By Ali Shaker
According to AhlulBayt News Agency -ABNA- Many Western experts, foreign media and various publications including The Guardian, The New Yorker, Al Jazeera, etc. are interested in understanding the religious character of "General Qassem Suleimani", the Quds Force’s leader of Iranian Revolutionary Guards, with the aim of emphasizing on his attention to the Shiite rituals of Islam.
For example, Dexter Filkins in his article, The Shadow Commander, writes: "Iranian officials describe him as a believer in Islam and in the revolution."
He also says: "John Maguire, a former C.I.A. officer in Iraq, told me Suleimani is a far more polished guy than most."
In another example, Martin Jay in his article on Daily Sabah is quoting an Iraqi commander who says: "Suleimani has taught us that death is the beginning of life, not the end of life."
Even in Iraq, Syria and Arab states of the Persian Gulf, instead of using military titles, people calling him "Haji" or "Haj Qassem" which is an Islamic title. So, the religious character of Qassem Suleimani among the people could be understood by this.
World media not just want to show the strategic importance that he have in solving the problems in the region, but also they are trying to portray his religious character for their audience. So, among the photos that have been released of him, we can see his praying or the time he makes Vozou (washing the face and the hands) to pray.
"Haj Qassem always makes Vozou even in the battlefield. As 'the call to prayer' (Adhan) resonates through the battlefield he stops all his works and makes himself ready for God," his old comrade told ABNA.
In fact, Suleimani is a traveling teacher to the countries which are invaded by enemies and tries to teach everyone to resist against oppression.
Yet, some Western experts and authors have compared General Suleimani with real or fictional characters such as "Karla", "Nemesis", "Roman commanders" and "Keyser Soze", but Qassem Suleimani has something more than just a warrior; He is not just a great General in the mind of his friends and enemies, but also is a pious leader.
In fact, his pragmatic approach to the religion, his intelligence and his commitment to the homeland, makes him different from the others.
Brining stability and security back to Samarra, as well as liberating of Amerli, Jurf Sakhar, Tuz Xurmatu and Jalawla are showing who the hero of the day's events is, in contrast to the so-called "global campaign against ISIL/Daesh". So, all the things that Iranian General had done in Iraq and Syria, prove that the real fighter against phenomenon of terrorism and excommunication is Qassem Suleimani, not America and its allies.
A servant of Imamain al-Askariayn holy shrine, after the clashes in Samarra, said to ABNA reporter: "During the recent unrest in the city of Samarra, Qassem Suleimani was always present in the city and often came to the holy shrine for resorting to Ahlulbayt (AS) and refreshing his soul."
"At this time, he had chosen the basement of the shrine for his night's rest," he added.
Now, we should turn our punctilious eyes upon the words that Imam Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader, has said about Qassem Suleimani: "You are the one who was martyred at the front on numerous occasions and is a living martyr of the revolution.”
By saying that, Imam Khamenei means he has all the things that a martyr should have; the loyalty, devotion, piety and bravely.
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