Islamic Art

‘77,777’ More Than Just a Number

Published

April 27, 2013

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By: Zana Alattar

77,777. Since the revolution has entered its third year, the number of recorded deaths in Syria has skyrocketed. At this point, life in Syria comes down to one thing – SURVIVAL.

But the Syrian people have not wavered.

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“Freedom Until the Grave.” These words, spoken by the Syrian people, are not to be taken easily. The Syrian people have lived through generations in which the word freedom was left undefined.

Freedom was a virtue, not a right. Under the rule of an oppressive regime, freedom is what the government tells you it is. But now, through the Syrian revolution, they have defined the word ‘Freedom’.

The Syrian people have defined freedom in their struggle:

77,777 Stories: The numbers take form, but do the faces behind those numbers ever form? These 77,777, each have a story, whether it’s a love story, a childhood memory, or of a family member that they held dear. Yet 77,777 is merely a number in an article, on Facebook status, as part of a statistics. 77,777 does not show the strength within the struggle.

The strength of the Syrian people lies with the mother whose son left the house to protest peacefully and returned with a bullet through his heart.

The strength of the Syrian people lies with the college student at the University whose blood flowed over the pages of his final exams.

The strength of the Syrian people lies with the father who was killed while waiting in line for bread to take home to his starving family.

The strength of the Syrian people lies with the orphaned infant whose cries cannot be heard over the government bombs that are hitting his home.

The strength of the Syrian people cannot be embodied in a number.

77,777 Revolutionists: As the numbers form, the word freedom is defined. As the numbers form, the Syrian people begin to truly understand what it means to be free. As the numbers form, people all around the world question why. Why is there such turmoil in Syria? But as the numbers form, the Syrian people stop questioning. As the numbers form, they realize why.

The 77,777. That’s why. They continue this fight for freedom in honor of those who saw freedom, believed in it, and died trying to grasp it.

Don’t ask why, ask how? Ask how people all around the world can help Syrians define the word freedom. Ask how a revolutionist gave up his life, what we think is so dear, for the one thing we all should know is most dear, freedom. Ask how the world has let the number rise to 77,777.

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Related Topics:Arab Spring Bashar Al Assad Free Syrian Army Syria Syrian Martyrs Syrian Rebels Syrian Revolution

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6 Comments

O H

April 27, 2013 at 5:38 AM

Good article. A more Islamic oriented article & viewpoint would have been appreciated. May Allaah grant the believers among the dead the status of shaheed. Verily that is the great victory…

Reply
Haseeb Ahmad Ayazi

April 29, 2013 at 4:52 AM

Allah will help syria

Reply
Ali Sina

May 1, 2013 at 7:53 PM

So many people had been killed but why Allah never come for help ? Is he Sleeping ? Sick ? Busy ? Meeting ? Holiday ? Scare ? Not exist ? Like violence ?

Reply
- O H
  
  May 2, 2013 at 7:00 PM
  
  Or do you think that you will enter Paradise while such [trial] has not yet come to you as came to those who passed on before you? They were touched by poverty and hardship and were shaken until [even their] messenger and those who believed with him said “When (will come) the Help of Allah?” Yes! Certainly, the Help of Allah is near!” [Surah Baqarah Verse 214]
  
  Do the people think that they will be left to say, “We believe” and they will not be tried? But We have certainly tried those before them, and Allah will surely make evident those who are truthful, and He will surely make evident the liars. [Surah Ankabut Verses 2-3]
  
  Reply
- Shahin
  
  May 2, 2013 at 11:19 PM
  
  Brother, fear Allah. Don’t say things about Allah that don’t befit His Majesty. Allah says in Surah Al-Baqarah:
  “Allah – there is no deity except Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of [all] existence. Neither drowsiness overtakes Him nor sleep. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. Who is it that can intercede with Him except by His permission? He knows what is [presently] before them and what will be after them, and they encompass not a thing of His knowledge except for what He wills. His Kursi extends over the heavens and the earth, and their preservation tires Him not. And He is the Most High, the Most Great.” (2:255)
  
  He’s much more Aware, Knowledgeable and Wise than we are.
  
  Reply
Shahin

May 2, 2013 at 11:21 PM

Jazakallahu Khairan for writing this. It’s only because of others’ efforts of educating the rest of us that we are aware of the situations that go on with our fellow Muslims down to the *last* number. Very powerfully written reminder…

Reply