From Lebanon to Afghanistan, Sayyed Abbas: the Leader, the Fighter, the Martyr

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History of the Islamic Resistance of Lebanon proves that great leaders of Hezbollah had spared nothing for the sake of their cause. Neither did they save their time nor their money, sons and souls.

Examples are many, and sacrifices are much more. The most prominent were Sheikh Ragheb Harb, the late Secretary General Sayyed Abbas al-Moussawi, the military chief Hajj Imad Moughnieh, the military leader Hajj Hassan al-Laqqis and several others.

"We cherish these models and we are proud of them, because we seek either victory or martyrdom," Yasser, the older son of Sayyed Moussawi, said in an interview with Al-Manar website.

"It is unfair that such leaders would die in bed and not in the battlefield and confrontation," he added.

Born in 1952, Sayyed Moussawi was raised in a conservative family where he was taught the importance of the Arab causes, and the Palestinian cause at the forefront.

Sayyed Abbas al-Moussawi

When he became teen, he chose to specialize in religious studies and subscribed for that purpose at the Hawza of Imam Moussa al-Sadr in the Lebanese southern city of Tyre. At the age of 16, he wore the cleric dress and travelled to Iraq to be the student of Grand Ayatollah Sayyed Mohamad Baqir al-Sadr, an influential cleric, philosopher, political leader, and founder of the Da'wa Party of Iraq, who was killed later by the tyrant Saddam Hussein.

Sayyed Abbas spent nine years studying theology in the Najaf Hawza, and returned to Lebanon in 1978 to serve his community, and established the Hawza of Imam Mahdi (as) in the eastern city of Baalbe. In 1979, he founded the Gathering of Muslim Scholars as a first attempt to unite the different Muslim sects in Lebanon.

The Leader

Following the victory of Islamic Revolution of Iran in 1979, and blessed by the great Iranian leader Imam Ruhollah al-Khomeini, Sayyed Moussawi launched the armed resistance against the Zionist invasion to Lebanon in 1982 as the enemy troops reached Beirut city.

His eminence not only dedicated his time and stayed in the Lebanese capital in order to plan for military operations against the Zionist aggression, but also intensified the operations in the occupied territories of Beirut and down to the villages and the cities in the south.
Furthermore, Sayyed Abbas used to read incidents differently. He was enjoying a high capacity of analyzing matters based on his strong faith. He who accompanied Sayyed Moussawi quoted him as saying that the future would be for the Resistance, while arrogance would be defeated, "but it is only a matter of time."

His eminence was among the first prominent figures who warned Muslims of the Takfiri ideology, which "only serves the Zionist enemy since it is achieving the enemy's goals of dividing our nation."

Yasser told Al-Manar website that "Sayyed Abbas had developed social and personal relationships with a lot of Sunni Muslim figures, such as Sheikh Fathi Yakan, Sheikh Maher Hammoud, Sheikh Saeed Shaaban and many others, even with those who do not agree today with Hezbollah."

Sayyed Abbas al-Moussawi's visit to Pakistan, Afghanistan

Sayyed Abbas al-Moussawi's visit to Pakistan, Afghanistan

"He was keen to build relations with Sunni leaders, under the title of "Resistance is for all and belongs to all honest people", he said, pointing out that "Sayyed Abbas was keen to involve people within the resistance combat groups, including Al-Fajr group that participated in abducting a Zionist military vehicle."

Moreover, Sayyed Abbas' visits to Pakistan and Afghanistan were also aiming to unite the nation's efforts to face the world arrogance. He wanted the nation to remain coherent in face of seditions plotted by the enemy. He tried to spread awareness about the concept that the strife would harm everyone and would spare no one, and that the resistance is the school that everyone should learn and benefit from.

The Reformer

After electing him as a secretary-general of Hezbollah in May 1991, Sayyed Abbas provided services for the resistance community, and started to follow up its daily life. He was keen to visit the popular neighborhoods to witness their needs and suffering. His immortal motto was :"We will serve by our lids."

Yasser narrated that Sayyed Abbas used to devote each Friday to meet the people, listen to their problems, and try to resolve them.

The Commander

A source close to Sayyed Abbas reported an incident with his eminence when they were planning to attack a Zionist post in the occupied Lebanese town of Baraashit. Fighter Majid Ghaddar came to Sayyed Abbas to object for not adding his name to the combat group in the operation. Ghaddar insisted to participate and Sayyed Abbas allowed him to take a part in the military campaign. When the group departed for the battle, Sayyed Abbas informed the field commander that Ghaddar would be martyred in the operation, and actually, the operation ended up with the martyrdom of Ghaddar.

"Sayyed Abbas predicted Ghaddar's martyrdom, and felt his sincerity and great enthusiasm," the source said.

The Martyr

On Feb. 16, 1992, His eminence insisted to attend the funeral ceremony marking the martyrdom of Sheikh Ragheb Harb in Jibshit southern town, who was killed by a Zionist agent in 1984 in front of his house during the Israeli occupation of Lebanon.

Sayyed Abbas was accompanied by his wife, Om Yasser, and his youngest son, Hussein. He gave a speech in the 'farewell sermon', where he said his immortal commandment: "Basic Commandment is to Keep the Islamic Resistance."

As the Zionist spy drones were hovering over Jibshit, Sayyed Abbas stepped his last steps towards the car heading to Beirut. When he reached the town of Teffahta, the Israeli warplanes fired missiles at his convoy and killed him, with his wife, Om Yasser, and his youngest son, Hussein.

The Supreme Leader of Islamic Revolution Grand Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei have many quotes regarding the personality, the sacrifices, the dedications and the concerns of Sayyed Abbas with respect to his nation, community, resistance and the Muslim world. He was keen to unite different sects of Muslims to face the Zionist enemy.

"The martyrdom of Sayyed Abbas is a turning point in the course of resistance, the fruits of which are the achievements of the resistance and the victories over the enemy," Imam Khamenei said.

Report by Zolfiqar Daher
Translated by E. al-Rihani