The Mahdi’s Female Messenger to Afghanistan

Afghanistan remains one of the most oppressive countries in the world for women. Girls and women are barred from attending school in most regions, and strict dress codes require them to cover not only their hair but often their entire face in public.

Reports of honor killings and domestic abuse are widespread, with little to no legal remedy for victims. Under the Taliban regime and amid a deeply patriarchal society, women’s voices are routinely silenced—particularly in matters of religion, where they are neither heard nor acknowledged.

According to an article by the United Nations, UNESCO reported,

“Three years to the day after the fall of Kabul, the nation’s capital, at least 1.4 million girls have been deliberately denied access to secondary education because of the bans. Including the girls who were already out of school before the Taliban’s reimposition of strict religious legal codes, there are now almost 2.5 million girls in the country deprived of their right to education, representing 80 percent of Afghan school age girls.”

In a country where women are systematically silenced and stripped of their rights, Abdullah Hashem Aba Al-Sadiq, leader of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light, appointed an Afghan woman as his messenger to Afghanistan—a bold move in a nation where women are banned from public life.

From the headquarters of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light, she preaches religion daily on TikTok, directly addressing the Taliban and teaching Islamic theology to an overwhelmingly male audience. In doing so, she not only challenges their ideology but reclaims a space women have been violently pushed out of. 

This is her story.

Can you tell us a little about your life growing up in Afghanistan?

I was born in Afghanistan in Bamyan, in a Twelver Shia family.

My parents had been praying for a child for years, and never conceived. One day, they prayed to God, and said to Him, give us a child, and it will be dedicated to you and your service, in the name of the Ahlulbayt. That year, my mother fell pregnant. 

When I was four years old or so, I fell from a high place…not a building, but a cliff, and I rolled all the way down. The fall was so lethal that I was pronounced dead. My body was wounded and injured, and I was bleeding from my ears and my eyes, and my nose was fractured. My grandparents frantically brought me to a doctor, or a hakeem (a wise man of the village), and he injected me with a substance. It may have been some antibiotic or something, but it caused me to have a serious reaction while I was already unconscious. My skin went ashy. I started foaming from the mouth. 

The hakeem pronounced me dead for sure at this point, and my grandparents began to mourn. They brought my body home on horseback. Halfway home, there was a dog that I loved very much and was close to, I used to call him Coba, Coba barked and miraculously I opened my eyes.

My grandmother held me for 12 days and nights, hoping to help me stay alive. Thankfully, I survived this strange incident.

However, I remembered nothing at all. It was like I was born again. I really felt like that. 

I lived in Afghanistan till I was six years old. Then the Taliban came, and invaded Afghanistan. They changed everything. This forced my family to flee to Iran. 

From the age of 8 years, I remember some vivid memories of life in Iran. I was 14 years old when the Taliban left Afghanistan, and we moved back there.

What was your experience as a young woman in Iranian society?

Back then, I found that Iranian society was repressive towards people asking questions about religion and discussing it. We were told, “Do not worry about religion. The Alim e Deen (scholars of religion) are there to guide you.”

Because I was from Afghanistan, I didn’t get the chance to go to school in Iran. My family and I did not have residence—we were refugees—and therefore, we were unable to receive basic rights. For years, we waited for the government to grant us some form of residence in the country. I went to school for six months, and my parents had to pay the school for them to even allow me to enter. After six months, they wouldn’t allow me to continue. They refused to let me study at school.

It was the saddest moment of my life. I wanted to learn so badly. I remember seeing the school door shut in my face. My friend would be inside, and I would wait for her to finish the school day and ask her, “What did you learn today?” She would tell me, but then after a while she stopped wanting to share with me.

I managed to find some books, and my father taught me how to read bit by bit.

My father was heartbroken for me, so he paid for an English language school so I could take part in the course. It lasted for two months.

I had to cover up by wearing a headscarf. What I found really weird was the ritual that children would go through once they reached the age of puberty, in particular girls. I was nine years old, which they consider the age of puberty. The scholars gather the girls of that age, and dress them in white veils, and under the pretext of congratulating these children, they would kiss them and say, “You have reached the age of responsibility and you should wear the headscarf now,” and they would give them gifts. It was bizarre.

What were some of the biggest challenges you faced under the repressive system there?           

In Iran, we had no basic rights of freedom, and when we talked to men, we always had to listen to them and speak less. Religious scholars also preached that girls should wear a black veil, covering them from head to toe. The morality police would constantly be arresting girls that did not comply and warning and scaring them.

Were you always religious or spiritual growing up? How was religion taught or practiced in your community?   

