The Unforgettable Mountain: Qasem Soleimani's Eulogy for Imad Mughniyeh

A Legacy of Resistance: Soleimani's Personal Tribute

Delivered by Martyr Haj Qasem Soleimani in memory of his friend and comrade Martyr Haj Imad Mughniyeh, at a Tehran event in February 2018 marking the tenth anniversary of Mughniyeh's martyrdom. The audience included Mughniyeh's family and leaders from the IRGC, Hezbollah, Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine:

I wish to speak, for the first time, about a dear friend with whom I shared a significant period of my life—a personality who remains unknown to many young Resistance fighters, be they Sunni, Shiite, or Christian, who are walking the true path. Since the passing of Imam Khomeini, I have not witnessed another martyrdom that has sown as much sorrow throughout the Islamic world as that of Imad.

The Character of a Martyr: Beyond Earthly Attachments

No personal attachment, not even his profound concern for his own children, could divert the path of the martyr Imad Mughniyeh. While martyrs and revolutionaries are among the most emotional people, they carry a heavier attachment to a universal cause. They cannot busy themselves with personal affairs when they hear the cries of the oppressed pleading for help.

Imad Mughniyeh was not merely an expert in a single field. What enabled him to defeat the enemy so consistently was that he belonged to something higher. The secret of his unwavering persistence in the cause of the Resistance is rooted in this philosophy of belonging. What made Imad shine like a sun among the heroes of the struggle was his desire for a world beyond this one; no earthly matter could ensnare him. This is among his most crucial, yet least discussed, characteristics.

Any person can become a technical expert. But simple professional mercenaries, like the Blackwater forces trained in the United States, are not saviors. If they master a technique, they become destroyers, not redeemers. It was Mughniyeh's faith that was the source of his strength—a faith I witnessed in his heavy tears. Some claim men do not cry, but this is a lie. At a meeting of Resistance commanders, a film about Imam Reza (as) was broadcast. When Imad saw a particular scene for the first time, he wept so intensely that it moved us all.

Founder, Strategist, and Servant: The Marks of Humility

Another defining characteristic of Imad Mughniyeh was his profound modesty. In a sense, Imad founded Hezbollah before Hezbollah was formally established. While the party was officially announced in 1985, its military wing, Islamic Jihad—which Imad led from its inception until his martyrdom—was founded in 1982. That year, as the leadership of the Palestinian Resistance was expelled from Lebanon and the country's Muslims were left leaderless against the Zionist invasion, it was the 19-year-old Imad Mughniyeh who took the initiative to protect Lebanon's key figures. Yet, in all our years together, I never heard him praise himself for his role in forging countless victories.

During the 33-Day War in 2006, we would call southern Lebanon and find Imad there; we would call Hezbollah headquarters in the Bekaa Valley, and he was there. He was everywhere, always close to the enemy to understand them intimately.

During an inspection of a guerrilla unit in southern Lebanon, a Hezbollah fighter protested to a man with glasses, saying, "Who are you that you go from camp to camp, stay for half an hour, eat and leave? We have to wash the dishes. Why don't you stay and help us?" The man with glasses agreed and washed the dishes himself. They later discovered he was Imad. The Hezbollah commander-in-chief washed his soldiers' dishes to maintain their morale and hygiene in the midst of war.

The Architect of Victory: From Fear to Fortress

I do not know how many Lebanese will believe this, but the one who stared directly into the face of the pervasive fear consuming Lebanese society and drove it away was Imad Mughniyeh. He transformed a society battered by the enemy into a formidable one. He was the central force in all operations from 1982 to 2008; no major operation could commence without his presence. He was a voracious learner who sat with Palestinians and Iraqis, synthesizing a unique method of irregular warfare. Today, many mujahideen are trained in what they themselves call the "Imad Mughniyeh School."

Imad constantly prepared new surprises for the enemy. In the 33-Day War, when Hezbollah struck the Israeli corvette, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah announced on television, “Look towards the sea, you will see the Zionist ship burning!” That was Imad Mughniyeh’s work.

He created opportunities from hopes and disappointments. When the Zionist regime invaded southern Lebanon in 1982, it displaced multitudes and co-opted units of the Lebanese army—a grave danger. Yet, Imad Mughniyeh exploited this very situation and the weak faith of the pliant Phalangists, targeting their main commanders and ultimately forcing "Israel" to retreat from the South in 2000. He hounded the enemy so relentlessly that they fled scandalously, abandoning their installations and even their prisoners.

The year 1982 ended for the Zionists with a massive defeat: the explosion of their military headquarters in Tyre, which killed 75 officers of the notorious Shin Bet. This single operation saved countless lives, compelling the Zionists to withdraw from Beirut, Tyre, and Sidon, having realized that to stay longer was to become coffins. This operation was organized by Imad.

The Unifying Force: Weaving the Web of Resistance

Imad believed that to bring the enemy to its knees, we must revive all the resistance capabilities of the Islamic world. He was the person who connected Palestinian groups to the resistance center and brought Yasser Arafat to Iran for the first time. He strengthened Hamas and activated the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, helping to transform Gaza into an indomitable fortress. Today, Gaza and Lebanon are constant sources of concern for "Israel." As has been said, on every rocket fired from Palestine, one can see the fingerprints of Imad Mughniyeh.

