Matiullah Turab

Matiullah Turab (Pashto: مطیع الله تراب; 21 March 1971 – 14 July 2025) was an Afghan poet.^[1] His poetry has been popular among Pashtuns from Afghanistan and Pakistan.^[1]

Matiullah Turab
Turab in 2019
Native name	مطیع اللہ تراب
Born	Matiullah Turab (1971-03-21)21 March 1971 Khogyani, Nangrahar, Afghanistan
Died	14 July 2025(2025-07-14) (aged 54) Khost, Afghanistan
Pen name	Turab Saib | تراب صیب
Occupation	Poet
Language	Pashto
Nationality	Afghan
Period	2000s–2025
Literary movement	Pakhtoonwali
Notable works	Ghubar Par Hindaro Llami Gullona Da Karni Oba Speen Baghawat
Relatives	Molvi Rasool (father)
Literature portal

Early life

Turab was born on 21 March 1971 in Khogyani District, Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan.^[1] He grew up in Nangarhar Province, and spent most of his life in Khost province, and his ancestral roots remained tied to Khogyani.^[2]

Despite not having a formal education, he became a prominent Pashto poet, with his work spread via live recitals, viral YouTube clips, and social gatherings.^[3]

He worked as a car body maker.^[4][5] He fled from the Soviet war like many other families to Pakistan and lived in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kurram Agency for a while and then returned to his home country Afghanistan in the 2000s.^{[citation needed]}

He was recognized and invited to Kabul by then President Hamid Karzai, despite his critical stance even toward Karzai’s government.^[3]

In an interview with the BBC Urdu in February 2017, Turab said that; "he does not want to criticize anyone. But in his opinion, romance and romantic poetry have no meaning in times of war and conflict. A novel is written when there is peace. When there is no worry about bread, clothes and housing, when there is no war and conflict. In my opinion, poetry is that in which the feelings of a helpless and forced person find a voice."^[4]

Death

Turab died from a heart attack at a hospital in Khost, on 14 July 2025, at the age of 54.^[6] His funeral took place on Tuesday, 15 July 2025, in Nangarhar province, attended by tribal elders, literature enthusiasts, local officials, and citizens with widespread mourning across Afghanistan and Pakistan.^[7][8] Others were held in Khost and in Sherzai Stadium, Jalalabad at 2 p.m., followed by a village burial in Kozbiar, Khogyani, Nangarhar at 4 p.m. His body was airlifted by helicopter on the same day.^[9]

His passing prompted tributes from the Afghan Ministry of Information and Culture, IEA spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid, former President Hamid Karzai, Anas Haqqani, and others.^[7][10]