Yes, I was born and raised in a religious Shiite Twelver family. I lived with my family until I was 20 years old and then I had to get married and go to the Netherlands. Then I lived in the Netherlands until I was 33. Over time, I became fed up with religion. I did not feel that what the scholars were saying made any sense. So I stopped practising Islam. What I had been told all my life growing up, it just wasn’t settling in my heart. But I was looking for the truth, and for the Creator. 

After converting, what aspects of the teachings of Aba Al-Sadiq have impacted you most as a woman?

That we had female prophets, and that men and women are equal in religion.

Because in my childhood, till before the dawa, I thought women were lesser than men. I was treated that way, raised that way. Told that as a woman, you are lesser than men. Don’t argue, don’t talk back, don’t anger them. If you do that, you are shameless.

In this religion, it’s different. Men and women are equal in terms of religion and talking about religion.

I go on TikTok and discuss this, and people say to me: “How dare you talk about Imam Mahdi? That’s a man’s job. You have to serve the men, not talk about Imam Mahdi.” This quote was told to me by a woman!

I see it as a heavy responsibility, that Aba Al-Sadiq made me the first female messenger to Afghanistan. The children are treated as lesser than the animals there. In particular, the girls. They are not allowed to go to school, read, choose their husbands, or decide what to wear. Now, the Qaim put me in charge of their matter. Look at that. That country, those men, are oppressing women. The Qaim is raising women and giving them rights, and allowing me, a woman, to be a messenger to them. I’m so grateful and honoured, and excited. I recognize the importance of this duty.

And the idea of the Divine Just State being reached in this lifetime and this world is so revolutionary. We were always told, it will not be in our time. But the truth is, it’s right here. I’m living in it.

What kind of work are you currently doing to spread the Call in and beyond Afghanistan? 

Thanks to the Qaim, I host a live TV and YouTube program in the morning with my fellow believers Amir and Hamidreza, and I help with the translation and subtitling of some of the videos. I also organize TikTok Live for Afghans in the Dari language, and I communicate with them. This is the first ever Dari TikTok platform that is calling the people of Afghanistan to pledge their allegiance to Imam Mahdi, and it is hosted by a woman. (Sara laughed and wiped tears from her eyes here). I'm so amazed, I can’t even believe it sometimes—it feels unreal.

For the past fifty years, the people of Afghanistan have been in constant war and displacement, and they think that God has forgotten them and that they have no hope. I must inform them that the true hope is here and that they should accept God's appointed ruler to save them from this suffering and wandering.

Let’s get some background on your journey to the faith. How did you first hear about the Call of the Qaim, Abdullah Hashem Aba Al-Sadiq?  

The first time I saw the series The Arrivals in 2022, I was very interested in finding out who Abdullah Hashem was. 

At the end of that year, I saw two short videos about the death of Abdullah of Hijaz and the black banners. Then, I found The Mahdi Has Appeared YouTube channel and I honestly got addicted to the content on it. I also found The Goal of The Wise book. 

It took me a whole year to read the book, but I didn't just read it, I studied it thoroughly. It was so miraculous. I would be watching The School of Divine Mysteries, and it was like a miraculous experience. I would read the chapters, and I would have questions. Then, I would be watching a lecture by Aba Al-Sadiq and he would be answering my question, as if he already knew what I was asking! It was so amazing. I would say to myself, “Oh my God, this question is already answered by him.” There was no doubt in my heart over anything I was reading in The Goal of The Wise.

I didn’t feel anything negative while reading the teachings. I could read up to 8 hours straight and not tear myself away. I have no words to describe that. I felt like I didn’t need food, or water, or anything to survive, as long as I could read this book.

Was there a particular moment, teaching, or proof that moved your heart and made you want to pledge allegiance? 

In Canada, in August, I pledged my allegiance after fully finishing the book. My heart was at peace, and I had a sense of pride in doing this pledge. The only concern I had was to be with the Qaim. I had read in the gospel The Goal of The Wise that we should join him. 

I had seen the lecture where Aba Al-Sadiq pointed at the screen and said, “You should already be here.”

That went right through me, and I was shocked. I started crying, I sat under a tree, next to our lake, and I asked God, and said, “God, please help me, what shall I do?”

And then, I spoke to Aba Al-Saidq in my heart, and I said, “If you hear me, show me a way.”

That’s when I experienced a miracle.

To my utter shock and awe, I heard his voice in my mind. I heard him say, “Keep your faith strong. You will succeed. You will come.”

Right after this, my mother miraculously said to me, “Do you really want to go?” And I said, “Yes, please, I need to go. It’s the reason why I’m alive.” And they helped me with everything, the ticket, the money, everything I needed to make my way to the community of Aba Al-Sadiq.

