Syed Maaz Razvi
AFGHANISTAN has always been known for its deep attachment to Islam and its rejection of alien ideologies like capitalism, secularism, and democracy. For centuries, Afghans have upheld Shariah (Islamic law) as their guiding principle. Afghanistan has proved to be a land of faith, sacrifice, and resilience; its people drawing strength from Islam as their true source of identity and unity.
However, in recent years, the rise of nationalism has impacted some segments of Afghan society. The promotion of cricket and other sports, foreign influence, and especially India’s ideological agenda have played a major role in this shift. Yet from an Islamic perspective, nationalism is not a path to success—it is a danger that has the potential of dividing the Muslim Ummah.
The Qur’an and Hadith clearly reject nationalism as a basis of identity. Allah says in the Qur’an: “Verily this community of yours is a single community, and I am your Lord; so worship Me.” (Surah Al-Anbiya 21:92)
Similarly, the Prophet Muhammad said: “He is not of us who calls to ‘asabiyyah (tribal or national pride).” (Abu Dawood: 5121)
These divine words remind us that Islam unites people through faith, not race, language, or nationality. Any ideology that places borders, flags, or national interests above Islam contradicts the very essence of Shariah.
Cricket and the Promotion of Nationalism
Cricket, introduced and funded largely through foreign powers — particularly India — has gradually become a channel for spreading nationalism among Afghans. What once began as a sport for leisure has turned into a symbol of national identity, pride, and rivalry.
During the last decade or so, cricket victories have been celebrated with flag-waving, patriotic chants, with media campaigns glorifying national pride rather than Islamic brotherhood. Every match against Pakistan, once a close ally and partner, now becomes a contest of superiority and egoism.
For example, during the 2019 World Cup in England, the Afghanistan–Pakistan match ended in violent clashes between supporters outside the stadium. Videos showed fans from both sides fighting, tearing flags, and shouting nationalist slogans. Similarly, in the 2023 Asia Cup, tensions once again spilled onto social media and even into the stands. What was once a friendly rivalry among Muslim countries turned into open hostility, proving how nationalism corrupts the heart and divides the Ummah.
This transformation did not happen naturally; it was engineered and systematically cultivated. Cricket has been used deliberately as a cultural and emotional instrument to shift Afghan pride from Islam to nationalism. Every cricket stadium built, every flag raised, and every “national” victory celebrated contributes to a growing sense of separation from the broader Muslim identity.
Cricket, therefore, has become more than just a sport—it is a tool of ideological redirection. It shapes how Afghans view themselves and their neighbours, replacing the Islamic bond of brotherhood with competition and pride in man-made borders.
Hindutva Agenda
India’s role in this transformation cannot be ignored. The Indian government has been one of the most significant supporters of Afghan cricket—building stadiums, offering training facilities, and hosting Afghan players in Indian leagues. On the surface, this looks like generosity and friendship, but when examined through the lens of Hindutva ideology, it becomes clear that this involvement serves a much deeper agenda.
Hindutva is not merely a political ideology—it is a civilisational project that seeks to expand Indian influence based on the concept of Akhand Bharat (Greater India). This vision envisages a united Hindu cultural sphere extending from Afghanistan to Indonesia. Under this ideology, India aims not only for geographical or economic influence but also for cultural and ideological dominance over its neighbours.
Afghanistan holds symbolic importance in this plan. It represents the northwestern frontier of ancient “Bharatvarsha,” a region that Hindutva ideologues claim as historically and spiritually connected to Hindu civilisation. By investing in Afghan cricket and nurturing nationalist sentiment, India quietly strengthens this ideological link.
Here’s how this strategy works:
1. Soft Power Through Sports
India uses cricket diplomacy as a non-political tool to exert influence. By funding Afghanistan’s cricket infrastructure and providing platforms for Afghan players, India presents itself as a “mentor.” This mentorship naturally cultivates emotional and cultural dependence.
2. Nationalism as a Bridge
When Afghan cricket is framed around national pride rather than religious identity, it brings Afghanistan ideologically closer to India’s own nationalist narrative. It weakens Afghanistan’s Islamic orientation and replaces it with a sense of secular national pride—the very essence of Hindutva’s approach.
3. Creating Regional Alignment
A nationalism-focused Afghanistan, even if Islamic in form, becomes easier to align with India’s geopolitical interests. Once Islamic unity is replaced by national pride, Afghanistan can be drawn into the ideological project of Akhand Bharat—where shared “regional” pride subtly replaces Islamic solidarity.
Thus, cricket becomes a psychological and cultural bridge for Hindutva’s influence. Every match, every media campaign, and every patriotic display moves Afghanistan one step closer to the Akhand Bharat vision—an identity detached from Islam and aligned with India’s civilisational narrative.
Afghan History Against Nationalism
During the Soviet invasion (1979–1989), Afghans did not fight under the banner of nationalism but in the name of Jihad (holy war). The Mujahideen saw themselves as servants of Islam, not soldiers defending a flag. Their sacrifices were offered for the preservation of faith and the defence of the Muslim Ummah. This proves that Afghanistan’s struggle has always been tied to religion rather than man-made borders.
The Taliban governments, both past (1996–2001) and present (2021–today), have consistently rejected nationalism, labelling it as a Western concept designed to divide Muslims. Their governance, whether praised or criticised, has been based on the belief that Shariah alone should guide political, social, and legal systems.
Similarly, throughout history Afghan scholars have warned against nationalism. They remind the people that loyalty belongs to Allah, His Messenger, and the Ummah—not to artificial constructs like borders or flags. They have repeatedly warned that nationalism distracts Muslims from Shariah and weakens their unity.
The Dangers of Nationalism
1. Loss of Islamic Unity
If Afghanistan embraces nationalism, its people will begin to identify primarily as a nation rather than as part of the global Ummah. This narrows their worldview and weakens the unity that Islam commands.
2. Division and Conflict
Nationalism breeds rivalry and hostility. It creates pride in one’s own nation and has contempt for others. This can deepen tribal divisions within Afghanistan and fuel animosity with neighbouring Muslim states, as seen in cricket rivalries with Pakistan.
3. Exploitation by Foreign Powers
Once nationalism takes root, foreign powers—especially those driven by ideological projects like Hindutva—can easily manipulate it. Through sports, media, and cultural programmes, they reshape Afghan loyalty from Islam to artificial nationalism, making the country susceptible to ideological control.
4. Departure from Shariah
When nationalism dominates, laws and policies begin to serve “national interest” instead of divine law. This leads to moral decline and loss of spiritual direction, replacing Allah’s guidance with human desires.
Nationalism may appear as a symbol of progress or unity, but in truth, it is a subtle form of division. Afghanistan’s real strength has always come from Islam, not from flags or sports victories. The true source of Afghan pride should remain its faith, its scholars, and its resilience under Shariah — not temporary moments of national glory.
If Afghanistan chooses nationalism over Islam, it risks losing its unity, inviting foreign manipulation, and drifting away from the path that once made it victorious against super powers. The only way forward is through renewed commitment to Islamic governance and identity, where Allah’s law is supreme and unites all Afghans under one banner — La ilaha illallah.
Islam—not nationalism—must remain the true source of Afghan pride, loyalty, and identity.
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Syed Maaz Razvi is a recruitment professional based in Hyderabad. He writes on issues impacting society. The views expressed here are the writer’s own and Clarion India does not necessarily subscribe to them. He can be reached at maaz.razvi@gmail.com
