Difference Between Taliban and Mujahideen

Taliban vs Mujahideen

Taliban and Mujahideen both stand in the name of Islam. However, one can find much difference between the two.

Taliban or Students of Islamic Knowledge Movement has its roots in Afghanistan. They ruled Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001 until they were ousted from power by the US military.

There are two contrasting stories about the origin of Taliban. One story is that the rape and murder of boys and girls of a family who were travelling to Kandahar or some similar outrage by Mujahideen bandits aroused Mullah Omar, who is credited with the formation of Taliban, and his students to take a vow to rid Afghanistan of these criminals. The other story is that Pakistan-based “Afghanistan Transit Trade” and their allies in the Pakistan government, trained, armed, and financed Taliban for clearing the southern road across Afghanistan to the Central Asia.

Initially Mujahideen groups fought against the pro-Soviet Afghan government during the late 1970s. Mujahideen groups have spread to various countries like India, Chechnya, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and Macedonia, Iran, Iraq and Somali.

Coming to the Etymology, Mujahideen have been derived from two words jihad and mujahid. Jihad means to struggle and Mujahid means struggler. The particular verb stem from which both the terms are derived means ‘to struggle’ or “to exert effort against”. In the late 20th century and early 21st century, mujahideen was used for various armed fighters who subscribed to militant Islamic ideologies. However, Taliban is a Pashto word meaning students.

When we compare the ideology of the two extremist groups, both have their ideologies based on Islam religion. The Taliban has an anti-modern ideology, which can be called as an innovative form of sharia combining Pashtun tribal codes. Taliban’s ideology can be seen as departure from the Islamism of Mujahideens.

The Mujahideen’s have based their ideology completely in defending religious faith. They even think of fighting for faith and dying for faith. The Mujahideen ideology can be termed as a blend of Islamic fundamentalism.

Summary

1. Taliban or Students of Islamic Knowledge Movement ruled Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001 until they were ousted from power by the US military.
2. Mujahideen groups fought against the pro-Soviet Afghan government during the late 1970s
3. Taliban was born out of anger against Mujahideens.
4. Mujahideen have been derived from two words jihad and mujahid. Taliban is a Pashto word meaning students.

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