The mourning ceremony for the martyrdom of Imam Hasan al-Askari (A.S.) was held at the Islamic Centre of England with the attendance of numerous devotees. This event took place on September 12, 2024, and was conducted in Arabic, English, and Persian. Poets and elegists recited lamentations for the martyrdom of the eleventh shining star of the sky of Imamate and Wilayah.
During the ceremony, Hujjat al-Islam wal-Muslimeen Seyed Hashem Moosavi, the Imam of the Islamic Centre of England, delivered a speech discussing the consequences of distancing oneself from the Infallible Imams (A.S.). He stated that the martyrdom of Imam Hasan al-Askari (A.S.) marked the beginning of the end of the physical presence of the Infallible Imams (A.S.), and this separation was the result of people’s actions towards the Imams.
He highlighted a famous prophetic hadith, “Ali and I are the fathers of this Ummah,” explaining that being distant from the Infallible Imams (A.S.) is akin to being orphaned, cut off from the spiritual guidance and leadership of the Ummah’s father figures. He emphasized that, in Islamic teachings, especially in Shia sources, separation from the Imam (A.S.) is regarded as a separation from divine guidance, truth, and salvation, leading to spiritual destruction.
HWIM Moosavi referenced Imam Ali (A.S.)’s first sermon after assuming the Caliphate, where he reiterated this point. He further illustrated examples of religious extremism and negligence in history, such as:
The first instance of religious extremism occurred during the Battle of Hunayn when a companion of the Prophet (PBUH), outwardly appearing religious and claiming fairness, insulted the Prophet during the distribution of war booty, accusing him of injustice. The Prophet told the people to leave him alone, noting that such a person, through extremism and distancing himself from the community’s leader, deviated from the faith, much like an arrow missing its target. This individual later joined the Kharijites and met his end at the Battle of Nahrawan.
Conversely, the failure of the people of Medina and Kufa to support Imam Hussain (A.S.) during the Battle of Karbala is an example of negligence. When they realized their mistake and launched uprisings against the corrupt rulers, it was too late to make amends.
HWIM Moosavi also referenced a well-known hadith from Imam Hasan al-Askari (A.S.), which describes the severest form of spiritual orphanhood as the people’s separation from the Imam of their time and their inability to access religious rulings. According to Imam al-Askari (A.S.), those who care for the spiritual orphans of the family of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and work towards connecting them with the Imams will be companions of the Ahl al-Bayt in the highest ranks of Paradise.
In his concluding remarks, HWIM Moosavi stressed the necessity of maintaining a spiritual connection with the Imam of our time, Imam Mahdi (A.J.), and that prayer for his reappearance, as well as adherence to his teachings, can save us from spiritual orphanhood and guide us to enlightenment and perfection.
Additionally, Sheikh Ayub Rashid delivered a speech in Arabic and English on the virtues and life of Imam Hasan al-Askari (A.S.), emphasizing the importance of understanding the era of occultation and the need to follow the guidance of Imam Mahdi (A.J.).