This truly showed me that anything is possible, as long as I have faith in God and I trust Him.

How has your life changed since joining the religion?  

Amazingly, I have changed. Now I have found the purpose of my life; I have found the reason for being born and surviving that fall from the top of a mountain.

I was really different before. Now, I can't recognize myself. While living in the Netherlands, I would be going out, shopping, doing superficial things to try and feel better. But it never worked.

Now, I don't need anything like that to feel amazing. Every day I wake up, and I'm so grateful for every second of my life to be here, in the service of the Qaim.

At night, I go to sleep at 2 or 3 a.m., but I wake up energized and excited to face the day of work.

I wanted to do a lot more, and I got that opportunity. Thanks to Aba Al-Sadiq, who gave me the chance to help.

The world is so dark, I cannot imagine going out of the community by one inch.

The thing is, I feel like I have known the members of this community for years. Hugging a sister here is like a feeling of relief, meeting a lost friend, saying to myself, finally, I'm with you all.

It’s so beautiful being with my soul family here.

How do you carry out your responsibilities while dealing with the risks of reaching out to people in a country like Afghanistan?  

Sometimes it is very difficult to communicate with people who are not aware of the religion they follow. They pay attention to appearances, for example, not having a headscarf on me is very incomprehensible to them and in their opinion I am not allowed to talk about religion or Imam Mahdi, and sometimes they use a lot of dirty and vulgar words against me. But for me it is important that even one person becomes aware and knows the Truth.

As you know, Afghan society is mostly religiously extremist, so if a woman without a headscarf talks to them about religion and Imam Mahdi, it is difficult for them to accept it, and they try to intimidate me by threatening me and using obscene and bad words.

It’s necessary for the people to understand their own religion. Till this day, nobody told them to research their own religion or read their books. It’s important that they read and then see that there are so many contradictions in their own belief systems. They don't even know about what’s in their own books.

For example, the Will of the Prophet, the fact that God is the one who appoints, they don't even know this. They are blindly listening to the non-working scholars who are clearly misleading them about religion or any truth.

It’s important first for them to see these contradictions, then ask, what is the truth?

Then, when they are ready to know the truth, they can research and read The Goal of The Wise, and watch the lectures of the Qaim, and they will see the truth was there in front of them the whole time.

They don't even need to travel far to know this knowledge.

What teachings or stories from Aba Al-Sadiq help you remain patient and strong?

Work hard until you are out of breath. “Patience, patience, patience, then submission.” - Aba Al-Sadiq  

What would you want the world to know about the women of Afghanistan and their strength?

I want the world to know that the Afghan women are strong, talented, patient, hardworking, respectful, honest, loyal, and now one of them is the messenger from the Qaim of the Family of Mohammed to the country of Afghanistan. I also know that many of the companions of the Qaim will come from Afghanistan, and the prophecies mention a place called Taliqan. This is now known to be a region somewhere around Afghanistan and Iran. So we know many pure people will come from there, to support Aba Al-Sadiq.

What are your hopes for the future of Afghanistan under divine guidance?  

That Afghanistan and the people of Afghanistan join the Qaim, are free from these tyrants and oppressive leaders, and that people live in peace and harmony together in the Divine Just State.

Sara’s story is fascinating, and her journey has led her to being where she is today, in active service of God and His sent vicegerent. This is a woman whose every word expresses conviction, faith, hope and resilience. She is the exact person for the job - Not only is she a spiritual soldier of God, who fights oppressive ideas and tyrannical causes with the sword of divine knowledge and faith, she is also the symbol of the oppressed in the land of Afghanistan. A woman, who comes from a repressive regime that seeks to silence, to force and impose, a regime that fears voices that speak out, and seeks to obliterate any whisper of dissent or opposing views. 

Sara was once a little girl denied the basic right to study in school. Her ardent desire was heard by God, and now, she is a disciple in the greatest school on earth - The School of Divine Mysteries, the school of the Qaim Abdullah Hashem Aba Al-Sadiq.

As a believing woman, sister Sara is a beacon of hope for those who suffer and are thrown aside as broken and irrelevant. The lands of Afghanistan still have hope - the hope for a man who will bring them relief. And with the appearance of the Mahdi, a new dawn is approaching. He has shown that the impossible is possible. Those who are chained down and shackled find freedom in Aba Al-Sadiq’s Call. Sara emulates exactly that concept. We thank her for her contribution to this article, and for expressing her faith, as an inspiration to many out there who are in search of a better world, as she once was.

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