Quarter of a Century with the Martyr Ayatollah Mohammed Baqir Al-Hakim

Publication date: 2004, Baghdad,Iraq

Author: Dr. Hamid Al-Bayati

In this book,  Dr. Hamid Al-Bayati reviewed the life of one of the most important religious and political figures in modern Iraqi History - the Martyr Ayatollah Mohammed Baqir Al-Hakim, son of the highest religious authority for the Shiites, Grand Ayatollah Sayed Muhsin Al-Hakim. The martyr was born in the holy city of Najaf in 1939 and was assassinated in Najaf in 2003.
 
 Ambassador Al-Bayati had the honor to work with the Martyr, Al-Sayed Mohammed Bakir Al-Hakim since he fled Iraq in 1980 until his martyrdom after finishing the Friday prayers in the Imam Ali Mosque in August 29, 2003 in Najaf.
 
 Dr. Hamid Al-Bayati became the representative of the Ayatollah Al-Hakim in United Kingdom since 1992 and he used to cover a major part of work in the United Kingdom, United States, Europe and the United Nations.
 
 “I had the honor to accompany the Martyr in his trip back to Iraq in 2003. We got to Basrah on May 10, traveling to Al-Nassiryah, Al- Simawah, Diwaniyah, and then we got to Najaf on May 12, 2003” as Dr. Al-Bayati stated.
 
 One of my colleagues told the Martyr after he return back to Iraq: “I am worried about you and assassination”. He replied, “God responds to all my prayers. I was asking God to help us to get rid of Saddam and God responded to that. And I was asking God to help me to get back to Iraq and I did, I was asking God to help me visit the Imam Ali Mosque and I did, I have only one wish in my life which is the Martyrdom and I ask God to complete it for me.”
 
 Dr. Al-Bayati reviewed the political, ideological and military views, as well as the positions of the Martyr through his long term work with him. “But writing this book made deeply read his thoughts, views, books, and lectures one more time in order to analyze it” Dr. al-bayati said.
  Ambassador Al-Bayati felt how great the Martyr was and realized the deepness of his views and his political awareness, and the wisdom in his positions towards the critical and important issues regarding Iraq and the Iraqi people.  “I realized also the great lost which occurred to Iraq and the Iraqis by his Martyrdom” Ambassador Al-Bayati stated.
 
 The great achievement of the late Ayatollah Al-Hakim was to unite the Iraqi people to reach their goals which he stated in 2003 as freedom, independence, and sovereignty.