Like Father Like Son

Nour Rida

It was the father, the source of love, security, and wellbeing who gave up his selfish desires and sacrificed to the most sublime goal, pleasing God and the beginning of the eternal life ...It was the son, raised up in the warm arms of the father to either reach the goal first or follow his father's lead... or at times nurtured over the memory of his role model, to became a role model in his turn to the young and old, and give up all desires again, and sacrifice...

And so it was the martyr son of the martyr father... like all martyrs, the essence of the resistance and its pure spirit, strong determination, endless giving, unbeatable heart, crowned hope and brilliant victory!

As two generations in one family attain martyrdom, the responsibility of the offspring and the mother becomes bigger, just as the pride and motive do as well.

And as the father and son depart to the heavens, they leave behind love and inspiration and lessons of life that make departure easier and boost the free will to live and to succeed.

"We can never forget them, we can never not miss them, we do feel the pain of departure and longing to them, and they are our beloved ones, our fathers, sons, husbands, and brothers. But the world should be aware, that their sacrifice and giving eases our pain and only makes us stronger," these are words that I have been hearing for the past two years, since the beginning of my journey in the world of martyrs. 

Not only the families say these words, but also the advisors and councilors of the martyr's association, who reiterate and reverberate the effect of martyrdom. 

According to Al Shahid Association advisor Dr. Samar Beshir, children usually look up to their parents, and in the case of a martyred father, the role model is even more special and inspiring.
"Despite the pain they live at the beginning, which is the normal pain of departure and longing, the effect of martyrdom and the pride it brings along to the children makes the bitter moments sweet," said Dr. Beshir. 

During this phase, the children are not alone; they have the family and the specialists in the association to support them, not to mention their father, the icon of courage, pride and ultimate love. 

On the other hand, Dr. Beshir said that in many cases, sons become the companions of their fathers if not faithful students, who all at the end seek nothing but righteousness.
And so, as many sons live to build healthy societies, many others have followed the path of Jihad and resistance and were martyred, either before the father, after him or even hand in hand.

On the same note, Sheikh Bassam Al Ali, the cultural assistant of the association said that the martyr's association is present with the martyr's children since the very first moments they get to know their father has departed this world, until they become independent. 

The support, according to Sheikh Al Ali, is on all levels, the cultural, academic, religious, psychological, financial...and aims at building healthy sons of martyrs, strong and resistant.
With the help of the association, the father, the role model is always there in the memory of the children, before their sight and in their heart. The sons become faithful, in first place to their God and creator, and to their creeds and beliefs, and to their fathers in second. These young men chose the path of the resistance voluntarily, and willingly. 

Sheikh Al Ali stressed that the concept of a "father and son martyrs" has its positive effect not only on the family but also on society in general. It also sculpts the meaning of sacrifice and giving and makes it crystal clear; ultimate humanity and altruism. 

All the above reminds of the "Role Model" Imam Hussein, who sacrificed himself and his children in the battle of Karbala for the sake of Islam, Sheikh Al Ali reminded. 

It was more than one interview I held with families of martyrs, the father and the son, many of which Hizbullah Secretary General mentioned and honored during a recent graduation ceremony for the children of martyrs. But one caught my attention with words that echo in my ears.
"They lived together, fought together, were martyred together (on the 13th of August 2006), were found together and buried together," Amal Mohammad Labaniyeh, wife of a martyr and mother of a martyr summarized it all in a few words. 

"Martyr Mohammad Mwannes was not only a father to his martyred son Hassan, but also a friend, a brother and a guide. They spent most of their time together. Hassan was always by his father's side whether at work or during leisure time," Amal said. 

Amal and the family members were not the only witnesses to the special relation between the father and the son. "Our house was destroyed during the July war, and found nothing from the photo albums but photos for Hassan and his father, side by side in the different places and occasions, and in most of them, Hassan in the arms of his father or standing side by side with him," the mother said with glowing eyes. These photos were witnesses, to the strong bond between the father and the son.

"In that very same spot, my dear husband and son were martyred together while they were on duty, and they were found together after 2 years and 7 months, right next to each other, and were buried together in the dear land of South Lebanon in our village Hallusiyeh," Amal continued.

Last but not least, the wife and mother referred in flashbacks to the strong and tight relation between the father and the son, noting proudly "their martyrdom only made our family and society stronger and tighter, and more determined to follow the path of our beloved Imams, and martyrs."