By Umar AbdurRahman
Omar Al-Mukhtar the prominent figure of the Senusi movement, the national hero of Libya and a symbol of resistance in the Arab and Islamic worlds. Beginning in 1911, he organised and, for nearly twenty years, led the Libyan resistance movement against the colonial Italians during the Pacification of Libya (as it exists today against the colonialists -superpowers and their puppets). After many attempts, the Italian Armed Forces managed to capture Al-Mukhtar. His hanging took place before hundreds of tribes on 16th September, 1931. With the intent to scare the Muslims, the Italians did not succeed in doing this. The opposite had taken place. His hanging shook the entire Muslim world, and numerous resistances took place specifically in North Africa.
The Italians took pictures of him in shackles, surrounded by smiling Italian generals, and those who expressed happiness for his hanging. They did not realize that it is those very same shackles and rope hanging around his neck in the hands of his enemies fighting for the sake of Allah that would become the envy of every true Muslim.
The man, whose mug shot spoke his legacy, is none other than Omar al-Mukhtar. His legacy will live until the day of judgement, in sha Allah. With his blood, he drew the stories of victory, he became a legend of the legends, and a guide for those who wanted to live in honor at a time of humiliation like ours.
The surrendered modernists and disbelieving scholars of his time were not imprisoned nor hung (just as their likes today enjoy the pulpits and stages of honour).They died a normal death, possibly even in luxury and wealth, under the protection of the occupying Italians. However, they died and their names died with them. Jahannam is the abode of those who ally themselves with the kuffar colonizers (super powers) over the Muslims. Omar AlMukhtar lived, and fought hard in the days of his life. He was shackled, imprisoned, then hung. But his legacy lives on and paradise, in sha Allah, is the resort of the martyrs.
He was a legend, an exemplary model and leader for the Muslims and waring parties of Libya to emulate, if truly sincere. He was firm in his religion at a time when the leaders of his country emigrated (as they do today ) to surrender to the Italians (as they do today to the Americans, Russians, Chinese and their allies). The biggest scholars of his time from the Sanusies, who previously fought with him against the French and the British, did not come to his aid in time. Instead, many of them became loyal to the Italians by giving them Muslim lands in exchange for clemency, montly salaries, and freedom from taxation. Such is true for Muslims today, from Saudi to UAE, the Magrib and beyond.
We learnt from our hero and model may he be accepted as a martyr (Amīn) that; ''We are a nation that knows no surrender, we win or we die.''