November 06, 2024
Nasser Kandil
• We never realised, when Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah invited us to celebrate forty years since the birth of the Resistance, that he was preparing the stage for his own fortieth remembrance. The ‘fortieth’ is a significant remembrance in the culture of Imam Hussein’s Karbala. We didn’t realise that when we declared, “If you lead us into the sea, we will follow you”, we were pledging our allegiance to the Imam of our time. An ‘imamate’ is not merely a religious title but a profound political leadership – signifying a leader who commands by moral superiority, a man of purity, and a genius crafting policies and ideas that inspire awe and transform into victories.
• Sayyed Hassan emerged under the cloak of towering figures like Sayyed Mohammad Baqir al-Sadr, Sayyed Musa al-Sadr, followed by Imam Khomeini, Imam Khamenei, and his own mentor, Sayyed Abbas al-Moussawi. His exceptional leadership has been shaped through a deep understanding of international politics and resistance against colonial agendas, weaving a new cloak for his imamate that transcends sectarian boundaries and resonates universally – thus he was raised to the rank of holiness by both followers of his faith and those who followed his worldly vision. His vision resolved the long-standing tension between liberation and unity, a dilemma that had perplexed Arab liberation leaders for decades. He offered a model of resistance in Lebanon that defeated occupation, despite limited unity, the weakest quorum of consensus, and a limited geography for a homeland.
• Sayyed Hassan stands out as a political leader who redefined the role of ethics in leadership. While others compromised moral principles for political gains, he established a model where integrity was not merely compatible with success but central to it. His life is filled with examples that demonstrate this “added value” of his imamate, shifting the paradigm toward one where moral superiority drives victory. This ethical-political approach has set a new global standard, showing that moral lapses forecast defeat, while moral strength foreshadows victory.
• Our martyred Imam established a model for a party uninterested in power for its own sake. Hezbollah’s constitution uniquely does not seek to control the government by revolution or election. Hezbollah has shown a commitment to strategic national decisions, not through a controlling majority but through a third of the voices as a veto-granted minority. Despite criticism from allies who might blame their political setbacks on his modest approach, the Imam prioritised national unity over partisan gains, resisting the lure of dominance to uphold shared governance. He believed that the resistance deserved a singular focus, free from competing agendas. His commitment to civil peace, moral integrity, and unwavering dedication to the cause of resistance became his distinctive mark – culminating in the liberation of the border strip in 2000.
• He championed the dual identity of the Arab and Islamic ummas, seamlessly advocating for the unity of the Arab world and the broader Islamic civilization, where shared resistance against occupation remains the compass. He redefined nationhood to accommodate the coexistence of multiple affiliations – whether Syrian, Arab, or Islamic – as long as they adhered to the ideals of social cohesion and resistance to occupation. This intellectual openness has enabled coexistence within various understandings of umma, rooted in respect for Palestine and Jerusalem as the unwavering axis.
• Our Imam’s victories, from liberating South Lebanon in 2000 to the 2006 July War and the successful resistance against the Western-Arab regional project for terrorism in Syria, have shown that a steadfast minority, aligned with moral integrity and bravery, can achieve triumphs that seem beyond reach. The ‘Al-Aqsa Flood’ and the growing support fronts further illustrate the power of this critical alignment.
• The Imam often referred to Imam Hussein as his supreme example, reminding us that the spirit of Karbala, the essence of Imam Hussein’s martyrdom, remains essential to victory. Yet, he viewed the current battle as akin to Khaybar – a battle where Imam Ali triumphed over the forebears of today’s occupiers. Thus, we trusted that he would stand with us, a finger raised in victory, fulfilling his promise of enduring triumph and affirming that Israel remains weaker than a spider’s web. But in a profound moment, we also understood that Imam Hussein could be martyred, even in Khaybar.
In memory of Imam Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, on the fortieth day since his martyrdom.
