Imam Ali (A.S.) says that the most powerful ruler is the one who can control his own soul, not his kingdom or the Army, that’s a person who has true power. General Qassem Soleimani acquired a sublime and effective position in his profession as he controlled his soul (Nafs) against the evils and lust of the World. He was not a religious scholar but lived his entire life religiously.
Last year, Ayatollah Khamenei while presenting him the highest Iranian military award “Order of Zolfaghar” said that General Soleimani would attain his cherished dream of martyrdom. And this year his ultimate dream got materialized when he was attacked by US drone near Baghdad International Airport in Iraq on 3rd of January, 2020. What more he would have aspired than to attain martyrdom on the blessed dawn of Friday.
Famously known as “Shadow Commander” by his foes, a 62-year-old General Qassem Soleimani was commanding Quds Force of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) since 1998. He was born in a peasant family and started his career as a construction worker to pay off debt owed by his father. During the war in 1980 which was imposed on Iran to sabotage the Islamic Revolution, he joined IRGC as a volunteer to fight against the invaders and safeguard the Islamic Revolution and his country. Due to his natural bravery and smart mind he was soon elevated to the rank of commander just in his 20s.
General Soleimani used to be calm and composed but always showed exemplary skills in all the operations he spearheaded. He was called “a living martyr” by Ayatollah Khamenei because he used to remain as a frontline icon in all the battles which he fought successfully.
Soleimani was described as "the single most powerful operative in the Middle East today" and the principal military strategist and tactician to confront Western hegemony and combat terrorism created by America, Israel and their allies to secure their interests in the region. He played an iconic role in eradicating the menace of ISIS (Daesh) from Iraq and Syria. Besides, he was an ardent supporter of Palestinian cause and rendered his unflinching services for the resistance groups in Palestine also.
We should know that ISIS was not any kind of Islamic organization or group as its members proclaimed but it was a gang of thugs who came all the way from 100 odd nationalities to Iraq and Syria just for the sake of free sex and dollars which were promised to them by their creators. They plundered everything and demolished even the graves of Companions (R.A.) and Ahlulbayt (A.S.) of Prophet Mohammad (SAWW). They gang raped young girls in the name of Sex Jehad (the term which they had coined to satiate their lust). They brutally killed innocent souls belonging to all religions even the Shia and Sunni scholars.
General Soleimani used all his mettle and resources to protect the International community from the cancerous tumour of ISIS and its off-shoots. The Axis of Resistance crushed the evil plot of America and Israel who wanted to pave the way for Greater Israel by stoking sectarian strife in the Middle East.
The propaganda which was being propagated by America, Israel and their allies through corporate media that Iran is killing people from Sunni community in Syria was nullified when Shias and Sunnis fought shoulder to shoulder under the command of General Soleimani against the dreaded terrorists. Iraq and Syria is free from terrorists of ISIS now because of the unity exhibited by various resistance groups there. They could not have achieved success against terrorism if they would have killed people on sectarian leanings. General Soleimani, while executing his assignments in Iraq and Syria was very much inclined towards Palestinian cause because he knew it merits significance to wipe out terrorism from Iraq and Syria for the final resolution of Palestinian imbroglio.
America, Israel and their allies create terrorists under the deceptive banner of Islam to serve their purpose and at the same time hoodwink the International community by pretending to fight them. They created ISIS to destabilize Middle East in order to occupy oil reserves there and to execute their ultimate goal of Greater Israel but thanks to people like Martyr Soleimani who tore their evil plot to shreds.
US killed General Soleimani and deputy commander of Iraq’s Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis as they both played crucial roles in eliminating the ISIS terrorism. America is taking revenge against any folk who fought against ISIS as it was their creation and had spent a huge amount of money and resources on it. Even the recent December 27 issue of Newsweek ran a cover story: If Iran falls, ISIS rises again. Significantly indicating that Iran played a major part in the fight against ISIS.
US president Donald Trump is legitimizing the assassination of General Soleimani by blaming him for terror attacks from London to New Delhi. How can a practicing Muslim like General Soleimani kill an innocent person? He followed the principles of Islam which disallows killing of an innocent person by letter & spirit. During an operation against terrorists in Syria, he used an abandoned house for a night. Then afterwards, General Soleimani penned down a letter to the owner of the house saying that please forgive me as I have stayed in your house for a night without your permission. Now, tell me how a person who is so committed to the ethics and morals of his religion kill an innocent person? Even the Secretary General of Hezbollah Sayed Hassan Nasrullah said in his fresh statement that their target to avenge the assassination of General Soleimani will be solely US military not the civilians.
After the assassination of General Soleimani, America and Iran are on the verge of war now. Everyone knows that war is no solution. Even mass rallies have been taken out in various cities of US condemning President Trump for his warmongering. But we know war has been imposed on Iran since the inception of Islamic Revolution in 1979. They have been targeted directly or indirectly through sanctions, negative propaganda, terrorism and imposed wars. In this backdrop, CNN carried an opinion by Michael Ware titled “The killing of Iran's top general won't stop a war. The US and Iran have already been fighting for more than 40 years”.
This time Iran has vowed to take revenge for the loss of their most revered and charismatic military general who was acclaimed as a hero by his supporters in and outside his country. Let’s pray that good sense prevails and US regime changes its behaviour of being the policeman of the World. The assassination of General Soleimani has initiated a spark which may have consequences beyond the control of anyone in this World and could trigger World War III, God forbid!
While I am writing this piece, mortal remains of General Qassem Soleimani whose rank was promoted to lieutenant general posthumously is yet to be buried. Millions of people have attended his funeral and more are converging to join to bid final adieu to their proud and brave warrior. Let’s also pay our tributes to the departed soul and the best tribute will be to tread his path and dedicate our lives for the sake of humanity as he did.

-The author is a freelance writer and can be reached at javeedaliofkashmir@gmail.com