custom, this does not mean that we should love it or be proud of it.

Because having love in our heart for whatever that is prohibited in Islam is very dangerous.

Of course, all people have hteir customs and traditions. And as long as our customs are not in conflict with Islam, we should preserve our identity and culture.

But as soon as there are conflicts and people violating the shariah, then we need to take a stance against such deviancy.

[sahil112]

So suppose that you ancestors are mushrik and kuffaar. Would you say that you love who you are and whatever your forefathers were upon?

We have to follow Islam. That's Quran & Sunnah. ANd suppose that our forefathers use to have an un-Islamic custom, this does not mean that we should love it or be proud of it.

Because having love in our heart for whatever that is prohibited in Islam is very dangerous.

Of course, all people have hteir customs and traditions. And as long as our customs are not in conflict with Islam, we should preserve our identity and culture.

But as soon as there are conflicts and people violating the shariah, then we need to take a stance against such deviancy.

every1s ancestors where once kafirs and non belivers and idol woershippers. so yes i still love them becouse they were just mis-lead but when islam came about they became belivers.

lukily pashtunwali is very much like islam so i dont have to think about that question.

i follow islam as it should be but i also follow my culture and traditons as i should do also. i dont think pashtunwali really conflicts with islam at all.

[شمله ور خراساني]

i dont think pashtunwali really conflicts with islam at all.

You don't think so. THen maybe you should study this subject. Because you will find very serious issues.

[sahil112]

You don't think so. THen maybe you should study this subject. Because you will find very serious issues.

give me references and quotes as i would like to see where you get this info from that pashtunwali treats its women in the wrong manner.

[شمله ور خراساني]

give me references and quotes as i would like to see where you get this info from that pashtunwali treats its women in the wrong manner.

Pashtunwali does not have a real book. It is interpreted by different tribes in different ways.

However, the main rulings regarding certain issues are generally accepted by all tribes.

Regarding women, women do not have the right to inherit anything. It is considered as a shameful act to give women a share.

If you have any contact with your village people and your village malik, you can ask.

You can visit @ QuranAwSunnat.com the Imams on this website often discuss this topic. Especially the violation of people's rights and entitledments in Pashto.

[unknownprince]

Sangar, the situation of your relatives should be decided at a mosque.

Islamic law is oimportant in regard to this.

[sahil112]

Pashtunwali does not have a real book. It is interpreted by different tribes in different ways.

However, the main rulings regarding certain issues are generally accepted by all tribes.

Regarding women, women do not have the right to inherit anything. It is considered as a shameful act to give women a share.

If you have any contact with your village people and your village malik, you can ask.

You can visit @ QuranAwSunnat.com the Imams on this website often discuss this topic. Especially the violation of people's rights and entitledments in Pashto.

excatly my point wrora its an un-written code of life and different people interpurt differently! in my family women are given thier rights and pashtunwali is followed and we percieve women as important in our life and that they are treated fairly and cared for. some families may not do that but thats them as every tribe is different.

[kakargirl]

sangaar wrora in our familys its considered a big begharathi if a woman is not given her inheritance, it would cause chaos, but so far it has never happened a woman is given her inheritance and more than that too other financial support too through out her life, so may be it differs from tribe to tribe .

[شمله ور خراساني]

excatly my point wrora its an un-written code of life and different people interpurt differently! in my family women are given thier rights and pashtunwali is followed and we percieve women as important in our life and that they are treated fairly and cared for. some families may not do that but thats them as every tribe is different.

I think you are interpreting this in the wrong way.

First of all, Pashtunwali does not mean "culture".

Pashtunwali consists of many different things. In Pashtun society, there is the insitituiton of "jirga". And the "jirga" can operate as a court of law. There, certainlaws are applied. And those laws are the codes of Pashtunwali.

You can have people sentenced to death in such jirga's.

My grandfathers use to do Jirga's all across the Pashtun belt. From Kabul to Kandahar.

And it is not something people can adapt to their desires and wishes as you picture it.

There are strict rules.

The fact that there is no book of Pashtunwali does not mean that the way you live your life is "your version of pashtunwali".

When I told you that different tribed interpret certain rulings in a different way, I was talking about specific issues. For example, certain fines can vary from region to region. And the amount of damages one needs to pay for causing harm to others can vary from region to region.

So, when I adviced you to find out more about this subject, I wanted to make you aware of the fact that you have not thoroughly understood what Pashtunwali is.