The Story of MartyrdomFor three days, Shadha was getting ready to leave the house if the family made up their minds to leave for security and safety away from the missiles and tanks of the occupation. However, the family did not leave the house and life went on heavy on the hearts of the inhabitants of the house, especially after the outrage of water and electricity. On the 4th of January, the air missiles were searching for a big catch and they found their end in the house of Al Habbash family in Al Tuffah Neighborhood. Everyone was fed up with the atmosphere of war, especially children, so they decided to go upstairs to the roof of the house in order to see sunlight and to feel its warm rays. It was only half an hour which the family allowed their girls to play there. Everyone stepped down except Shadha and some of her cousins who sought the permission of their mothers to stay longer time to play with, feed, and water the pigeons. The mother of Shadha said: “It was only few minutes that separated between getting down and hearing the sound of an explosion that we thought first took place at the neighbors. We went out to see what has happened and we heard the cries of the children coming from upstairs. The girls were scattered pieces of flesh; the leg of my elder daughter Gamila had split from her body and still subject to therapy in Saudi Arabia and my dear daughter Shadha fell as martyr.

Shadha Al Habbash is the surname of Dr. Jalilah after her martyrdom which was her official name, however between family, relatives, and friends she was “Jalilah” as her grandfather wanted to name her after the death of her grandmother short time before her birth.

Her last moments were with her sisters in the kitchen as the day of her martyrdom was different in all its details and events. Her mother recalls one day, and unlike her habit, Shadha helped her sister by putting her small hands inside the water utensils to wash the dishes and when she finished, she helped me in drying the laundry under the sun heat. She was so quiet, never refused a request, and filled us all with kind and warm looks. She looked to everyone as if she was saying goodbye, may Allah bestow mercy on her soul.”

Tala, the little sister of Shadha still misses her, especially at the time when she used to come back from school. She keeps watching the house door for Shadha, waiting for her to come and give her chocolate, but will wait forever. Her mother said: “Shadha filled the house with her voice and laughs and she was the best aide in everything.

Although Shadha did not complete her eleven years old, but she was nicknamed with “the doctor” hoping that she would join the medicine school which was the wish she always dreamt of. She was keen to follow up her lessons not only by studying at home, but also by paying attention to the information she receives in the class. Her mother said: “She was an English encyclopedia and genius in math and science. When I asked her to study her lessons to get ready for the tests, she would say: “I memorize my lessons by heart.” Then she starts to say them to her mother.”