When Calendar Meets the Needs of Our Time

The week ahead brings together four occasions that may seem different at first sight: the birth of an Imam (pbuh), the passing of a revered daughter of the Ahl al-Bayt, the birth of a distinguished descendant and scholar, and the International Day of Peace. Yet together they invite us to reflect on a single question: How can faith, knowledge, moral courage and a commitment to peace shape the way we live today?

Wednesday, 4 Rabi‘ al-Thani: The Birth Anniversary of Sayyid ‘Abd al-‘Azim al-Hasani (may Allah be pleased with him)

Sayyid ‘Abd al-‘Azim al-Hasani (may Allah be pleased with him) was born in 173 AH in Medina and was a descendant of Imam Hasan al-Mujtaba (peace be upon him). A respected scholar, worshipper and transmitter of hadith, he later lived in Rayy, where he passed away in 252 AH/866 CE and was buried; his shrine remains a major place of visitation.

In today’s world of misinformation, instant opinions and religious content of varying quality, his example highlights the importance of verified knowledge, intellectual humility and trustworthy teachers.

Message for today: Do not inherit faith without understanding it; seek sound knowledge and become trustworthy guides for others.

Sunday, 8 Rabi‘ al-Thani: The Birth Anniversary of Imam Hasan al-Askari (pbuh)

Imam Hasan al-Askari (peace be upon him), the eleventh Imam (pbuh) of the Shi‘a, was the son of Imam Ali al-Hadi (peace be upon him). He spent much of his life in Samarra under close Abbasid surveillance; he passed away in 260 AH/874 CE.

In an age of political pressure, intellectual confusion and restricted freedom, Imam al-Askari (pbuh)placed particular emphasis on thoughtful faith, moral conduct and responsible social relations. Among his well-known teachings is:

کَفاکَ أدبا تَجنُّبُکَ ما تَکرهُ مِن غَیرکَ

“Good manners are simply to refrain from doing to others what you would dislike being done to you.” (Bihār al-Anwār, Volume 78, page 377)

Message for today: Let our worship produce thoughtful, morally responsible and intellectually awake human beings – not merely religious routines.

Tuesday, 10 Rabi‘ al-Thani: The Demise of Lady Fatima al-Masuma

Lady Fatima al-Masuma (peace be upon her), the daughter of Imam Musa al-Kazim (pbuh) and sister of Imam Ali al-Rida (peace be upon them), travelled towards Khurasan and fell ill at Sāveh before being taken to Qum, where she spent her final days in devotion and prayer. She passed away in Qum in 201 AH and was buried there.

Her legacy is inseparable from knowledge, worship, steadfastness and the spiritual and intellectual development of Qum, which grew over the centuries into a major centre of Islamic learning around her shrine. Traditions transmitted in Shi‘a sources also emphasise her exceptional spiritual standing.

Message for today: Honour knowledge, worship and moral dignity together, and recognise the vital role of women in building spiritually and intellectually healthy communities.

Monday, 21 September: International Day of Peace

The United Nations International Day of Peace is observed annually on 21 September. The 2026 theme is “Invest in Peace: For Everyone, Everywhere, Every Day”, emphasising that peace must be built not only by governments and diplomats but also by ordinary people in classrooms, neighbourhoods and communities.

For Islam, peace is not simply the absence of war; it is connected with justice, human dignity, reconciliation and the responsible management of disagreement. The Qur’an places reconciliation at the heart of the believer’s social responsibility:

إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ إِخْوَةٌ فَأَصْلِحُوا بَيْنَ أَخَوَيْكُمْ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ

“The believers are but brothers, so make reconciliation between your brothers and be mindful of Allah so that you may receive mercy.” (Qur’an 49:10)

This means that peace cannot be reduced to a slogan or an annual observance: it must be practised in families, schools, mosques, workplaces and online spaces, through justice, restraint, dialogue, forgiveness and reconciliation.

Message for today: Become an everyday architect of peace – beginning with the way you speak, disagree, forgive and treat those around you.