(noun / expression)
Pronounced: sir-MAA-yet ah-med al-shar-ʿ
Meaning: A sarcastic or blind expression of loyalty to Ahmad al-Sharʿ, often used unironically by his hardcore supporters, or mockingly by his critics.
Origin:
After the fall of the Assad regime in Syria, a new figure named Ahmad al-Sharʿ rose to power—formerly a jihadist turned politician, leading the HTS (Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham). While he presented himself as a reformer, actual change on the ground was minimal. Despite this, many Sunni Syrians, who form the country’s majority, gave him unwavering support, similar to the cult-like loyalty previously shown to Assad.
These supporters began replying to criticism online with phrases like:
"Ṣirmāyat Ahmad al-Sharʿ is worth more than your head"
"His slipper is above your head"
These are Arabic idioms that basically say: "How dare you criticize the man who saved us?"
Eventually, they shortened it to just: "Ṣirmāyat Ahmad al-Sharʿ", making the man’s shoe a symbol of unquestioned devotion.
Pronounced: sir-MAA-yet ah-med al-shar-ʿ
Meaning: A sarcastic or blind expression of loyalty to Ahmad al-Sharʿ, often used unironically by his hardcore supporters, or mockingly by his critics.
Origin:
After the fall of the Assad regime in Syria, a new figure named Ahmad al-Sharʿ rose to power—formerly a jihadist turned politician, leading the HTS (Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham). While he presented himself as a reformer, actual change on the ground was minimal. Despite this, many Sunni Syrians, who form the country’s majority, gave him unwavering support, similar to the cult-like loyalty previously shown to Assad.
These supporters began replying to criticism online with phrases like:
"Ṣirmāyat Ahmad al-Sharʿ is worth more than your head"
"His slipper is above your head"
These are Arabic idioms that basically say: "How dare you criticize the man who saved us?"
Eventually, they shortened it to just: "Ṣirmāyat Ahmad al-Sharʿ", making the man’s shoe a symbol of unquestioned devotion.
by Reasonable_Doubt August 05, 2025