Zafar Bangash
Islam lays great emphasis on the preservation of human life. It is a sacred trust because it is a gift from Allah. The noble Qur’an says that saving one life is like saving the whole of humanity (Surat al-Ma’ida, ayat 32). Yet sacrificing one’s life in the way of Allah is considered the greatest reward life can offer. The person is called shaheed (martyr).
The concept of sacrifice in Islam is linked with the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim (عليه السلام) to sacrifice his young son Ismail (عليه السلام). The latter, too, willingly submitted to the divine command.
Allah did not want human sacrifice. It was a test, among a series of others, that Ibrahim (عليه السلام) was put through. After fulfilling all of them, Allah gave him the glad tiding that He was making him the Imam (leader) of all humanity.
The dialogue between Allah and Ibrahim (عليه السلام) is instructive. Taking nothing for granted, Ibrahim (عليه السلام) asked Allah whether this honour extended to his children as well. The divine response is very revealing: “My convenant does not extend to those who perpetrate zulm on earth.” (Surat al-Baqarah: verse 124). So, even a Prophet’s children do not enjoy any special privilege.
Two important lessons can be derived from this.
1: Allah rewards those that sacrifice their lives for His sake; and
2: Allah’s favour is denied even to the children of a Prophet if they perpetrate zulm.
Let us apply these lessons to our contemporary situation. Great changes are occurring on the world stage. For the first time since the Ottomans’ defeat in the Balkans in 1878, Muslims are driving this change.
These changes have occurred against the backdrop of Muslim suffering and humiliating over the past 50 to 60 years. Let us recall some of these heart-wrenching events.
1: The defeat of Arab armies by zionist Israel in the June 1967 war and the loss of Al-Masjid al-Aqsa;
2: Surrender of tens of thousands of Pakistani troops to India in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) in December 1971;
3: Invasion and occupation of Lebanon by Israel in 1982;
4: Serb genocide of the people of Bosnia: 1992-1995;
5: Destruction of Iraq in 1991 and again in 2003;
6: Destruction of Libya 2011;
7: Destruction of Syria from 2011 – 2024.
Even the spectacular ‘Operation Al Aqsa Flood’ by the Islamic resistance in Gaza in October 2023 has resulted in great suffering being inflicted on the Palestinians. Zionist genocide and barbarism continue.
A new reality, however, has dawned with the February 28, 2026 criminal attack by the US-zionist duo on Islamic Iran. It was meant to effect ‘regime change’ in Tehran, degrade its military to the point that Iran would be forced to surrender and abandon its nuclear program. As added bonus, the US would also grab Iran’s oil a la Venezuela.
The US-zionist war criminals achieved none of their objectives. Instead, Islamic Iran inflicted massive damage on US military bases in the region. Zionist Israel also received punishing blows and the myth of its invincibility has been shattered.
No doubt, the people of Iran, including the top leadership, have made immense sacrifices. This is also the case with the Palestinians and Hizbullah in Lebanon. Islamic Iran’s valiant stand, however, has changed the global order dramatically.
This is all the more striking when one compares their military budgets. The combined annual military budget of the US and zionist entity is $1.5 trillion. Iran’s, by comparison is only $7.5 billion. Thus, the disparity is 200:1.
Also, Islamic Iran has faced decades of illegal sanctions. Its oil income amounting to some $120 billion is frozen in foreign banks. Iran has also faced internal sabotage and assassinations.
Yet it has not only withstood the combined onslaught of the US and Israel but also inflicted massive damage on both. So, it is not the number of planes, missiles, aircraft carriers or other war material that determine the outcome of any struggle. It is the level of Imaan and the spirit of sacrifice that really matter.
Iran’s top leadership did not flinch from making great sacrifices, including those of their family members: daughters, dauthers-in-law and even grandchildren. It would be difficult to find a comparable example anywhere else in the world.
In the Battle of Badr, three members of the Ansar went out to confront the Makkan mushriks led by Utbah ibn Rabi‘ah, his brother Shaybah and his son Waleed.
Utbah called out to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said they had no quarrel with the Ansar. They want to fight their own kind, the people with the Prophet (ﷺ). So, the Prophet (ﷺ) sent out his uncle Hamza and cousins Ali and Ubayda ibn Haris to confront the mushriks.
It is also worthy of note, that the Prophet (ﷺ) did not ask Umar, Talha, Abu Ubaydah, Sa‘ad or any of the other muhajirun from among his companions. They were all brave men and good fighters yet he sent out his own family members.
In Iran a similar situation has occurred. The top leadership sacrificed their own lives before asking others to do so.
Allah has rewarded their sacrifices. They crushed the arrogant powers militarily and politically. This is a tectonic shift in global power configuration.
In the past, a phone call or cipher from Washington DC would result in the removal of a leader showing too much independence from US policies. This happened in April 2022 when a popular leader like Imran Khan was removed from office by the military on the orders of the Americans.
He languishes in prison while evil men and women rule the country, including those in uniform. They exemplify cowardice.
Iran has changed this equation. For the first time in 150 years (since 1878) when the Turks were defeated in the Balkans, Muslims have risen up as a power in their own right.
In Surah Muhammad (verse 07), Allah says “… If you offer Allah [your] support, He will support you and make steady your step.” Allah’s promise is always fulfilled, only the timing is not in our control.
In Surah As-Saff (ayat 13), Allah promises victory to those who make a firm commitment to Him and to His Prophet (ﷺ) and strive in His way.
As we witness these momentous changes, each Muslim must choose which side of history are we on? What sacrifices are we prepared to make for the glory of Islam?
We have an obligation towards the people of Iran, Lebanon, Palestine, Yemen and Iraq. By making huge sacrifices, they have restored the honour and dignity of Muslims worldwide.
Muslims are fond of quoting the Prophet’s (ﷺ) manner of drinking water, eating and how he slept. These are important aspect of his blessed life to know but should we also not remember his spirit of sacrifice?
The battles that he participated in, from Badr to the expedition of Tabuk, all remind us of his great sacrifices. These also form part of his Sunnah.
As Muslims, we must help the widows and orphans in Gaza, Iran, Lebanon and Yemen. This is part of our jihad.
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