Afghanistan+Class+Identification





Ethnic Groups in Afghanistan are clearly separated. These many different groups are split clearly in a social heiarchy, all of which are determined from ancestral origins, religious practices, languages, racial affiliation, and traditions.

The Demography of Afghanistan has never been clear, due to lack of census conducted. The last unifying census was organized in 1985, and using statistical information and research, has compiled an estimated list of ethnic composition. Main languages of Afghanistan are Persian(Dari) and Pashto.
 * 36.4% Pashtun
 * 33.7% Tajik
 * 8.0% Hazara
 * 8.0% Uzbek
 * 4.1% Aimak
 * 3.3% Turkmen
 * 1.6% Baloch
 * 1.9% other

Tajik and Pashtun compose a majority of the population, and are seen as the main ethnic groups of Afghanistan.

Pashtuns: They speak the language Pashto, thus the name Pashtuns. Sunni Muslims All but one King of Afghanistan were Pashtun Originally the Confederacy of Afghanistan, formed of many small Pashtun tribes. After expanding Pashtun rule, persecuted other ethnic groups based on religion. Ethnic conflict still exists today for the same reason.

Hazaras: Speak Hazaragi which is a variety of the Persian Language Shi'a Muslims Greatly discriminated against

Tajiks: Persian descent Speaks Dari, or the Persian language. Second largest Ethnic group of Afghanistan. Most are Sunni Muslim, like the Pashtuns.


 * || **Sunnah** || **Shia (or Shi'ah)** ||
 * adherents called || Sunnis || Shiites, Shi'i ||
 * meaning of name || "well-trodden path" or "tradition" || "party" or "partisans" of Ali ||
 * current adherents || 940 million || 120 million ||
 * percentage of total Muslims || 90% || 10% ||
 * primary locations || most Muslim countries || Iran, Iraq, Yemen ||
 * subsects || none, but four major schools of Muslim law are recognized || Ithna 'Ashariyah (Twelvers; the largest), Isma'iliyah and Zaydiyah ||
 * origins || c. 632 CE; theology developed especially in 10th cent. || c. 632-650 CE; killing of Ali's son Husayn in 680 CE is major event ||
 * did Muhammad designate a successor? || no || yes ||
 * true successor of the Prophet || Abu Bakr, father of the Prophet's favoured wife, 'A'ishah (elected by people of Medina) || 'Ali ibn Abi Talib, husband of the Prophet's daughter Fatimah (designated by the Prophet) ||
 * qualifications for ruler of Islam || tribe of the Prophet (Quraysh); later, any qualified ruler || family of the Prophet ||
 * current leaders || imams || mujtahids ||
 * identity of imams || human leaders || infallible manifestations of God and perfect interpreters of the Qur'an ||
 * Al Mahdi || will come in the future || was already on earth, is currently the "hidden imam" who works through mujtahids to intepret Qur'an; and will return at the end of time ||
 * religious authority other than the Qu'ran || ijma' (consensus) of the Muslim community || infallible imams ||
 * concealing faith for self-protection (taqiya) || affirmed under certain circumstances || emphasized ||
 * temporary marriage (mut'ah) || practiced in the Prophet's time, but now rejected || still practiced ||
 * holy cities || [|Mecca], [|Medina], [|Jerusalem] || [|Mecca], [|Medina], [|Jerusalem], [|Najaf], [|Karbala] ||
 * major holidays || [|Eid al-Adha], [|Eid al-Fitr] || [|Eid al-Adha], [|Eid al-Fitr], [|Ashura] ||