The leader of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, the esteemed Amir al-Mu’minin, Sheikh al-Quran wal-Hadith, Mawlawi Hibatullah Akhundzada (May Allah Protect Him), visited Kandahar University this afternoon. For the first time, he met with the university's leadership, professors, staff, and students and delivered a comprehensive speech. At the beginning of his speech, the esteemed Amir al-Mu’minin (May Allah Protect Him) emphasized the value of knowledge and the importance of both religious and modern education. He advised professors and students to pursue both fields of knowledge with sincerity, keeping their intention solely for the sake of Allah's pleasure, and to use their knowledge for the benefit of religion and society. He further addressed the professors and students, saying: "Look, professors and students, you should acquire both religious and worldly education, but your intention should be solely to serve religion. Society holds you in high regard, and people look up to students of madrasas, schools, and universities with great respect, expecting you to serve them. Foreign invaders have come to this country multiple times and have been defeated. But now, Alhamdulillah, Afghanistan is progressing under an Islamic and independent system." The esteemed Amir al-Mu’minin (May Allah Protect Him) also added: "We ask you to write and introduce to the world the histories of our country's martyrs, warriors, and heroes. The Mujahideen, with the help of Allah, liberated this country under extremely difficult circumstances. Now, it is your turn to use your knowledge and intellect to make Afghanistan globally competitive. Work so hard that foreigners come here to learn from you and that you use your knowledge to lead the world." He further stated that Afghanistan is a shared home for all, and each person has a special place in this system. He emphasized that the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has good intentions for the people, and that madrasas and universities are now united. It is their responsibility to protect and support both educational institutions. Continuing his speech, the esteemed Amir al-Mu’minin (May Allah Protect Him) mentioned that the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has provided all necessary facilities for the advancement of education. He stated that they have instructed the Ministry of Higher Education to facilitate the hiring of foreign professors at any cost if they are willing to teach in Afghan universities. However, he stressed that Afghan youth should be trained professionally. He urged the attendees, as scholars and intellectuals, to work towards the progress, unity, and solidarity of the country and to serve their nation with sincerity. The esteemed Amir al-Mu’minin (May Allah Protect Him) also declared that every decree he issues is based on the consultation of scholars and derived from the Quran and Hadith, as they are the commands of Allah. He stated that if any of these decrees contradict Islam, people should not accept them. It is worth mentioning that this gathering was held at the Grand Mosque of Kandahar University and was attended by a large number of students, professors, and university staff. Date: Wednesday Hijri: 13 Sha’ban 1446 Solar Hijri: 24 Sawr 1403 February 12, 2025