The president’s press service considers Rahmon incorrect?

In a recently published report on the fifth pilgrimage of Emomali Rahmon, the press service of the President of Tajikistan has cast doubt on Rahmon’s commitment to Islam.

On July 19, 2023, the press service of the President of Tajikistan reported on Emomali Rahmon’s fifth Umrah (minor pilgrimage) in Mecca. The video report was shown on state television and also published on social media.

The footage shows Emomali Rahmon and his translator, the head of the Committee for Religious Affairs, the Saudi Arabian ambassador to Tajikistan, the head of the president’s security service, and others exiting the Kaaba and descending the stairs. At this moment, a verse from the Quran is heard, which translates as: “Indeed, only those who consider him (Satan) their ally and protector, and associate others with him, are under his control.” Surah An-Nahl, verse 100.

However, the announcer, showing disrespect to the Quran, which states: “And when the Quran is recited, O people, listen to it and be silent,” Surah Al-A’raf, verse 204, interrupts the recitation of the Quran and loudly begins his report on Rahmon’s pilgrimage.

When the footage shows the President of Tajikistan and his accompanying delegation entering the Kaaba, the announcer interrupts his report, and the 103rd verse of Surah An-Nahl is heard, which states: “We know that they say: ‘Indeed, a man is teaching him.’ The language of the one they refer to is foreign, while this is a clear Arabic language.”

Interestingly, at the moment when Emomali Rahmon approaches the Hajar Al-Aswad (the black stone of the Kaaba) and kisses it, the 105th verse of this surah is heard, which states: “Indeed, Allah does not guide to the right path those who do not believe in the signs of Allah, and they are destined for painful suffering.”

Also, at the moment when Emomali Rahmon performs Tawaf, that is, makes 7 circuits around the Kaaba, the 106th verse of Surah An-Nahl is heard, which states: “Indeed, those who do not believe in the signs of Allah are the ones who fabricate lies. They are indeed the liars.”

At the end of the report, when Emomali Rahmon looks out of the hotel window at the view of the Kaaba from above, the following verses are heard: “They are destined for great suffering. This is because they preferred the worldly life over the Hereafter. Indeed, Allah does not guide the disbelieving people to the right path.”

Although no one doubts that the staff of the press service of the President of Tajikistan are Muslims, and some of those accompanying President Rahmon know Arabic, such a report accompanied by these verses raises questions. In particular, are the authors of this report supporters of the president or his opponents?

Some are also wondering if all these verses of the Quran speak about disbelievers, tyrants, and liars who do not believe in the signs of Allah, and report on the punishments prepared for them, whether these verses were deliberately and specifically chosen by the press service of the President of Tajikistan or members of his delegation for this report, and do they consider their leader a tyrant and a disbeliever?

Amrullohi Nizom, special for Azda TV