POTENTIAL SPOILERS FOR AVENGERS: ENDGAME!
YOU’VE BEEN WARNED!
Beyond wrapping up a bunch the loose ends and the colossal cliffhanger from Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame also represents journey’s end for a number of characters.
With Tony Stark being the first one to kick off the MCU way back in 2008 with Iron Man, it’s fitting that his story ends with him sacrificing his life to save the universe in Endgame.
But while Tony did the physical act of snapping Thanos away, the real hero who saved the entire MCU was in fact the man who saved and sacrificed his life for the billionaire over a decade ago: Ho Yinsen.
In a brilliant Twitter thread by @malihaness, they point out that Yinsen’s act of saving Tony’s life in that cave on May 2, 2008, in Iron Man meant that he indirectly ends up saving the entire Marvel universe some 15 years later in Endgame.
But Yinsen saving Tony was more than just one person saving another. @malihaness explains that Yinsen’s act unknowingly demonstrated the most heroic act a Muslim can do and how he was the embodiment of seeing the best in people.
Their explanation is simply fantastic and will make you have a greater appreciation of a character that was realistically portrayed as a Muslim who embodied that values of the Quran and ultimately sacrificed his life for the greater good.
"..And whoever saves one, it is as if he had saved mankind entirely.."(Quran 5:32)
And without realizing the MCU manifested the most heroic act a Muslim could do, saving Tony Starks life that one day on May 2, 2008, Ho Yinsen indirectly ends up saving the whole universe in 2023. pic.twitter.com/ZSoyOjJvad— Maliha Fairooz (@malihaness) May 8, 2019
Yinsen led by example of Islam in terms of seeing the best in people. He knew Starks military involvement in foreign soil was the whole reason that he was in a terrorist camp, also likely why he lost his whole family yet he still spoke to Tony with respect.
— Maliha Fairooz (@malihaness) May 8, 2019
He spoke to the side of Tony that wanted good for humanity. He patiently educated him on the what/where his weapons have been going and used for. He looks over Tony's mistakes.
"Hold to forgiveness; command what is right; But turn away from the ignorant"(Quran7:199)— Maliha Fairooz (@malihaness) May 8, 2019
What mattered to Yinsen is at that moment Tony was being wronged and he needed help. 'What is right' is to stand for the victim. Yinsen helped. I don't know if he trusted Tony with his life but he valued another human life and made sure to do his part in saving Tony from harm.
— Maliha Fairooz (@malihaness) May 8, 2019
Finally 'turning away from the ignorant'. He learns that Tony wasn't directly involved in the decision making. So he chose to ignore whatever the terrorists had to say and whatever he knew of Stark weapons. He makes his own judgement on Tony based on their interactions.
— Maliha Fairooz (@malihaness) May 8, 2019
And finally, watching the scene where Yinsen is shooting into the cave. His goal is to stall the bad guys so he starts shooting the henchmen away but he never shoots at them, he doesn't risk killing them even though the guys are literally out there ready to kill him on sight
— Maliha Fairooz (@malihaness) May 8, 2019
Instead Yinsen shoots towards the walls of the cave making grunts and noises to shoo away people like wow dude even at gun point he values human life so much because
"Whoever kills a innocent… it would be as if he killed all mankind…" (Quran 5:32)
— Maliha Fairooz (@malihaness) May 8, 2019
My fav part, Yinsen might not have gotten to know the Tony we know BUT he believed in him, and it resonated with Tony. This strange man probably saw more in him than his ever dad did so he took it upon himself to change. He committed to using his power and privilege responsibly
— Maliha Fairooz (@malihaness) May 8, 2019
So not only is this an amazing portrayal of a Muslim that isn't simply wearing a tasbeeh or reading the Quran but rather a real Muslim who was an embodiment of the Quran. A person whose actions inspired and changed THE TONY STARK and thereby impacted the Universe. pic.twitter.com/MeiSdWbD9p
— Maliha Fairooz (@malihaness) May 8, 2019
It’s interesting to think how different the MCU would be had Tony not underwent the personal growth brought on by Yinsen’s sacrifice. For all we know, everything could’ve ended after just three movies instead of 22.
Iron Man may be the person who brought an end to Thanos’ Infinity Stone rampage but it all wouldn’t have been possible if it weren’t for Yinsen’s selfless act in that random cave all those years ago.