Updated 21 February 2012

On the anniversary of this auspicious occasion, Shaykh Mohammed Ali, who is Head of the Hawza Programme at the Islamic College in London, described the great academic legacy of Imam al-Sadiq (A). The Imam (A) not only established a large university in Madinah but also trained many specialist scholars of the highest calibre in various fields. Bearing in mind the audience was largely comprised of students and teachers of the Hawza, Shaykh related the Imam’s (A) achievements to our duties, emphasising the fact that we must endeavour to study and teach in a way befitting the academic legacy of our Sixth Holy Imam (A).

The second part of Shaykh Mohammed Ali’s lecture concentrated on the great character of the Holy Prophet (S). He explained that being a True Servant (‘Abd) of Allah was the highest honour conferred to the Messenger of Allah (S). Defining servitude as complete humility with obedience to a master, Shaykh explained that there are three types of servitude: by slavery, by creation and by choice. True servitude is when there is complete harmony between servitude by creation and servitude by choice, meaning that we choose to be a way that we have been created to be.

Quoting verses of the Qur’an in which Allah honours His prophets by referring to them as His ‘Abd, Shaykh went on to describe the special way in which the Holy Prophet (S) is referred to as the Servant of Allah. He again related the discussion to our duties as Hawza students by emphasising the fact that as well as our academic endeavours, we must also strive to develop spiritually by following the great example of the Holy Prophet (S) as the True Servant of Allah.

The well-attended programme started with Congregational Prayers of Maghribayn, followed by recitation of The Holy Qur’an, Qasidas, a speech by Br. Zameer Ja’fari from India, which was followed by the lecture of Shaykh Mohammed Ali Ismail. Nyaz concluded the programme.

For more information email qum@world-federation.org