The Legacy of Sayyid Hassan Nasrallah: A Martyr for Resistance

The Islamic world has lost a great figure, the Resistance Front a prominent leader, and Hezbollah in Lebanon an exceptional guide. However, the blessings of his decades-long wisdom and struggle will never fade. The foundation he established in Lebanon, guiding other centers of resistance, will not be diminished by his absence; rather, it will grow stronger through his blood and that of the other martyrs of this tragedy. By Allah’s power, the blows of the Resistance Front will strike even harder at the worn and declining Zionist regime, and this vile regime will not emerge victorious from this event.

Biography

Sayyid Hassan Nasrallah was born on August 31, 1960, in the village of Al-Bazouriya in southern Lebanon. His father, Abdul Karim, sold vegetables and fruits, and Sayyid Hassan would help him at the shop, where a picture of Imam Musa al-Sadr hung on the wall. This picture kindled young Hassan’s admiration for Musa al-Sadr and the “Amal Movement” which was then known as the “Movement of the Deprived.” Despite having no formal connection to the religious scholars of that time and coming from a non-prominent religious family, young Sayyid Hassan was deeply interested in religion—beyond the usual practices like prayer and fasting. In 1976, he pursued this interest by traveling to Najaf to begin his religious studies.

Student of the Greats

The remarkable intellect and dedication of this young scholar gained the attention of Martyr Sadr, who asked Martyr Sayyid Abbas Musawi to mentor Nasrallah academically. This connection formed a warm friendship between them, with Sayyid Abbas becoming not only a friend and elder brother to Sayyid Hassan but also a mentor and companion.

The relationship with Martyr Sadr was one of immense kindness for the young Sayyid Hassan. This scholar, renowned for his intelligence, refinement, and innovation in Islamic studies, strove to remove the doubts clouding the face of Islam. His busy schedule in academia never distracted him from his role in politics, as seen in his founding of the “Dawa Party,” which greatly contributed to Islamic awareness. His close ties with Imam Khomeini (R.A.) and his stirring words, “Dissolve into Khomeini as he has dissolved into Islam,” sparked a great movement in the Islamic world.

Beginning of Struggle and Jihad

Chavdar Chamran, alongside Imam Musa al-Sadr, trained the finest resistance fighters, forming the Amal Movement, which soon became a thorn in the side of the Zionist regime. In Al-Bazouriya, near the border of occupied territories and the birthplace of Nasrallah, Martyr Chamran appointed him the military commander of the village, once telling the 18-year-old Nasrallah, “I like brave young men.”

Secretary General of Hezbollah

On February 16, 1992, while returning to Beirut from an anniversary event for Martyr Sheikh Ragheb Harb, Sayyid Abbas Musawi, the second Secretary General of Hezbollah, was ambushed and martyred by Israeli helicopter gunships near Tifhta village. His wife and two of his children were also martyred. Following this tragic event, Sayyid Hassan Nasrallah, at just 32, was unanimously elected as the Secretary General of Hezbollah.

Nasrallah, who had previously led the Executive Council, had developed extensive ties with the people and supporters of the movement, maintaining Hezbollah’s unity after Musawi’s martyrdom. Reflecting on his emotions at the time of his election, he recalls, “On that day, I felt intense anxiety because I was the youngest among the Central Council members. Before this, my duties were organizational and internal, with no relation to Hezbollah’s foreign affairs. However, the Council members insisted I accept the position. Initially, I declined and urged them to choose someone else, but they convened again and insisted, so I finally accepted.”

Practical Life and Principles

Sayyid’s personality reflects a blend of rationality, religious integrity, and honesty. His values, such as “keeping promises, truthfulness, humility, patience, and calm,” aren’t just qualities he possesses but beliefs that drive his courage, resolve, and commitment to fulfilling his promises.

Dr. Anise describes Sayyid Hassan as “unlike the traditional image of a man; there is no harshness in his demeanor. His face carries an innocent, childlike quality, yet he is one of us all.” Other notable traits include his “avoidance of corruption and secrecy, transparency, discipline, and adherence to laws,” which directly influence the operations of the movement.

His commitment to defending the people against Zionist occupiers and his selfless sacrifices are evident across all levels of the movement, ensuring that no citizen has been harmed by Hezbollah members in the areas under their administration throughout southern Lebanon.

The Father of a Martyr

On September 12, 1997, resistance forces detected an Israeli patrol near Jabal al-Rafi in the Iqlim al-Tuffah area, moving toward a target in Arab Salim village. Resistance groups, including Sayyid Nasrallah’s eldest son Hadi, ambushed the patrol and inflicted heavy casualties on the Israeli forces. Despite completing their mission successfully, heavy Israeli fire on the retreating routes resulted in the martyrdom of three members, including Sayyid Muhammad Hadi, the Secretary General’s son.

The martyrdom of Sayyid Hadi accelerated Hezbollah’s progress, showing that the Secretary General, who had dedicated his life to the movement, had also prepared his son to voluntarily follow the same path.

Widespread Popularity and Influence

Newsweek magazine listed Sayyid Hassan Nasrallah as one of the world’s most influential political figures. His role in defeating the Zionist regime during the 33-day war earned him widespread popularity among Arab and Islamic nations, declaring him the Arab world’s hero.

In the Words of Ayatollah Khamenei

Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Khamenei, paid tribute to Sayyid Nasrallah, saying:

“The great Mujahid, the standard-bearer of Resistance in the region, a virtuous scholar of religion, and a wise political leader…achieved martyrdom…He was martyred while busy planning to defend the defenseless people of Beirut’s Dahiyeh and their destroyed homes and bereaved loved ones, just as he had planned, managed, and fought for decades to defend the oppressed people of Palestine, their usurped cities and villages, their destroyed homes, and their massacred loved ones.

Clear Thoughts

We are in the midst of a great struggle as the U.S. and Israel attempt to besiege our camp. Today, the Islamic Republic of Iran is our camp, and Ayatollah Imam Khamenei is our camp’s commander, our modern-day Hussein. The Islamic Resistance will not leave its camp in the face of U.S. and Zionist pressure. In this battle, you cannot stand in the middle: either you are with Hussein or with Yazid. Today, if Ayatollah Khamenei tells us to act in the cover of night, we say, “O Sayyid, O our leader, we swear by God that even if we are killed, burnt to ashes, and revived a thousand times, we will not leave you, son of Hussein.”

Reflections of War

The 33-day war in 2006 was a difficult time, with global powers opposing us and many regional countries supporting the war against us. The prevailing sentiment among many Lebanese brothers and officials was that this war would end in Karbala rather than Badr or Khaybar.

In the first week of the war, Ayatollah Khamenei compars the conflict to the arduous Battle of the Trench, urging faith in God and resilience. He assured us of victory and even that we would emerge as a regional power afterward.

The Spirit of Resistance Lives On

Sayyid Nasrallah’s martyrdom strengthens the resolve of the resistance front. His vision for a just and free world, where the oppressed are empowered and the oppressors held accountable, continues to resonate. The fight for justice and liberation, for which he dedicated his life, will persist.