It’s better to die on foot than to live on knees

Worthy President.

Asslam O Aliakum!

The topic of my speech is “It’s better to die on foot than live on knees”

Here is something about this sentence that appeals to me, for me, it means to never give
up, be proud, keep on fighting, don’t bend before anyone. And although it is easy for me
to say so, but when someone acclaims it, he has to live by it and face the odds for it, and
he may get punished. May it be by prison, torture or death!

Islam, the religion of truth, justice and freedom came into a place and time where
oppression was the rule, slavery was a tool to humiliate the weak, killings a way to solve
problems. A society ruled by the tribal lords, raging with violence, and merely being born
in the wrong family could mean eternal slavery, oppression, and stripping of any and all
rights.
The Beloved Holy Prophet [S.A.W] emerged as the voice denouncing those ways while
striving to secure justice and equality. By endangering himself, he [S.A.W] gave us the
most precious gifts of Tawheed.

It is commanded to us; speak the truth, though it goes against you. Support the truth,
denounce the falsehood. Stand with the truth, abandon the falsehood. Stand up to
oppressors and tyrants, no matter of the price. Be about the truth, Justice and Freedom
side, and check yourself.

Mr. President!
Is life so worthless to spend in daydreaming and idleness? Is man the vicegerent of Allah
is so frail that he gives up the struggle and allows the circumstances to rust out him? Is
life so dear or so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery?

Charles De Gaulle says and I quote;

“Nothing great will ever be achieved without great men, and men are great only if they
are determined to be so.” Unquote.

There are few people in this world with beliefs so unshakable and nerve so strong, that
they are willing to die for their beliefs. There was a noble reason that demanded the
martyrdom of Imam Husayn[R.A]. The simple and obvious reason is simply to stand for
the truth.

In the battle of Qadsiyah, Khansah a great poetess of Arabia participated in the battlefield
accompanied by her four sons, a night before the combat, she advised her sons to prefer
death on the life of humiliation. In the morning, when the battle started her sons attacked
the enemy with full fervor and embraced martyrdom.
 It’s better to die on foot than to live on knees

Edward Gibbon in his book of ‘history’ praised the Muslim women, who were captured
by Roman army during the fight of Damascus. Instead, Khawlah bint al-Azwar roused the
other prisoners, she was furious, and decided that to die is more honorable than living in
disgrace. They used the tent poles as weapons and attacked the Roman guards. They
managed to kill thirty Roman soldiers with Khawlah taking credit for five, meanwhile
Muslim army had reached for their rescue and enemy didn’t find anything except to flee
from the battlefield.

Mr. President!

Here, I remember APS principal Tahira Qazi, one of the bravest woman of Pakistan, she
was rescued twice, and was told by soldiers and police to get away, but she refused. She
said, ‘”I will go with the last child.' Hours after the attack, Tahira’s body was found in the
bushes outside the school. The brave woman gave up her life on foot.

Mr. President!

Shakespeare says; keep up your bright swords, for the dew will rust them.

On April 30, 711, the armies of Tariq arrived at Gibraltar, he flamed his entire fleet and
within the willpower of his desire to conquer Andalus. He told his brave warriors “I have
now burnt the ships, and now there is no return for us and here we will conquer or
die fighting.”

The victory and independence of Scotland is traced to a spider that kept trying again and
again to spin her web in a cave and inspired the king of Scotland, Robert the Bruce, who
made the victory against the king of England in the seventh battle.

Mr. President!

In the end I can concluded that it is not only the battlefield where bravery, boldness, vigor
and steadfastness are required. One should be courageous at the time of every ordeal and
sufferings that life offers and should encounter all the hardships with firmness of faith
and determination.

Life’s battles don’t always go

to the stronger or faster man;
But sooner or later the man who wins
is the man who thinks he can.

That is the only way to an honorable and graceful life.

Thank you for the patient listening!