He was also active in Iraq, and even today the enemy reluctantly praises him, a praise they were once forced to give to the personality of Imam Khomeini. For 25 years, Imad Mughniyethwarted all the enemy's plans. The world's most powerful intelligence services—American, French, British, "Israeli"—constantly hunted him. They confess to having attempted to capture him on planes or in safe houses, all to no avail. Once, he showed me a window behind a curtain at his headquarters and said, "Yes, from here a group was always watching me. I dragged the enemy with me, but in the end, I defeated him."

Loyalty, Loss, and Legacy

Imad enjoyed the complete trust of Sayyid Hassan Nasrallah and was utterly loyal to him. When his opinion differed from the Secretary-General's, he would defer. It was unthinkable for Sayyid to issue a directive that Imad would not follow. When Sayyid could not sleep from anxiety, Imad would not leave his side, sitting with him to provide solace, for he believed that Sayyid had saved Lebanon. Today, even Lebanese Christians recognize Sayyid Hassan as their savior, while Sunnis have forged the strongest of ties with Hezbollah.

With Imad's martyrdom, I remembered Malik Ashtar (ra), of whom it is said that his death made one world mourn and another rejoice. But Islam possesses a productive force. While Imad was unique, Islam has always cultivated and presented great personalities. Our cause does not end with the death of any individual, no matter how great. We vow to walk in the path of our heroes and celebrate their victories.

I was in Beirut the day Imad was martyred. When I heard the news, I went immediately to Sayyid Hassan and told him. He replied, “The loss of Hajj Imad is more painful to me than the destruction of an entire brigade.” Anyone who witnessed Imad’s influence across the Islamic world would understand: the fall of this lofty mountain was indeed a greater loss.

Among you are those who attended Imad’s funeral. His wife, Umm Jihad, stood by his coffin and said, "To Paradise, O Abu Jihad! We will meet there... O hero of Islam, O you who influenced the people and fought injustice." Abu Tariq, who is here today, recounted: "Our eyes filled with tears, falling upon the face of the deceased. His wife began to dry the tears from his face, and then I came and dried the rest."

In our tradition, a woman lamented Malik al-Ashtar's death, saying, "You were better than a thousand, than thousands of men, you were more courageous than a lion!" When Imam Ali (as) asked who she was and was told she was Malik's mother, he said, "You have spoken the truth." Whatever Imam Ali (as) said about Malik, we say about our beloved Hajj Radwan. May God bless him, for he too was as his mother described him.

From Beirut, we called Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei to ask if burial in a coffin was permissible. The Leader, showing great respect, advised that if the body had changed, a coffin was appropriate. By the fifth day, his body, by God's will, had not deformed. It was received at Beirut Airport by a massive crowd and transferred to the Martyrs' Cemetery in Dahiya, the neighborhood where he had fought his great battles. A procession of Lebanese from all denominations and Hezbollah fighters followed. Sayyid Hassan prayed over him and delivered a brilliant speech, stating, “The news of his martyrdom affected my soul more than the news that a strong line of defense had fallen.”

The Immortal Martyr

Imad’s greatest hope, which teased him in his dreams, was that God would seal his life with martyrdom. He fought, supported, prepared, trained, and toured the world, inciting the faithful to resist. He left us a decade ago to continue the struggle he began.

It is not appropriate to say that Imad died. To those who use this word, we reply with the Quran: “And do not say of those who are killed in the way of Allah, ‘They are dead.’ Nay, they are alive, but you perceive it not.” [Quran 2:154]

How can he die, whose tapes are heard worldwide? How can he die, who participated in the revival of holy war? How can he die, whose name is inseparable from the struggle of Palestine? He does not die whose legacy fills our lives and shakes the heartstrings of our enemies.

He was not a writer of captivating prose, but his words held a magic that captivated hearts. He was not a jurist, but he knew what benefited people. He was not a traditional horseman, but horsemen stood dwarfed before his courage. He often said, "By Allah, I fear no one in life except Allah."

He possessed a heart as pure as a three-year-old child's, the enthusiasm of a twenty-year-old, and a generosity that knew no fear of poverty. At forty-six, his loss was like the severing of my right hand. I have never known anyone like him.

Hajj Radwan is unforgettable. His memories disturb our minds, revive our souls, and ignite a fire in our hearts against our enemies. His words will continue to resonate. He left behind his sons—Mustafa, Fuad, the martyr Jihad—and his daughters, Fatima, Zainab, and Zahra, who are with us today, and his wife, Umm Jihad.

The Final Promise

I remember during the battle of Ait al-Shaab in 2006, I was with Imad in a valley. We scaled a hill to attack the Zionists, who were preparing to dig in. I radioed Imad, urging an immediate attack, but he refused, ordering us to hold position. As the battle turned and a comrade was wounded, Imad called for a withdrawal to a fortified rear position. After a grueling march under bombardment, we reached him. It was then, under continuous fire, that Imad ordered a daring counterattack that surprised the enemy and secured victory. To understand the significance, Ait al-Shaab is less than a kilometer from the border with occupied Palestine. With meager means, Imad defeated the Zionists at their very doorstep.

The enemy knows this, and must consider it seriously: the punishment for the blood of Imad Mughniyeh is not merely a missile strike or the killing of a person. The punishment for this blood is the destruction of the child-killing Zionist regime. This is a certainty, a promise of God that will be fulfilled.

We never forget the enemy. We do not sleep at night without thinking of them. The enemy is always before our eyes.

• This article is written by Abu Dhar al-Bosni (lokiloptr154668 on X) and does not necessarily reflect the views of A.E.P. (the owner of the website), nor does it necessarily represent an agreement with these perspectives.