Afghan collector donates rare stamps to AQR

The Afghan jeweler and collector said: “I have been passionate about stamps for years and have always been interested in collecting them. I often wondered what I could do with my collection to ensure that the stamps would not be lost or damaged and could be preserved for future generations.”
He added: “One day, I traveled to the holy city of Mashhad for pilgrimage. During a visit to the museums of Astan Quds Razavi (AQR), I saw stamps from different countries around the world, but I did not see any stamps from Afghanistan. At that moment, I thought that my stamps were missing from this collection, and I decided to donate part of my collection to the museum for the first time.”
The donor of the historical artifacts said: “As my first donation, I presented a booklet containing 50 old stamps, some of which date back to the reign of King Zahir Shah, while some are nearly 100 years old. Some of these stamps were inherited from my father, while I purchased and collected others over the years.”
Explaining his motivation for the donation, he said: “I wanted the name of Afghanistan to remain alive and these valuable artifacts to be preserved in a safe place. These stamps have significant historical value, although many people may not be aware of their true worth.”
The Afghan pilgrim continued: “I could have donated these artifacts to other countries, including Turkey, but because of my love for Imam Reza (AS) and the many cultural and religious ties I share with the people of Iran, I decided to entrust them to Astan Quds Razavi.”
He added: “I have also donated coins minted in Kabul during the reign of Zahir-ud-din Muhammad Babur on two separate occasions. I intend to donate around 500 more stamps to Astan Quds Razavi in the future.”
Emphasizing the deep ties between the peoples of Iran and Afghanistan, he said: “There are many bonds between our two countries, and I have a deep affection for Iran. I pray that God protects Iran and Afghanistan from harm and hardship.”
Elsewhere in his remarks, the Afghan jeweler spoke about his family background and personal motivation for donating the artifacts, saying: “My father was Shia and my mother is Sunni, and this has always represented a symbol of unity and empathy between Shia and Sunni Muslims for me. My father had a deep devotion to Imam Reza (AS), and I am deeply saddened that he never had the opportunity to visit Imam Reza (AS).”
He continued: “One of my most important motivations for donating these valuable stamps was to preserve my father’s name and memory. Some of these artifacts were also part of his legacy. By entrusting them to the AQR museum, I feel that my father’s memory and his love for Imam Reza (AS) will live on in this sacred place.”
It is worth noting that the collection donated by the Afghan citizen will be displayed periodically at an AQR museum, allowing visitors and those interested in history and culture to become more closely acquainted with a part of Afghanistan’s historical and cultural heritage.