By Dr. Sabir Abu Mariam
Secretary General, Palestine Foundation Pakistan
(Palestine Foundation Information Center), Today, I write these words with tearful eyes. I do not know what kind of words I should choose, but I feel as though my world has been shattered.The joy of living seems to have faded away. One martyrdom after another, Martyr Ismail Haniyeh, Martyr Yahya Sinwar, Martyr Hassan Nasrallah, Martyr Hashem Safieddine, along with dozens and hundreds of other martyrs such as Abu Ubaida and Abu Hamza have embraced martyrdom over the past two and a half years. And now, the Imam of all these martyrs, the leader of the martyrs, His Eminence Ali Khamenei, has also attained the rank of martyrdom.
Neither the heart nor the mind is ready to accept this reality, yet it is a bitter and painful truth that must be faced. Ayatollah Khamenei was martyred at the age of 86. Throughout his life, he dedicated himself to the service of Islam and made invaluable efforts to promote unity and cooperation among Muslims. Even when his office was attacked by America and Israel, he was busy attending to his official duties. He was a true servant of God on earth. He always longed for martyrdom.
He was not merely the leader of Iran; he was a great leader of Muslims across the world and an inspiration to all freedom-loving people striving to end oppression. He was the axis of hope for the oppressed. He was a standard-bearer of the liberation of Palestine. He had already declared that whether he remained alive or not, you would witness the liberation of Al-Quds and pray there.
The pain of Ayatollah Khamenei’s martyrdom will forever remain in our hearts. Future generations will continue to draw lessons from his life and character. Yet for people like us, this separation feels unbearable. His lovers across the world are immersed in a strange state of grief. But this grief must not lead us toward despair. We must remain alert and steadfast.
Ayatollah Khamenei was among the noblest and most honorable of men, struck down by the most ignoble and corrupt forces of our time. It is reminiscent of the tragedy of Karbala in 61 AH, when the most noble soul of that era, Husayn ibn Ali, was martyred by the tyrant Yazid and his followers. It is fitting of Imam Khamenei’s stature that, like Imam Husayn (A.S.), he would attain martyrdom in the Karbala of our time. God granted him that honor.
When grief tears through the chest, tears flow uncontrollably from the eyes. This pain will not easily fade. Yet what gives us strength in this sorrow is the lesson of the Battle of Uhud. When false rumors were spread about the martyrdom of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), Allah revealed in Surah Aal-Imran (3:144):
“Muhammad is no more than a Messenger; many Messengers passed away before him. If he dies or is killed, will you then turn back on your heels? Whoever turns back will not harm Allah in the least; and Allah will reward the grateful.”
This verse teaches us that even if a Messenger departs, the Lord of the Messenger remains alive. Today, while we mourn Imam Khamenei’s martyrdom, we must remember that the God who made Khamenei who he was Khamenei’s God is alive. He remains. Islam remains. The struggle between truth and falsehood remains. And as long as this struggle remains, we remain.
When we say, “Khamenei’s God is alive,” it is not merely a slogan, it is a conviction. It is a declaration that the Lord of Truth is alive, the Lord of Justice is alive, the Supporter of the oppressed is alive. When the world’s great powers boast of their arsenals and media dominance, the believers respond: God is alive. And if God is alive, then hope is alive, victory is alive, and success is certain.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s struggle was centered upon this belief: that the true source of power is not tanks and aircraft, but faith, patience, and steadfastness. History bears witness that whenever falsehood considers itself invincible, that very moment marks the beginning of its decline. The empires of Pharaohs and the forces of modern colonialism have all perished, for God’s law is immutable oppression does not endure.
If today America and the usurping Zionist state of Israel take pride in their military power, they must remember that arrogance in power is the greatest weakness. Nations that trample justice, stain their hands with innocent blood, and attempt to silence the voice of humanity ultimately become hollow from within. History cries out that moral defeat is the greatest of defeats. The voice of truth cannot be silenced.
“Khamenei’s God is alive” means that the mothers of Palestine are not alone, the children of Gaza are not helpless, and the voice of freedom cannot be suppressed. Every tear shed by the oppressed becomes testimony in the court of God. And in God’s court, there may be delay but there is no injustice.
This conviction teaches us that despair draws one close to disbelief, while hope is the spirit of faith. When the people of truth show steadfastness, fear enters the ranks of the oppressor. Across the world today, a wave of awakening proves that the narrative of falsehood is weakening and the voice of truth is strengthening. Those once considered powerful are growing weaker, and those once considered weak are turning the tide of history. However long the night of oppression may be, dawn inevitably rises.
Yes, we believe that Khamenei’s God is alive, the God who does not suffer defeat, the God who does not abandon the oppressed, the God who will grant triumph to the truth. Yes, indeed, Khamenei’s God is alive.
End.
