“The Glory of Faith” — Honoring the Fathers of Martyrs
By Dr. Yaghoub Soleimani, Deputy for Cultural and Educational Affairs, Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs
What pen or expression could ever capture the majesty and grace of the Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali (peace be upon him) — the foremost believer, the embodiment of piety, the first to respond to the call of monotheism, the one born in the sacred Kaaba, and the Imam of martyrs, for whom verses such as Tathir, Wilayah, and Laylat al‑Mabit, among many others, were revealed to honor his virtues.
Journeying through the life of Imam Ali (AS) is a voyage into wonder itself. In numerous sermons and sayings, he repeatedly emphasized jihad and steadfast struggle in the path of God, sealing these divine truths in Nahj al‑Balagha and guiding true seekers toward the Kaaba of their Beloved.
Human history knows no one who loved martyrdom as passionately as Imam Ali (AS) — who longed for it with restless devotion, living each day with a hope for that ultimate union. His immortal words at the moment of martyrdom, “By the Lord of the Kaaba, I have triumphed!”, mark a moment of transcendence unmatched in human experience. His yearning for the red dawn of martyrdom defines the very spirit of divine devotion and sacrifice.
Imam Ali (AS) paid the highest tribute to martyrs, saying: “The righteous servants of God hastened toward the eternal abode, exchanging the fleeting goods of a perishable world for the everlasting treasures of the hereafter. Our brothers who fell in the Battle of Siffin — what have they lost, though they no longer live to taste this choking sustenance? By God, they have attained the presence of their Lord, Who has fully rewarded them and granted them peace and security after the fear of this worldly life.”
Just as the Holy Prophet (PBUH) himself cared deeply for the families of martyrs, the Commander of the Faithful would visit and assist them personally. History tells of the day he, unrecognized, visited the home of a martyred warrior. Upon learning that the fallen hero had left behind children and a widow, Imam Ali (AS) was deeply moved. He would visit them often, provide their needs, play with the children, and even bake bread for them — an enduring model of compassion and service.
The crimson path of martyrdom, the noble inheritance of the Ahl al‑Bayt (peace be upon them), has been passed down through the blessed lineage of the Prophet and his devoted followers. Fourteen centuries after the tragedy of Karbala, this sacred lineage flourished once again in the Islamic Republic under the leadership of the Guardianship of the Jurist. Pure‑hearted sons rose to defend Islam and the oppressed, achieving the sublime rank of martyrdom. Among them was the beloved General of Hearts, Martyr Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani — the loyal son of Imam Khomeini and the Malik Ashtar of Imam Khamenei (may his shadow be long).
Now, the Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs organizes the nationwide and spiritual ceremony “The Glory of Faith”, honoring the fathers of martyrs across centers of spiritual retreat (Iʿtikāf) throughout the country — an event described by the Supreme Leader as one of the blessings of the Revolution.
Beginning on the 13th of Rajab, coinciding with the start of Iʿtikāf, gatherings of young, faithful, and revolutionary believers host “The Glory of Faith” ceremonies in mosques and congregational prayers, paying tribute to the noble fathers of martyrs — those steadfast disciples of Imam Ali (AS) who offered their beloved sons for Islam and the Revolution.
Honoring the fathers of martyrs is both an expression of gratitude and a reaffirmation of the values of the Islamic Revolution — ensuring that this sacred spiritual legacy is passed on to future generations.
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