The martyrdom of Ismail Haniyeh

The democratically elected leader of the Palestinians, the leader of the Political wing of the Islamic Resistance in Palestine, the freedom fighter and the lead negotiator representing the Palestinians in ceasefire negotiations with Israel. Ismail Haniyeh was unlawfully assassinated by Israel while he was sleeping in his residence in Tehran, Iran. For millions of Muslims the world over, it triggers the memory of the cowardly assassination attempt on the life of the Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h). In an act of cowardice, the Prophets enemies planned to kill the noble messenger in the middle of the night while he was asleep. The enemy of the Palestinians and all Muslims today, the Zionist government in Israel assassinated Haniyeh but lacked the courage to even claim responsibility for this horrendous and cowardly crime.

His parents were refugees. They were made refugees by the Israeli Occupation of Palestine. He was born in a refugee camp. His parents were poor but pious and steadfast. They named him Ismail after Prophet Ismail (A.S). This was the same name that God’s great friend, Hajar gave to her son who became a Prophet of God from whose lineage prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h) was to emerge. Hajar too was a poor black woman refugee. In the Islamic tradition, the naming of a child is a very auspicious occasion. Parents pray and engage in deep thought before providing a name for a child, in keeping with the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h). The following Quranic verses demonstrate the quintessential values of patience, self-surrender to God and self- sacrifice as traits that define Prophet Ismail which are all inherent in Ismail Haniyeh.

“And when the time came and the child {Ismail} became co-responsible with his father, the father {Ebrahim} said “Oh my dear son! I have indeed seen in my dream-vision that I am to slay you; tell me what you think should be done.” He replied “Oh my dear father! Do what you are commanded by Allah to do, you will find me by Allah’s preference to be counted among those who are patient” Quran. S37. V102.

Ismail Haniyeh had many Muhammadi prophetic qualities. A gentleman. Soft spoken and mild mannered. Kind hearted. Graceful and generous. He had the unique ability to dignify a space with his presence. He didn’t demand respect but people had a natural inclination to love and respect him. Observe the overflowing love that his comrades have for him. Observe the reverence and love he demonstrated in the presence of his seniors such as Shaykh Ahmed Yassin and Ali Khamenei. He was humble and modest but simultaneously a fearless brave warrior in the fight for the national liberation of Palestine. “Oh you who are committed to Allah. Seek aid in steadfast patience and salah, for behold. Allah is with those who are patient in hard times”. Quran. Surah. Verse 153. Ismail Haniyeh’s entire life is encapsulated in these verses relating to patience and prayer. From a young age, he was a devout Muslim who loved God. His father belonged to and was a leader of a Sufi order and schooled the young Ismail in the methods of tassawwuf, dhikr, meditation, spiritual application and the beautiful prayers in the Sufi tradition that makes the human to become a friend of God, referred to as “Auliya”.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        The leader of the resistance in Palestine, Ismail Haniyeh walked in the footsteps of Muhammad (p.b.u.h) and Hussein. When Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h) lost his son Ebrahim, he was shattered and bereft but mourned in a dignified manner. Ismail Haniyehs reaction to the news of his sons and grandsons being killed was beamed live throughout the world. Saddened and bereft, tears of sorrow dripping down his face, he demonstrated the Prophetic manner of mourning. He actualized the meaning of Islam by expressing his surrender to the will of God. Any “ordinary” person would have reacted by screaming and wailing and losing themselves completely in sorrow, anger and rage. But Haniyeh was extraordinary. The hate filled degenerate Zionist members of the Israeli Parliament tried to taunt him after slaughtering his family by commenting on social media saying “Eid Mubarak” to him but Haniyeh does not respond in a vile and vitriolic manner. He shows us that Zionists are not our teachers and reminds us that our teacher is the Master (p.b.u.h). Haniyeh in this most difficult period of his life, demonstrates his pure faith in God and his emulation of Muhammad (p.b.u.h). His main concern at this time of immense personal pain, loss, sacrifice and suffering is the plight of the people in Gaza and his determination to secure a ceasefire deal to end the Genocide. He does not reply with hate but rather as a disciplined revolutionary.

