Omar al mukhtar, born in 1856, is known in modern Libya as the heroic martyr who sacrificed his life trying to liberate Libya from Italian colonization. As a child, Omar AL Mukhtar lived in the region of Cyrenaica, under the control of the Ottoman Empire. He had also lost his father at a young age and lived much of his youth in poverty. However, he would not only change the course of his tribe, his country and his people, but also the world of Libyan Muslims in the post-colonial era. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Shortly after the death of his father, Omar al Mukhtar, at the age of 16, was placed under the care and guardianship of one of the Sheikhs of his hometown. Growing up, he had developed a lifestyle of sleeping only three hours a day in order to stay awake the rest of the day worshiping God. He ended up memorizing the entire Quran and reciting it every week. This led people to view him as a humble and deeply religious man. He earned the nickname "Lion of the Desert" by defending the people he was traveling with in Sudan from a lion blocking their path. Instead of allowing his people to give up to the lion a camel which was a valuable possession at the time, he took a horse and a hunting rifle and pursued the lion. Finally, he returned with the lion's head. This showcased his courage and maturity at that time. His fifties were marked by the dawn of the Italian colonization (1911-1943) of Libya. At a time when the world was controlled by European powers, Omar Al Mukhtar strongly defended Islam and bravely faced the Italian colonizers of Libya in the face of danger. He had fought fiercely against the French with a group called Banu Sanus, who would later be known as the Sanusies. In short, they also fought the British. As part of a global "feast", Italy joined European nations in wreaking havoc in the southern part of the northern hemisphere by colonizing Libya. It was at this time that Omar Al Mukhtar gathered his forces in the face of an attack on Libya, his homeland. Although Al Mukhtar was offered large sums of money to quell this resistance, he refused and responded with this quote: "I am not a sugary morsel that everyone can swallow. No matter how long they try to change my belief and opinion, Allah will let them down. They then suggested that he leave his hometown to live closer to the ruling party and earn a monthly salary, but he again refused, saying, "No, I will not leave my country until I meet my lord." Death is closer to me than anything, I wait for it from minute to minute. » The Sanusi, Muhammad az-Zaway, who once fought with him against the French, tried to persuade him to retreat to Egypt with the rest of those who had fought against the French. However, he refused to turn his back on the enemy, knowing full well that his chances were slim against a force that was growing larger by the minute. He and his companions defended themselves until only he and one of his companions remained. Eventually his horse was shot out from under him, causing him to fall to the ground. He was chained and taken to a town called Suluq, where the Italian military post was located. Al Mukhtar believed that Jihad, which is defined as a holy war waged in the name of Islam as a religious duty, was ordained for every capable Muslim while their homeland was occupied by the colonizers. Through his faith, heroism, and courage, he earned the respect of even his enemies. His hanging took place in front of.