Prominent religious scholars on Wednesday condemned Tuesday night's suicide bombing on a mosque in western Herat province that killed at least 29 worshipers and injured dozens more.

They said that Islam teaches the lesson of peace and security and no one can justify terror attacks on mosques or on different ethnic groups.

They called on the Afghan government to step up security at mosques.

The attack on the Jawadia Mosque in Herat was against Islamic principles, the scholars said.

Mosques are safeguarded from disrespect and invasion on the basis of Islam and Sharia law (Islamic law). Islam does not allow the attack on places of worship and mosques, said Mohammad Ayaz Niazi, a religious scholar in Kabul.

Attacks on mosques and religious centers have increased unprecedentedly in Afghanistan over recent months. Many Afghans believe the aim of this is to fuel sectarianism in the country.

Islam rules out the creation of division. Enemies of Islam are trying to create division and disunity among the Shia and Sunni, but Islam does not accept division and hypocrisy, said another scholar Abdul Hadi Hedayat.

We expect the government to ensure the security of those mosques which are under threat of terrorist attacks, said scholar Baz Mohammad Rahimi.

Four suicide attackers stormed a mosque in the western province of Herat on Tuesday killing at least 29 worshipers and injuring 64 others. The first attacker blew himself up in front of the mosque and then three others made their way inside the mosque and opened fire on worshipers.

The mosque attack sparked outrage in the country and abroad.

Several countries including the UN and the European union condemned the attack in the strongest possible terms.