His name was given in honor of that revered individual known as “The Sacrificed One of God.”
Yes! The son of the man known as “Ibrahim Khalilullah” (Abraham, the Friend of God), who fearlessly leaped into the flames of Nimrod and astonished all rational minds. Ismail, the Sacrificed One of God.
This connection is remarkable, isn’t it? It shows how a name can elevate one from one place to another. This is also true for Ismail Haniyeh, who grew up amidst fire and blood and willingly sacrificed himself for the sake of God. He was not alone; his entire family followed him. He adhered to the principles of Hussein in distant Yazid’s era, leading his entire family to sacrifice their lives on the path of truth while smiling.
War is not the solution to any problem. War brings devastation, destruction, kills hopes and dreams, ravages the earth, fills graveyards, and destroys the will to live. War does not solve any issue; it sees no one, only spreading poison in every breath and turning everything into dust. It burns fields and ruins cities.
Gunpowder is insensible, oblivious, and only spreads destruction. Its job is to bring death. Fire remains fire; its purpose is to burn. War destroys generations, makes children orphans, and women widows. Indeed, wherever bombs fall, the land is deprived of greenery. War brings debauchery and poverty, stripping humanity of its dignity. War is the desire of the bloodthirsty, a dream of the senseless, a madness of the weary, and a slaughterhouse for dreams. War never solves any problem; it brings hunger, poverty, disability, and sorrow, robbing happiness and burying hopes.
War is not the solution to any problem. We should all strive for peace. Peace is the harbinger of joy, a melody of delight, a refreshing promise, a dream, and its realization. Peace is the spring of desires and aspirations. It is the honor of humanity, comfort for the soul, the flute of tranquility, the tune, the euphonium of peace, and serene sleep. Peace is the need of humanity, essential as breath, which binds the thread of life. Peace is the song and music. Only peace.
But can my beautiful words, my dreams, my songs, my stories, my desires and hopes, my ghazals and poems stop war? And if not, then what should I do?
If I call the oppressor an oppressor, will it not lead to war? And if I stop calling the oppressor an oppressor out of fear of war, what kind of society will it become? Is life merely about the coming and going of breaths? What then should we do? And if there is peace outside but war begins inside me, what should I do? There is a pile of questions, and perhaps there are answers, but can they truly satisfy these questions? The world is ruled by those who profit from conflict and are only captives of their own interests.
Why does a person want to be powerful? Wasef Ali Wasef wrote: “Power is an ambiguous word. It does not only mean capability or ability; it also implies creating fear. If a fearful person becomes fearless, power begins to weaken. Power actually rules within the limits of fear, and power cannot exist in a realm of fearlessness. Power that seeks to instill fear is itself afraid. Power forces people to step out of their bounds and impose humiliation. People ruin their wealth, time, lives, and futures to instill fear in others. If we abandon the act of creating fear, this world could become a paradise.
The entire world has been plunged into war frenzy to sell weapons. The system of capital seeks to subdue humanity through power. What should the oppressed do when the powerful gather? Does singing songs of peace and releasing doves make the powerful abandon their savagery? Should the oppressed bow their heads in silence before power? Does holding candles and singing songs of peace bring about peace? Many questions remain that only the wise can answer; I cannot.
War is not the solution to any problem. War brings destruction, devastation, and kills dreams. But can all my beautiful words, my songs, my stories, my ghazals, and poems stop war?
I am determined to bind the restless night to dawn. I am resolved to fulfill a dream. Ismail Haniyeh will surely see his dreams come true.