In the Shadow of Mujahideen
Nour Rida, 17-02-2010
6:22 a.m., the car engine stops, it is time to travel on foot now to reach our destination. I had no idea where I was, but I knew I was in safe hands. I was given the privilege to spend a day with those men protecting our homes and lands, a day to live their experience in the frontlines.
Breakfast
Washing the Dishes
No cars, no houses, no sign of life but the singing birds and the rustle of the leaves.
To my surprise, they watch television and read books here; books of different subjects and languages on wooden shelves. Papers and pens were there too on one of the shelves.
A pile of pillows, blankets and sleeping mats well-folded and organized were put in the corner. Still, I saw no men of resistance, but heard masculine voices reciting prayers... there they were, in the next "room", 6 resistance fighters, 6 men who grew up on the love of the home and land, feeding their souls on the love of God and Ahl Al Beit, non-hesitant of their decision to be out there, and longing to a confrontation that would either end with victory, or even more victory by attaining martyrdom.
I was blessed to have had the opportunity to spending few hours with the people who, triumph and success emanate from their bodies, senses and spirits, and whose ultimate goal is to defy tyranny or quench the land's thirst with their pure bloods if necessary.
These are only 6 out of the hundreds, even thousands of God's Lion hearts who clearly embody the peak of selflessness and sacrifice to protect the land, to resist, and to defend righteousness and right.
And Amer the martyr, his soul remains among his friends, along with all the other martyrs, the Masters of Humanity.
6:22 a.m., the car engine stops, it is time to travel on foot now to reach our destination. I had no idea where I was, but I knew I was in safe hands. I was given the privilege to spend a day with those men protecting our homes and lands, a day to live their experience in the frontlines.
And the journey begins
Washing the Dishes
We followed marks on a series of trees, one of the means used to find the path of getting to the place.
Up the hill, across the bushy trees, around the mount, at the entrance of a cave! In a few seconds, I figured out we had arrived to the spot I tried to visualize all night. I had no idea how we got there, well curiosity kills the cat, but all I wanted is to spend a day with the "guys" and there I was.
The first thing my sight struck was a handmade wooden cupboard, no taller that a meter, a fire extinguisher and a pharmacy right on top of it- necessities of being at work and in battle.
Up the hill, across the bushy trees, around the mount, at the entrance of a cave! In a few seconds, I figured out we had arrived to the spot I tried to visualize all night. I had no idea how we got there, well curiosity kills the cat, but all I wanted is to spend a day with the "guys" and there I was.
The first thing my sight struck was a handmade wooden cupboard, no taller that a meter, a fire extinguisher and a pharmacy right on top of it- necessities of being at work and in battle.
To my surprise, they watch television and read books here; books of different subjects and languages on wooden shelves. Papers and pens were there too on one of the shelves.
A pile of pillows, blankets and sleeping mats well-folded and organized were put in the corner. Still, I saw no men of resistance, but heard masculine voices reciting prayers... there they were, in the next "room", 6 resistance fighters, 6 men who grew up on the love of the home and land, feeding their souls on the love of God and Ahl Al Beit, non-hesitant of their decision to be out there, and longing to a confrontation that would either end with victory, or even more victory by attaining martyrdom.
The "guys" had finished their Salatul-Soboh (morning prayers) and were bonding with their creator with Dua's (prayers) that set the heart, mind, and soul at peace.
They warmly welcomed us, smiles drawn on their lips as each introduced himself. Rida, Yasser, Jawad, Jaber, Mustafa, and Hani.
"Honored to meet..." I had not finished my sentence when one of them interrupts, "the honor is ours, please feel at home", he says smiling. I still had not memorized their names, but soon figured out that was Rida as one of his friends asked him to prepare coffee.
I was curious if he was going to boil that coffee on a fire place, but it turned out there was an equipped kitchenette too. True it is a humble place, but only in material and equipment, it is a place of pride and dignity.
The sun was awake now, and the possibility of drinking coffee outside in nature became a certainty. We all sat down under a giant oak tree drinking coffee and getting more acquainted to each other.
Yasser leaves the site for a few minutes, brings with him a bucket of water. "Do not be surprised, I need to water the flowers. We have planted a small garden in respect to our friend who was martyred a couple weeks ago." He said as the others reiterated that Amer, their martyred friend still lives with them as his soul will never depart.
All those events happen according to a timeline of their day, as they are careful not to waste a single second. They are careful to dedicate every spec of a second for the sake of their plight.
Every action they take, even if not with a rifle goes to defending and liberating the land, and providing the people with a dignified life free of tyranny and oppression.
"Today Jawad and Rida will prepare the breakfast, and we begin our chores. Guys, we meet back here in an hour to eat." Jabber says.
Manakish, a traditional Lebanese breakfast meal. They had prepared the dough and the zaatar (thym) and only needed to put them in the oven.
Meanwhile the rest of the men are doing their chores, two transporting the equipment and arms needed for battle, while the others surveying the area or excavating a cave, hoping it would serve as shelter for the resistance fighters, whether from heat, cold, or rain.
Jawad and Rida now wear their suits and helmets and join their friends at work; little jokes take place every now and then, as well as moments of silence and longing to the family and beloved ones.
"The chores those men and their fellow brothers perform are done in different ways," Rida explains as he excavates a new cave. He says the methods and means of accomplishing work are directly related to time and place.
At noon, all gather in the very same room I met them at first. Mustafa calls for noon prayers, and they all perform the prayers together. Recitation of verses of the Holy Quran is a must, and they do manage to find time for that ritual despite the loads of work that await them.
"Bonding with Allah and thanking Him for all he has given us is essential in our daily life. We can never thank Him enough" Hani explained.
