The Sadat (sayyids) of Sanglakh are descendants of Sayyid Faqih Mujtahid Zahid Shah Qubad Wali and their uncles, particularly Shah Wali (Shah Valah) and Shah Saleh. While the majority of Shah Qubad Wali’s descendants reside in Sanglakh, many have also settled across northern and central Afghanistan.
The Sanglakh Valley is a breathtaking, lush, strategically vital, and significant valley. With its flowing waterfalls, natural springs, vibrant greenery, and stunning landscapes, it presents a scenery whose true beauty can only be fully appreciated in person. Starting near the Jalrez market, the natural allure of the valley is beyond simple description.
Beyond its natural beauty, the unique identity of this region lies in its inhabitants—courageous Sadat who trace their lineage to the Prophet Muhammad and Imam Ali (peace be upon them), renowned throughout Islamic and Afghan history for their bravery. This combination of an extraordinary geographic location and a distinguished populace has brought enduring fame and honor to the region and its people both nationally and globally. The Sadat of Sanglakh and their ancestors played a pivotal role in preaching and spreading Islam and Shi’ism in Afghanistan, a path faithfully continued by the descendants of His Eminence Sayyid Shah Qubad Wali (may Allah bless his soul).
It is recorded that His Eminence Shah Mohabbat Khan held the position of Islamic jurist (faqih) and governor of Maidan Shar. Similarly, Shah Nawaz Khan, one of the prominent and revered sons of Shah Qubad Wali, served as a jurist and governor in Logar Province. He dedicated his life to advocating for the rights of the oppressed and his followers—who faced attacks from anti-Hazara and anti-Shia extremists—and ultimately attained martyrdom in this honorable path.
Following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, his brother, Ghazi Shah Sayyid Firoz Khan, was a prominent leader and governor in the Maidan region, highly revered by the people of Maidan, Logar, and Kabul. To avenge the blood of his brother and other innocent victims, he launched a decisive struggle against the oppressors and defeated them, earning the honorable title of “Ghazi Shah Firoz Khan“.
Furthermore, Sayyid Shamshir the Great served as the regional ruler. The accounts of his resistance against the tyrannical rulers of his time, the conflicts that ensued, and the miracles (karamat) witnessed by those ruthless rulers remain widely recounted to this day. Other notable leaders who governed in their respective eras include Sayyid Na’im, Mir Sayyid Ali, and Sayyid Mir.
Despite their small population, economic hardships, and rugged natural environment, the people of Sanglakh have always been generous, honorable, devout, courageous, and deeply devoted to knowledge and scholarship, fulfilling major responsibilities at both local and national levels.
Throughout history—from the Anglo-Afghan Wars to modern times—the people of Sanglakh Valley, alongside their fellow countrymen, have consistently stood at the forefront of defending Afghanistan’s independence, freedom, faith, and honor, offering countless sacrifices and martyrs for the elevation of Islam and the homeland. During the glorious Islamic Jihad, Sanglakh Valley served as an unyielding fortress of resistance for all groups and factions. Consequently, it endured relentless air and ground assaults by occupying forces and their communist allies, suffering immense destruction and casualties. During the invasion by 200,000 troops of the former Soviet Red Army, the courageous resistance of its fighters earned the region its enduring title: “The Valley of Resistance.”