When Memory Becomes Moral Guidance: Lessons for a Faithful Life in a Changing World

Introduction

History is not merely a record of what happened; for a believer, it is also a reservoir of moral questions. The anniversaries before us this week – from the peace-making of Imam Hasan (pbuh) and the intellectual legacy of al-Biruni to literacy, charity, justice and the memory of sacrifice – invite us to ask not only what happened, but what should we learn and do today?

25 Rabiʿ al-Awwal: The Peace Treaty of Imam Hasan (peace be upon him)

In 41 AH/661 CE, Imam Hasan ibn Ali (peace be upon him) reached a peace agreement with Muʿawiyah, bringing the First Fitna to an end after years of civil conflict. The settlement included conditions concerning governance according to the Qur’an and Sunnah, security and amnesty, and the protection of the Muslim community.

Islam does not glorify conflict for its own sake; when peace protects life, unity and the higher interests of Muslim society, reconciliation can be a form of courage and principled leadership. Quran says:

وَإِن جَنَحُوا۟ لِلسَّلْمِ فَٱجْنَحْ لَهَا وَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْعَلِيمُ

“And if they incline towards peace, then incline towards it, and put your trust in Allah. Surely He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.” (Qur’an 8:61)

Message for today: True strength is not always winning a confrontation; sometimes it is having the wisdom to prevent greater bloodshed.

21 Rabiʿ al-Awwal: The Execution of Ayatollah Nimr Baqir al-Nimr

Sheikh Nimr Baqir al-Nimr, a prominent Shi’a cleric and outspoken critic of the Saudi government, was executed in Saudi Arabia on 2 January 2016, along with 46 other prisoners. Various Islamic bodies, Amnesty International, and the United Nations subsequently raised serious concerns about the fairness of the judicial proceedings and condemned these sectarian and unjust executions.

Message for today: We must be vigilant about those who, under the guise of Islam, have a problem with the fundamental values of Islam and have handed over control of their religious and worldly affairs to the unbelievers and the enemies of the faith.

22 Rabiʿ al-Awwal: The Expedition against Banu al-Nadir

The Banu al-Nadir were a Jewish tribe living in Medina who had a peace treaty with the Muslims. However, after some time, they broke their treaty and even plotted to assassinate the Noble Prophet of Islam (peace be upon him). As a result, the Muslim forces, under the command of Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him), besieged the fortress of Banu al-Nadir until the Jews eventually agreed to leave Medina.

Message for today: Muslims must unite and stand together in confronting the major threats of our time that target the faith and identity of all Muslims.

13 Shahrivar / 04 September: Commemoration of Abu Rayhan al-Biruni

Abu Rayhan Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Biruni was one of the outstanding Muslim scholars of the medieval world, significantly contributing to astronomy, mathematics, geography, history, medicine and the study of India and its intellectual traditions. Sources place his life in the late tenth and early eleventh centuries, with his passing away in 1048 CE; 13 Shahrivar is commemorated in his honour.

Message for today: The Muslim world needs a culture in which reading, research, evidence and the pursuit of knowledge are regarded as acts of responsibility before God.

23 Rabiʿ al-Awwal: The Arrival of Lady Fatima al-Maʿsuma (peace be upon her) in Qom

Lady Fatima al-Maʿsuma, sister of Imam Ali al-Rida (peace be upon them), travelled from Medina towards Khurasan in 201 AH and arrived in Qom after becoming ill during the journey. Her stay in Qom was brief, but the city subsequently became one of the most important centres of Shiʿa scholarship and pilgrimage.

Message for today: Let us learn our faith and way of life from our religious leaders and role models, rather than from shallow celebrities. The life and example of Lady Fatima al-Ma’suma (peace be upon her) can serve as an excellent role model for girls and young women today.

