Early life and education Al-Sayyed was born in 1960 in the village of Haouch al-Nabi, located in the
Baalbek District of eastern Lebanon. He pursued his religious studies in
Qom,
Iran, one of the key centers of Shia Islamic learning.
Early political involvement In the early 1980s, Al-Sayyed was involved with the
Amal movement, serving as its representative in Iran. However, at the urging of Iranian officials, he became critical of Amal's leadership, particularly
Nabih Berri, and publicly announced his defection from the party during a press conference in
Tehran. His defection marked the beginning of his deep involvement with
Hezbollah. Returning to Lebanon, al-Sayyed became one of the senior figures within Hezbollah, particularly within a faction under the spiritual guidance of
Ayatollah Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah, known as "Dawlat Hezbollah Lubnan." This group became one of the core components of the Hezbollah movement.
Role in Hezbollah Al-Sayyed quickly rose through the ranks of Hezbollah. In 1985, as the group was still in its formative years, he served as its official spokesperson. He is perhaps best known for his announcement of Hezbollah’s manifesto, the "Open Letter," on February 16, 1985, a foundational document outlining Hezbollah's ideology and goals, including its resistance to
Israeli occupation and its desire to establish an
Islamic republic. Later, he was dispatched to
Beirut, where he represented Hezbollah in the
predominantly Shiite southern suburbs, spreading the party’s message and solidifying its presence in the area. During this period, al-Sayyed was the superior of future Hezbollah Secretary General
Hassan Nasrallah. Both al-Sayyed and Nasrallah also acted as key liaisons between Hezbollah and Iran, coordinating with Iranian diplomats, most notably Mohammad Nourani, who served as Iran’s chargé d'affaires in Beirut from 1981 to 1985.
Internal disputes and factional struggle In 1988, a significant ideological dispute arose between two factions within Hezbollah. Sheikh
Subhi al-Tufaili, supported by al-Sayyed, advocated for the immediate establishment of an Islamic republic in Lebanon, focusing all available resources on this goal. In contrast, Ayatollah Fadlallah, backed by others within the party, including Nasrallah, believed that Hezbollah should adapt to the changing political environment, particularly in light of the
Taif Agreement and Syria’s new dominant role in Lebanese politics. Ultimately, al-Sayyed aligned with Nasrallah, prioritizing the group’s survival and armed resistance against Israel over the immediate creation of an Islamic state. == Political career ==