Illustrious Personalities of the Ummah
Hafiz Nimatullah Nikmal, the son of Mr. Syed Ghulam, embodied a resolute conscience, steadfast faith, and admirable moral principles. He was born in 1374 H.S. in Wardak province, Saydabad district, in the village of Mullah Khail, into a devout and esteemed jihadist family.
He commenced his religious education in his village under the guidance of the mosque’s imam, demonstrating dedication to prayer, congregational prayer, and worship from a tender age. At an early stage, he enrolled in a religious school where he commenced the arduous task of memorizing the Holy Quran.
Bestowed with divine grace, he achieved the remarkable feat of memorizing the Noble Quran in 1391 H.S.
In addition to memorizing the Quran, he pursued his religious studies diligently, devoting his entire life to residing in an innocent, pure, and holy environment (madrasah), where divine laws are taught and young individuals are groomed to propagate them worldwide.
During a time when the country was under the control of an infidel occupation, schemes were being devised to misguide the Muslim nation and steer it towards tyranny. It was during this period that Nikmal commenced his youthful phase by witnessing their oppressive actions. When his patience wore thin, he resolved to initiate jihad secretly from the madrasa against the oppressors.
Martyr Nikmal, may Allah have mercy on him, was a talented, brave, and experienced mujahid. Renowned among his comrades for his patience and steadfastness, he participated in numerous raids, ambushes, and offensive operations, valiantly maintaining his positions.
He was severely injured at one point, and his village of Yusuf Khail was destroyed, leading its residents to relocate to other areas. A house on the roadside in the village was being used as a checkpoint by mercenaries. An operation was conducted using a laser to target this checkpoint, which proved to be successful. However, the nights were perilous due to the harsh cold of winter and the looming threats posed by drones and airstrikes. We planned to leave the area quickly.
We sat to rest amidst the rubble of one of the houses, with Nikmal and two of his friends standing by a window to monitor the situation. I was sitting behind them when I heard a loud explosion and the call of «Allahu Akbar,» then I saw one of them fall. I quickly rushed to him, and it was Nikmal. We lifted him quickly, and before we reached the mosque, he opened his eyes and said, «Are we going to die here alone?»
After some time, the medical team arrived and treated the severe wound on the right side of his chest but blood was flowing all over inside. For urgent treatment, we quickly moved towards Tangi hospital, but the road of Onkhi mountain was blocked, so we had to go through Jaghato road. The road was long, and he lost consciousness several times until we reached the hospital. Before reaching the hospital, he looked with eyes full of sorrow and said in a choked voice, «My mother’s heart will break,» pointing to his dear mother who sacrificed her son for the sake of Allah almighty. After that, he lost consciousness again.
Following admission to the hospital, medical professionals conducted a successful operation through divine intervention. Following a period of recuperation, Nikmal demonstrated a renewed sense of resilience and determination as he returned to the frontlines.
During Ramadan, he would recite the holy Quran despite the pain from his wounds. He endured all the difficulties and suffering patiently until peace was restored in Afghanistan under the Islamic system. Instead of stepping back, he continued fighting in military operations, where he was given the responsibility of leading a group in the operational unit under the Tenth of Presidency.
As a committed soldier, Martyr Nikmal tirelessly pursued the eradication of the ISIS faction. In a condensed timeframe, he engaged in multiple operations and effectively neutralized a significant number of Khawarij militants.
The narrative of his final military mission, as recounted by his comrades, unfolds as follows:
When ISIS barbarically martyred the young mujahid, Misbah Jan, and disseminated a video online with the intent to instill fear among the mujahideen, the intelligence of the Islamic Emirate tracked the group. A raid was launched in Mazari Sharif, where the ISIS elements were eradicated, and those collaborating with these insurgents from different provinces were also pursued.
Therefore, on this basis, our units also headed towards Mazar-e-Sharif. The feelings of revenge were present in the hearts of all our comrades. We stayed in Mazar-e-Sharif for one day, after which headquarters (Kabul) instructed us to to advance towards Baghlan province. An ISIS hideout had been discovered there, and operations were in progress.
We swiftly advanced, reaching Baghlan province in a short span of time. Upon arriving at the battlefield, the Khawarij were besieged.
Upon reaching Baghlan, we laid siege to ISIS once again. The suicide squad team placed mines in the homes of ISIS to clear obstacles and carried out explosions. Nikmal was part of the team that executed the explosion destroying a house. Subsequently, he returned and engaged in combat at the resistance location. Unfortunately, they were targeted, and Nikmal, along with two of his comrades, were martyred.
After years of struggle, Nikmal and three of his comrades, may Allah have mercy on them, were martyred on 24 Dhul-Hijjah 1443, equivalent to the 2nd of Asad 1401 Hijri Shamsi (H.S.), during operations against ISIS in Baghlan.
On the day of his martyrdom, his family was preparing for his marriage, but Allah chose him to be a martyr. His brother tells the story of what happened: It was getting late in the afternoon, the sun was starting to set, and we were all excited that our brother was about to get engaged. Our sisters had all gathered at our house, eagerly waiting for us to set off. I took out my phone and called Nikmal, but his friend answered and told me he was currently asleep. I insisted on speaking with him, and eventually he told me in a sad voice that «Nikmal has become a martyr.» I cannot even remember what happened next. I performed ablution and started praying. I asked Allah to give my father, mother, and family the strength to be patient. I was shaking, my face was pale, and I couldn’t control my movements. The family wanted to go ahead with the engagement of Nikmal, but I used my heart condition as an excuse and said I needed some time to feel better. Shortly thereafter, we heard the sound of a helicopter approaching. Suddenly, it landed in our yard and brought the body of Shaheed Nikmal. The sight of my father, mother, and sisters grieving is something I can’t put into words; the sound of their cries and screams seemed to echo in the sky.