23 Rabiʿ al-Awwal: The Passing of Mirza Javad Aqa Tehrani

Mirza Javad Aqa Tehrani (1904–1989) was a prominent Shiʿa jurist and religious scholar associated particularly with the scholarly tradition of Mashhad; he taught jurisprudence, Qur’anic interpretation and Islamic doctrine and was known for his ascetic and devotional character. His legacy reminds religious teachers that scholarship is most influential when knowledge is accompanied by humility, piety, service and personal example. Holy Quran says:

إِنَّمَا يَخْشَى اللَّهَ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ الْعُلَمَاءُ

“Only those of His servants who have knowledge truly fear Allah.” (Qur’an 35:28)

Message for today: A teacher’s greatest lesson is often not what he says in class, but the character that students see in his life.

17 Shahrivar / 08 September: The 17 Shahrivar Uprising / Black Friday

On 17 Shahrivar 1357 SH (8 September 1978), a large anti-government demonstration in Tehran was met with lethal force by the Pahlavi government’s security forces, particularly in Jaleh Square. The bloodshed became a pivotal moment in the Iranian Revolution and deepened the crisis between the government and the protest movement. Islam has taught us that human life and dignity are of immeasurable value, to the extent that taking the life of even one innocent person unjustly is equivalent to killing all of humanity on earth:

مِنْ أَجْلِ ذَٰلِكَ كَتَبْنَا عَلَىٰ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ أَنَّهُ مَن قَتَلَ نَفْسًا بِغَيْرِ نَفْسٍ أَوْ فَسَادٍ فِي الْأَرْضِ فَكَأَنَّمَا قَتَلَ النَّاسَ جَمِيعًا

“For this reason, We decreed upon the Children of Israel that whoever kills a person – unless in retribution for murder or corruption in the land – it is as if they had killed all mankind.” (Qur’an 5:32)

Message for today: Let us not forget history and let us learn from the fate of governments that failed to value human life and property.

5 September: International Day of Charity

The United Nations designated 5 September as the International Day of Charity in 2012, with the date chosen to commemorate the passing away of Mother Teresa in 1997; the observance seeks to raise awareness of charitable and humanitarian action and encourage individuals and organisations to help alleviate suffering. Hundreds of years before this naming, Islam regards charity not as an occasional act of generosity but as a moral duty expressed through zakat, sadaqah, service and solidarity with people in need:

مَثَلُ الَّذِينَ يُنْفِقُونَ أَمْوَالَهُمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ كَمَثَلِ حَبَّةٍ أَنْبَتَتْ سَبْعَ سَنَابِلَ

“The example of those who spend their wealth in the cause of Allah is that of a grain that sprouts seven ears, each bearing one hundred grains.” (Qur’an 2:261)

Message for today: Let charity become a habit of dignity and solidarity – not merely a response to emergencies or a once-a-year donation.

8 September: International Literacy Day [UNESCO]

International Literacy Day has been observed worldwide since 1967 after UNESCO proclaimed it in 1966. In 2026, its 60th anniversary is being marked under the theme “Literacy for people, the planet and prosperity”, with UNESCO highlighting literacy as a fundamental human right and noting that hundreds of millions of young people and adults still lack basic literacy skills.

No religion has emphasized the necessity and importance of acquiring knowledge and understanding as much as Islam has. This emphasis is reflected at various points in the illuminating verses of the Holy Qur’an, as well as in the words and example of the Noble Prophet (pbuh) of Islam (peace be upon him) and his Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them). In fact, the beginning of the Noble Prophet’s mission was accompanied by a command to read and acquire knowledge:

اقْرَأْ وَرَبُّكَ الْأَكْرَمُ / الَّذِي عَلَّمَ بِالْقَلَمِ / عَلَّمَ الْإِنسَانَ مَا لَمْ يَعْلَمْ

“Read! And your Lord is the Most Generous, Who taught by the pen, taught humanity what they did not know.” (Qur’an 96:3–5)

Message for today: Emphasise the importance of seeking knowledge for yourselves and your children – knowledge, of course, that is accompanied by divine awareness and devotion to God.