Religion in Afghanistan

Afghanistan has a rich history shaped by its people's beliefs and traditions. Most people in Afghanistan follow Islam. The majority are Sunni Muslims, and a smaller group are Shia Muslims. These two groups make up nearly the entire population. Only a very small number of people follow other religions.

Sunni Islam is especially important in Afghanistan. It is the official religion of the country. This means that many laws and traditions are influenced by Islamic teachings. The Hanafi and Deobandi schools of thought within Sunni Islam are particularly strong in the region.

In recent years, the freedom to practice one's religion in Afghanistan has faced challenges. Despite these difficulties, the spiritual life of Afghans remains a central part of their daily experiences and cultural identity.

History

See also: Zoroastrianism, Hinduism in Afghanistan, Buddhism in Afghanistan, and Islam in Afghanistan

The history of religion in Afghanistan has changed many times. Long ago, people in this area practiced religions like Zoroastrianism, Hinduism, and Buddhism. These faiths were important before Islam arrived.

Islam began to spread in Afghanistan around the 7th century A.D. when Arab Muslims came to the region. Over time, most people in Afghanistan chose to follow Islam. By the 9th century, Islam had become the main religion there.

Today, Islam is the most important religion in Afghanistan. Mosques are not just places for prayer; they also help people meet, learn, and celebrate together. Even though there are different groups and tribes, Islam helps bring many Afghans together.

Minority religious groups

Demographics

A report from 2009 said that most people in Afghanistan follow a certain belief. About 80 to 85 percent are one group, and around 10 to 15 percent are another. Smaller groups make up less than 0.3 percent of the population. There are also a few people who follow a different belief, and no one follows a very old belief anymore.

Shia Islam

Main article: Shia Islam in Afghanistan

Some people in Afghanistan, making up between 7% and 20% of the population, follow a different belief than the majority. Most of these people are from a certain group and follow a specific branch of their belief. There are also smaller groups with different practices. These believers sometimes cause differences with a nearby country that has a different main belief.

Modernist and non-denominational Muslims

Main article: Non-denominational Muslims

An important leader helped bring back and support new ways of following the main belief in recent times.

Christianity

Main article: Christianity in Afghanistan

Some reports say there might be between 1,000 and 18,000 people who quietly follow another belief in Afghanistan. A study from 2015 guesses there are about 3,300 people from a belief background living there. Since 2022, followers of this belief often face hard times.

Baháʼí Faith

Main article: Baháʼí Faith in Afghanistan

A different belief was brought to Afghanistan in 1919, and people have been following it since the 1880s. By 2010, about 16,500 people in Afghanistan followed this belief.

Judaism

Main article: History of the Jews in Afghanistan

There used to be a small group of people who followed an ancient belief in Afghanistan, but they left the country before and after a big event in 1979. It is thought that some people might still be hiding their belief. Today, communities of these people live in other countries. The last person known to follow this belief left Afghanistan in September 2021.

Zoroastrianism

There were about 2,000 people who followed a very old belief in Afghanistan in 1970.

Dharmic religions

Main articles: Hinduism in Afghanistan, Buddhism in Afghanistan, Sikhism in Afghanistan, and Jainism in Afghanistan

See also: Hindu and Buddhist heritage of Afghanistan

Long ago, parts of Afghanistan were mostly followed by people who believed in certain ways. Today, there are about 1,300 people and a little over 600 people living in cities like Kabul, Jalalabad, and Ghazni.

In the past, there were huge statues made in the 6th and 7th centuries. These statues were destroyed in March 2001 by a group that took control.

Freedom of religion after 2021

The Taliban took control of Afghanistan in August 2021. Since then, the government has said that all laws must follow Islamic rules. People who follow other religions, like Baha’is and Christians, have been worried about being discovered and treated unfairly.

Many people from minority groups left Afghanistan after 2021, moving to nearby countries such as Iran and Pakistan, as well as other places far away.