Time flies, it's already lunch time and the young men prepare the meal together as they take a break from the hard work; Fattoush (a Lebanese salad), French Fries, and chicken breasts.
But during the cooking process, the stove runs out of gas. But no worries, the hearth or fireplace is ready for the pots and pans, and the cooking process proceeds normally.
"We always have alternatives and second plans for everything. We always take precautions and think of the worst that could happen and provide solutions for the possible obstacles no matter how simple these are.
Eating is a necessity the body needs in order to function. And so we all gather around a wooden table surrounded by chairs and eat.
Taking turn on house chores, this time Mustafa and Hani stayed ‘home" in order to do the laundry.
"The resistance laundry center" they both say bursting into laughter as they hand wash the clothes.
The laundry done, the dishes washed, the daily plan of military and logistic chores terminated as well.
At the end of the day, Rida, writing in a diary he intends to give his daughter on her birthday next month as she turns 16, Mustafa and Hani watching the news, Yasser outside in the little garden, meditating, Jaber reading a book, while Jawad was my guest for a short talk.
"To us, the peak of joy is the time of confrontation. We seek victory, and a greater victory which is martyrdom." Jawad said.
"We, like any other human being have needs and desires, fears and pains. We do live our life normally wherever we are, but always and forever our ultimate goal is martyrdom for the sake of Allah the Almighty."
Living with them even if for one day was an honor, and a pleasure, and leaving them that night was inevitable, but I wished I could have stayed longer, I truly wished these moments would never end.
Prayers
They warmly welcomed us, smiles drawn on their lips as each introduced himself. Rida, Yasser, Jawad, Jaber, Mustafa, and Hani.
"Honored to meet..." I had not finished my sentence when one of them interrupts, "the honor is ours, please feel at home", he says smiling. I still had not memorized their names, but soon figured out that was Rida as one of his friends asked him to prepare coffee.
I was curious if he was going to boil that coffee on a fire place, but it turned out there was an equipped kitchenette too. True it is a humble place, but only in material and equipment, it is a place of pride and dignity.
The sun was awake now, and the possibility of drinking coffee outside in nature became a certainty. We all sat down under a giant oak tree drinking coffee and getting more acquainted to each other.
Yasser leaves the site for a few minutes, brings with him a bucket of water. "Do not be surprised, I need to water the flowers. We have planted a small garden in respect to our friend who was martyred a couple weeks ago." He said as the others reiterated that Amer, their martyred friend still lives with them as his soul will never depart.
All those events happen according to a timeline of their day, as they are careful not to waste a single second. They are careful to dedicate every spec of a second for the sake of their plight.
Every action they take, even if not with a rifle goes to defending and liberating the land, and providing the people with a dignified life free of tyranny and oppression.
"Today Jawad and Rida will prepare the breakfast, and we begin our chores. Guys, we meet back here in an hour to eat." Jabber says.
Manakish, a traditional Lebanese breakfast meal. They had prepared the dough and the zaatar (thym) and only needed to put them in the oven.
Meanwhile the rest of the men are doing their chores, two transporting the equipment and arms needed for battle, while the others surveying the area or excavating a cave, hoping it would serve as shelter for the resistance fighters, whether from heat, cold, or rain.
Jawad and Rida now wear their suits and helmets and join their friends at work; little jokes take place every now and then, as well as moments of silence and longing to the family and beloved ones.
"The chores those men and their fellow brothers perform are done in different ways," Rida explains as he excavates a new cave. He says the methods and means of accomplishing work are directly related to time and place.
At noon, all gather in the very same room I met them at first. Mustafa calls for noon prayers, and they all perform the prayers together. Recitation of verses of the Holy Quran is a must, and they do manage to find time for that ritual despite the loads of work that await them.
"Bonding with Allah and thanking Him for all he has given us is essential in our daily life. We can never thank Him enough" Hani explained.
Time flies, it's already lunch time and the young men prepare the meal together as they take a break from the hard work; Fattoush (a Lebanese salad), French Fries, and chicken breasts.
Preparing Lunch
"We always have alternatives and second plans for everything. We always take precautions and think of the worst that could happen and provide solutions for the possible obstacles no matter how simple these are.
Eating is a necessity the body needs in order to function. And so we all gather around a wooden table surrounded by chairs and eat.
Taking turn on house chores, this time Mustafa and Hani stayed ‘home" in order to do the laundry.
"The resistance laundry center" they both say bursting into laughter as they hand wash the clothes.
Laundry
The laundry done, the dishes washed, the daily plan of military and logistic chores terminated as well.
At the end of the day, Rida, writing in a diary he intends to give his daughter on her birthday next month as she turns 16, Mustafa and Hani watching the news, Yasser outside in the little garden, meditating, Jaber reading a book, while Jawad was my guest for a short talk.
"To us, the peak of joy is the time of confrontation. We seek victory, and a greater victory which is martyrdom." Jawad said.
"We, like any other human being have needs and desires, fears and pains. We do live our life normally wherever we are, but always and forever our ultimate goal is martyrdom for the sake of Allah the Almighty."
Living with them even if for one day was an honor, and a pleasure, and leaving them that night was inevitable, but I wished I could have stayed longer, I truly wished these moments would never end.
I was blessed to have had the opportunity to spending few hours with the people who, triumph and success emanate from their bodies, senses and spirits, and whose ultimate goal is to defy tyranny or quench the land's thirst with their pure bloods if necessary.
These are only 6 out of the hundreds, even thousands of God's Lion hearts who clearly embody the peak of selflessness and sacrifice to protect the land, to resist, and to defend righteousness and right.
And Amer the martyr, his soul remains among his friends, along with all the other martyrs, the Masters of Humanity.
