12th century AD

As late as the mid-12th century, some Pashtuns appears to have not yet converted to Islam. According to the “Ajaib al-Makhluqat” of Muhammad al-Tusi (written in 1160-1167 AD), there was a large tree with circumference of seventeen arsh (?) in a Tamarisk forest of the Pashtun country. That particular tree was known as ‘the tree … Read more

Pashtuns before Islam: A detail in “Ajaib al-Makhluqat” of Muhammad al-Tusi (written in 1160-1167 AD) might be a reference to pre-Islamic Pashtuns. According to it, there was a large tree with circumference of seventeen arsh (?) in a Tamarisk forest of the Afghan (i.e. Pashtun country). That particular tree was known as ‘the tree of … Read more