It's Been 40 Days, but He Will Live on Forever

Lea Akil
Al Mayadeen English

How did Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah become an enduring symbol of sacrifice and resilience?

We grew up listening to his voice. We grew up watching him. We used to impatiently wait for him and his speeches... we're still waiting.

As I write these lines I'm reminded of a quote by Che Guevara, who said "Let me say that the true revolutionary is guided by a great feeling of love. It is impossible to think of a genuine revolutionary lacking this quality."

Forty days have passed since the martyrdom of Hezbollah's Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, a man who was a symbol of hope, sacrifice, resilience, and resistance, but more profoundly, he embodied love—because what is resistance and sacrifice if not the deepest form of love?

To grasp the magnitude of what this man sacrificed, what many before him have sacrificed, and what countless others will continue to sacrifice, you must understand the essence of love: love for your land, your people, your sovereignty, and your dignity. It is through this that we can redefine and grasp true patriotism.

They attempted to silence him with 83 tons of US-made bombs, to extinguish the resolve of the Resistance, and pave the way for their hopes of ending Hezbollah. But his martyrdom achieved the opposite because the resistance remains resilient, grew in fervor, and he remains present.

Few political figures in the world command as much respect as Sayyed Hassan. Allow me to refer to him as Sayyed Hassan, not Sayyed Nasrallah—whom we affectionately call, ‘el-Sayyed.’ As the former Secretary-General of Hezbollah, he is remembered as a central figure in the struggle against Israeli and Western influence and interference in Lebanon. Yet, beyond his political role, he is a man who has made profound personal sacrifices, with each choice reflecting his unwavering dedication to a cause greater than himself.

‘A totem of sacrifice’

In 1997, Sayyed Hassan’s eldest son, Hadi, was martyred during confrontations with Israeli occupation forces in Southern Lebanon. Hadi, like many men of his generation, was devoted to fighting for Lebanon’s sovereignty, an ideological cause that shaped his father’s life. But for Sayyed Hassan, the loss of his son was more than the heartbreaking reality of a grieving father; it was a deeply symbolic act that underscored the sincerity of his commitment to the cause of resistance.

When Hadi joined the frontlines, Sayyed Hassan saw him through the eyes of a leader, encouraging him to continue on this path in the face of the occupier. By doing so, Sayyed Hassan placed his family’s blood in the same category as the blood of countless others who had also sacrificed their lives during the Lebanese war for liberation and continue to do so.

Hadi’s martyrdom became a powerful message to Sayyed Hassan’s followers: that the leadership of Hezbollah was not above anyone’s sacrifice, and it demonstrated that Sayyed Hassan’s commitment to the cause was not mere rhetoric but a matter of firm belief.

‘A life woven with resistance and sacrifice’

💬 “They [the Israeli occupation] said this arena would be targeted, that this podium would be destroyed, to frighten people and keep them away…Yes—by standing here before you and among you, I place both you and myself at risk. There were other options, and up until 30 minutes ago, we were discussing the matter. But my mind, my heart, and my soul would not allow me to speak to you from afar or through a screen.” – Sayyed Hassan, during the 2006 victory speech

Sayyed Hassan, as a leader of a resistance that challenged the West and “Israel,” lived under constant threat. Israeli intelligence and other enemy agencies had targeted him for years, viewing his removal as key to destabilizing Hezbollah’s leadership. As a sacrifice for the resistance and its leadership, he had to greatly limit his public appearance.

For over a decade, he was largely absent from public life in the physical sense. This absence came at a tremendous personal cost. It meant he couldn’t move freely in his homeland and could not enjoy the simple liberty of walking among his community. This life came at a sacrifice of the basic human desire for connection. Yet, he accepted this burden, choosing the safety and continuity of Hezbollah’s leadership over his own wellbeing.

Despite the isolation, Sayyed Hassan was an active and influential figure in the lives of his community, his voice and image projected through screens, a symbol of resistance that surpassed physical presence. Each speech he delivered from an undisclosed location reminded his community of his commitment to their shared cause.

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Image: © Zainab Termos / Al Mayadeen English. AWIP: http://www.a-w-i-p.com/index.php/aT2X