By: Ahmad Aziz
On the first anniversary of the martyrdom of the valiant, tireless, and steadfast leader of the Islamic Ummah, Ismail Haniyeh (may Allah accept him), his memory glows more vividly than ever, like a radiant lamp illuminating the depths of our hearts.
One year ago on this very day, this standard-bearer of Palestinian resistance, despite a life marked by exile, hardship, and oppression, attained the lofty rank of martyrdom. With unwavering conviction, firm faith, and resolute determination, he joined the honored ranks of martyrs recorded in the annals of Islamic history.
Ismail Haniyeh was far more than a political leader; he was the living embodiment of true jihad. From his youth, he stood firmly within the resistance ranks of Hamas, enduring the cruelties of Zionist prisons, the anguish of long-term exile, and the martyrdom of dozens of his family members. Yet not once did he retreat from the sacred path toward the liberation of Al-Aqsa Mosque.
His life affirmed a timeless truth: freedom comes at a price, and that price is paid through the sacrifice of pure souls who offer themselves sincerely in the path of Allah, the Almighty. Though his martyrdom inflicted profound sorrow upon the hearts of the Ummah, it also breathed fresh spirit and renewed vigor into the ranks of the mujahideen. Like the blood of countless martyrs throughout Islamic history, his sacrifice injected further strength, resilience, and steadfastness into the Palestinian cause.
Today, a year after that brutal crime, the people of Palestine, alongside freedom-loving individuals around the world, have raised once more the banners of jihad and liberty with renewed purpose. The Zionist regime may have imagined that Haniyeh’s martyrdom would weaken the resistance, but in accordance with divine law, his blood served only to bind hearts closer and ignite the flames of faith even brighter.
In his final speeches, Haniyeh firmly reminded the Ummah:
“A movement whose leaders are martyred for the honor of the Ummah shall never be defeated.”
Indeed, history testifies to this truth. Just as the blood of the earliest martyrs fortified Islam, and the martyrdom of Afghan mujahideen leaders laid the foundation for an Islamic system, so too does Haniyeh’s pure blood herald the coming liberation of Al-Quds and all of Palestine.
This anniversary is not simply a remembrance of sorrow. It is a renewal of the covenant with the martyrs. The Islamic Ummah must understand that dignity and freedom are never attained without sacrifice. Just as the heroic Haniyeh, despite hardship, pain, and deprivation, stood tall with unshakable resolve and never bowed his head, so too must we stand firm today alongside the oppressed in Palestine, especially the resilient people of Gaza, and ensure that the banner raised by the martyrs is never allowed to fall.
O Lord, Sustainer of the Worlds! Make the blood of Martyr Ismail Haniyeh, and all the martyrs on this noble path, a torch of unity, awakening, and steadfastness for the Islamic Ummah. Hasten the day when Al-Aqsa Mosque and the entirety of Palestine are cleansed of Zionist occupation.
Indeed, the martyrdom of Ismail Haniyeh is a powerful reminder that the blood of the martyrs contains the secret to victory, and that a bright future awaits the Islamic Ummah. A future in which the banner of Tawheed will be raised high above the rooftops of Al-Quds, In shā’ Allāh.