Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada said during his Eid al-Adha sermon at the Eidgah Mosque in Kandahar that Muslims need an amir to preserve unity and prevent division within society.
He stressed that having an amir is an obligation for Islamic societies and said that anyone who dies “without allegiance and obedience” to an amir dies “a death of ignorance.”
According to the Taliban leader, strengthening unity and solidarity in an Islamic society is impossible without an amir, and for that reason God has instructed Muslims to appoint one among themselves.
During nearly five years of Taliban rule, Hibatullah Akhundzada has repeatedly emphasized obedience to his leadership.
Most recently, in a speech delivered on April 29 to Taliban Finance Ministry officials, he said obedience to his orders was “like obedience to God and the Prophet.”
The Taliban leader also described disobedience to his directives as equivalent to religious disobedience.
In that speech, Hibatullah warned that authorities would deal seriously with “disobedience” and instructed Taliban officials not to interfere or mediate against his decisions.
He had previously stated in a message related to the implementation of his decrees in Herat that disobedience to leaders had caused the سقوط of historical Islamic caliphates.
The Taliban leader also warned that if people fail to obey the current system, “fitna” and instability would emerge.
