Peshawar, March 15, 2025 – Mufti Munir Shakir (MMS), who lost his life in the Peshawar blast, was born in 1969 in Karak district to Maulvi Rahmatullah. A prominent yet controversial religious figure, he founded the armed religious group Lashkar-e-Islam in 2004 in Bara, Khyber district. He was associated with the Deobandi sub-sect Panjpiri and also held a position in the "Ishaat-e-Tauheed" organization.
Around six to seven years ago, MMS had a severe falling out with "Ishaat-e-Tauheed," leading to his complete disassociation from the organization. He not only distanced himself politically and ideologically but also embraced the teachings of the "Ahl-e-Quran" movement, abandoning the mainstream Sunni school of thought. Through books such as Al-Burhan Ala Man A’radh An Al-Quran, Al-Furqan Bayn Ibad Al-Rahman, Al-Furqan Bayn Deen Al-Rahman Wa Deen Iran, and Did Our Prophet (PBUH) Defeat a Magician?, he argued that fabricated hadiths were inserted into key Sunni texts like Bukhari and Muslim, allegedly altering the true essence of Islam. He contended that the Quran alone defined the true faith.
In 2004, MMS established Lashkar-e-Islam in the Khyber district and began propagating his views via FM radio in Bara. This led to a fierce rivalry with Pir Saifur Rahman, an Afghan religious leader who had settled in Bara in the 1980s. In response, Pir Saifur Rahman launched his own FM radio station in 2005. The dispute escalated into armed clashes, culminating in a large-scale confrontation on March 29, 2006. As the conflict posed a significant threat to regional stability, a tribal jirga intervened six months later, expelling both MMS and Pir Saifur Rahman from Bara. Following his departure, Mangal Bagh assumed leadership of Lashkar-e-Islam, which was later banned in 2008.
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According to his father, MMS was reportedly taken into custody from Karachi Airport and remained missing for two years. His bold and aggressive rhetoric earned him both a large following and many adversaries. In recent years, he gained widespread attention on social media platforms, including Facebook, due to his provocative statements.
During his association with "Ishaat-e-Tauheed," MMS engaged in debates and wrote extensively on issues such as monotheism, spiritual mentorship, the rejection of hadith, shrine visitation, and charitable donations. However, in his later years, he reversed many of his earlier stances. He became an outspoken critic of state oppression, the persecution of Pashtuns, and the war on terror. He actively participated in Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) gatherings, notably making a bold appearance at the Pashtun Jirga on October 11, 2024.
Known for his fearless, outspoken, and resolute personality, MMS was killed on March 15, 2025 (14 Ramadan 1426 AH) in a bomb blast outside his madrassa, located in Shagi Qila Tauheedabad, Peshawar, during the Asr prayer. He is survived by his wife and two sons, Abdul Rahman and Abdullah
