When Hamza Ali Al-Khateeb was born some 13 years ago I doubt his parents ever thought they would be one day burying their beloved son after he had been tortured in the most inhumane of manners.

The words written time and again about the horrific torture young Hamza went through in the almost month he was in Syrian custody  can no where near describe what the true horror of his existence must have been.

The video of his body must have been watched thousands of times by now however it is not necessary to understand his suffering.  People have become too accustomed to being shocked by YouTube only to do very little but shout and scream at their computer screens.  Then move onto watching a video about a funny cat doing summersaults or something equally inane.

To understand you simply have to put yourself in his shoes, Hamza was only 13 in the eyes of Islam he was quite possibly  a man accountable for his actions. In the eyes of his parents he was surely still a little boy.

A boy for whom the mere separation from his family must have been devastating, yet alone he suffered what most men could never handle. We will never know the true terror of his last moments, but we pray Allah (swt) made his departure from his world an easy one.

Imagine the terror of a 13 year old boy being beaten and mutilated by scores of government stooges.

Imagine how much he must have wanted his mother and his father.

Imagine how it must have felt to be kneecapped, burnt , shot and have his genitals removed.

Now Imagine for a moment what I and you will say on the day of judgment when we stand in front of Allah (swt).

What will our answer be, when we are asked you knew of Hamza and what did you do?

Imagine the terror in your heart at that moment when the wrath of Allah (swt) is upon you.

Imagine if the excuses we make for ourselves everyday will be enough.

The excuses that keep our minds on our own lives and forgetting the suffering of the Ummah.

Hamza did his part, he has now gone to where the butchers of Bashar Asad cannot reach although it will be a place they will surely see.

Now Imagine Hamza on that day the day when the world will be in a state of dismay he will be amongst the lucky ones.

Hamza Ali Al-Khateeb lived up to the name his parents gave him.  Hamza the uncle of the Prophet Mohammad (saw) and Ali (ra) one of the true companions of Mohammad (saw).

Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: “The master of martyrs (sayyid al-shuhada) is Hamza, and a man who stands up to a tyrant ruler and gives him nasiha (advice). And so the ruler kills him”