A pragmatic revolutionary who understood the politics of the world and how to navigate through it. Under his leadership, the Islamic Movement of Palestine evolved and engaged in participatory democracy. He led his movement to electoral victory in Palestine in 2006 and attempted to engage with all world powers in an effort to liberate Palestine through a political solution. But Western Powers despite professing to be champions of democracy, refused to accept the democratic expression of the Palestinian people and have consistently opposed their right to self -determination. The Western Governments in their subservience to Israeli Zionists would not even sit down and talk to the elected leadership of the Palestinian people. They punished the Palestinians for their electoral choice. How different things could have been if they engaged with the elected leadership of the Palestinians in an effort to find a political solution instead of supporting and sustaining the unlawful Israeli military occupation.

Like Imam Hussein, Ismail Haniyeh’s sons and grandsons are sacrificed in Gaza in one day. Like Hussein, he sees them martyred but is not defeated or in despair. Instead he stays the course and goes on resisting with revolutionary patience. How is it possible to see your children and grandchildren slaughtered in one day and not despair and give up? Three of Haniyehs sons, Hazem, Amir and Muhammad and four of his grandchildren were all killed on the 11 April 2024, the day of Eid Ul Fitr.

He remembers Imam Hussein who lost two sons Ali Akbar and Ali Asghar, seven brothers and six nephews at the battle of Karbala but even this pain could not stop the Imam from fighting his oppressors. It can be argued that since Imam Hussein, no one has sacrificed more of his family members than Ismail Haniyeh. Like Hussein, he sees almost all of his family martyred but is determined to fight his oppressors. Ten members of his family are killed and sixty members of his extended family are killed by the Israeli Zionist Jews. Haniyeh demonstrates Prophetic courage after the loss of his family and says “The blood of my children is not more valuable than the blood of the Palestinian children of the Palestinian people.” And with the defiance of Imam Hussein, Haniyeh said “The enemy is delusional if it thinks that by killing my children, we will change our positions, we will not give up, we will not surrender”.

How can people be shocked at the fact that in the last democratic elections in Palestine, the majority of people voted for this man? Finally Ismail Haniyeh just like Imam Hussein is martyred by degenerate cowardly oppressors. He fought like Hussein and died like Hussein. Martyrdom. A red death. “And say not of those who are slain for Allah’s cause, “They are dead”, nay they are alive but you perceive it not”. Quran Surah 2. Verse154.

Millions of people the world over are mourning the martyrdom of Ismail Haniyeh. In the big cities like Tehran, Istanbul and others, hundreds of thousands of people have come out to pay respects and participate in the funeral prayer for the slain martyr. In smaller towns like Lenasia, South Africa thousands have come out to pay their respects and participate in the funeral prayer. In every city, town, village and refugee camp, Ismail Haniyeh has touched the hearts of freedom loving human beings and funeral prayers are held in every corner of the planet to honour this great disciple of Muhammad (p.b.u.h).

In his conversation with the leader of Iran, Ali Khamenei, the last captured words of Ismail Haniyeh on earth are mystically poetic. He is heard saying “Whenever a great leader is killed, God replaces him with a greater leader”. These were the last words of a great leader. For ordinary people like us, it’s impossible to imagine a greater leader than Haniyeh. But then we are reminded of the words of the Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h) where he is reported to have said something to this effect “Beware of the committed Muslim when he sees with the light of God”. Haniyeh is of those few who see with the light of God. God alone, is the all- knowing. Haniyehs parting words are an inspiration to all of those who seek freedom and justice. It reminds us of the time when the leader of the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon Abbas Musawi was martyred by Israel. Who would have ever imagined a greater leader like Seyed Hassan Nasrallah will emerge to take his place to kick out the Occupation and defeat them in 2006? The last words of Ismail Haniyeh makes us ponder deeply and reflect on the words of God, the prayer of the oppressed people in Palestine and Haniyehs allusion to a greater leader that will liberate Palestine.

“And how could you refuse to fight in the cause of Allah and of the utterly helpless men and women and children who are crying “Oh our Sustainer! Lead us forth to freedom out of this Imperial civic society whose people are oppressors, and raise for us, out of Your grace, a Protector, and raise for us, out of your Grace, one who will bring us support”. Quran Surah 4. Verse 6.