On Saturday, 22 August 2026, University of Alkafeel commemorates the martyrdom of Imam Hassan al-Askari (peace be upon him) by holding its annual mourning ceremony. The ceremony was organized by the Department of Psychological Guidance at the university and attended by a number of faculty members and university staff.

The ceremony began with a recitation of certain ayats from Glorious Quran by Sheikh. Mahdi Qalandar, followed by a religious lecture delivered by Dr. Ibrahim al-Nasirawi. In his lecture, Dr. al-Nasirawi discussed several Quranic verses and hadiths, reviewing the lives of the prophets and other great figures immortalized in Quran. He emphasized the importance of reflecting on their lives and drawing lessons and inspiration from their example of faith, steadfastness, patience, and obedience to Allah the Almighty.

Dr. Al-Nasrawi highlighted aspects of the blessed life of Imam Hassan al-Askari (peace be upon him), addressing his birth and Imamate, the difficult circumstances surrounding his life, and the persecution, surveillance, and imprisonment he endured at the hands of the Abbasid authorities, in addition to the pressures exerted on his father, Imam al-Hadi (peace be upon him).

He also discussed the his role in fulfilling his religious mission and spreading the teachings of Islam, despite the severity of the circumstances and challenges, emphasizing that steadfastness in upholding the truth and patience in His path are among the most prominent lessons that can be drawn from his blessed life.

The lecturer explained the importance of understanding the lives of the Imams (peace be upon them) and grasping their methodology in building religious awareness and establishing faith-based and moral values. He pointed to the conspiracies against Imam Hassan al-Askari (peace be upon him) by the Abbasid authorities, culminating in his martyrdom by poisoning, after a life filled with scholarly and spiritual contributions and fulfilling the responsibilities of the Imamate.

The mourning session concluded by recalling the life of Imam Hassan al-Askari (peace be upon him) and his stances in patience and steadfastness, and praying to Allah the Almighty to grant everyone success in following the path of the Ahlalbayt (peace be upon them) and emulating their blessed example.