– Mohammed Talha Siddi Bapa
Bhatkal, Karnataka
Israel’s war doctrine has long centred around a singular, deceptive assumption: kill the leadership, and the resistance will collapse. From assassinating Hamas founder Sheikh Ahmed Yassin and his successor Abdul Aziz Rantisi, to targeting Ismail Abu Shanab, Dr. Fathi Shaqaqi, Abbas Musawi, and Qassem Soleimani, the strategy has been consistent – eliminate the brain, and the body will die.
Today, Israeli military think-tanks are reportedly exploring the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, assuming that removing the “ideological backbone” of the Islamic Republic will cause its entire revolutionary structure – from Tehran to Gaza – to fall apart.
But this belief grossly misunderstands Islamic history, theology, and the very concept of leadership in Islam.
You Can Kill a Leader, But Not a Mission
In Islam, leadership is a trust – not a cult. The mission of truth transcends the lives of individuals. This was established in the early days of Islam, most notably in the Battle of Uhud, when the enemies of Islam targeted the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ himself.
When the rumour spread that the Prophet had been killed, panic and despair spread among some companions. At that moment, the Qur’an delivered a divine reminder:
“ وَمَا مُحَمَّدٌ إِلَّا رَسُولٌ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِن قَبْلِهِ الرُّسُلُ ۚ أَفَإِن مَّاتَ أَوْ قُتِلَ انقَلَبْتُمْ عَلَىٰ أَعْقَابِكُمْ”
“Muhammad is no more than a messenger: many Were the messenger that passed away before him. If he died or were slain, will ye then Turn back on your heels?” Surah Aal Imran (3:144)
This verse became the eternal principle of Islamic resistance: The martyrdom of a leader is not the end – it is a test of loyalty to the mission.
From Mu’tah to Martyrdom: The Legacy of Immediate Leadership
In the Battle of Mu’tah, three commanders of the Muslim army were martyred in quick succession: Zayd ibn Haritha, Ja’far ibn Abi Talib, and Abdullah ibn Rawaha. But the army didn’t collapse. Without delay, they appointed Khalid ibn al-Walid to lead them, and he brought the Muslims back with dignity and strength.
This moment enshrined a key tenet of Islamic movements: Leadership is replaceable, the mission is eternal.
Iran: Revolutionary Guard of Ideological Resilience
Among all Muslim-majority nations today, Iran stands out for nurturing a military force that is openly ideological – the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). They see themselves as defenders not just of territory, but of a vision.
After the U.S. assassinated General Qassem Soleimani in 2020, observers predicted Iran would retreat. Instead, its influence across Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Palestine intensified. The IRGC emerged even more committed to its mission.
If Israel now aims to kill Ayatollah Khamenei, assuming that this would bring down the system, they must remember:
In Islamic tradition, martyrdom is not a termination – it is a transition.
Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Blood of Leaders
Consider the leaders who have been targeted and killed:
- Sheikh Ahmed Yassin – assassinated by an Israeli drone in 2004
- Abdul Aziz Rantisi – assassinated days later
- Ismail Abu Shanab, Nizar Rayyan, Saeed Siyam, Marwan Issa – all martyred
- Ismail Haniyeh, Yahya Sinwar, and Mohammed Deif – repeatedly targeted but survived (with Sinwar and Deif reportedly martyred in 2024, yet unconfirmed)
Despite these assassinations, Hamas did not die. It transformed, adapted, and hardened.
And if Khamenei were to fall, another would rise – forged in the same furnace of resistance.
They Want to Extinguish the Light… But They Can’t
The Qur’an explicitly pre-empts the mindset of tyrants and occupiers who believe that physical force can extinguish ideological truth:
“يُرِيدُونَ أَن يُطْفِئُوا نُورَ اللَّهِ بِأَفْوَاهِهِمْ وَيَأْبَى اللَّهُ إِلَّا أَن يُتِمَّ نُورَهُ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ الْكَافِرُونَ”
“They wish to extinguish the Light of Allah with their mouths, but Allah will perfect His Light, even if the disbelievers detest it.”
— Surah At-Tawbah (9:32)
This verse is timeless. It speaks to every missile that targets a resistance leader, and every bullet fired at a believer who carries truth.
From Graves Grow Movements
If the oppressors believe they can erase resistance by killing its leaders, they must revisit history:
- Karbala did not end with the martyrdom of Imam Hussein – it began
- Uhud didn’t halt the mission of Islam – it strengthened
- Gaza didn’t fall with the deaths of its commanders – it became a symbol of courage.
What Israel and its allies fail to grasp is that Islamic resistance movements do not rely on the pulse of one man – they run on the heartbeat of an ummah.
Indeed, as long as there is injustice, there will be someone ready to lead – and if necessary, to die – for the truth.
And those who die for the truth are never truly dead – they live, and they inspire.
