WF Islamic Education and the International Centre for Advanced Islamic Research (ICAIR) were honoured to host a special evening seminar with Ayatollah Sayyid Muneer al-Khabbaz (h) on Sunday 3rd August at WF House in Harefield. The event, titled “Awaiting with Action: Our Bond with Ahl al-Bayt (a) and the 12th Imam (aj) in Modern Times”, brought together members of the community for an evening of spiritual reflection and scholarly insight. Event Highlights: The programme opened with a recitation from the Holy Qur’an, followed by Sayyid Muneer’s main address delivered in Arabic, with live English interpretation by Shaykh Afzal Merali. Following the lecture, an extended Q&A session offered attendees the opportunity to engage directly with His Eminence on timely and relevant issues. The evening also included congregational Maghrib and Isha prayers, led by Sayyid Muneer. In his lecture, Sayyid Muneer explained the spiritual, practical and social responsibilities encoded within the verses of Surat al-Asr — whereby he who truly fulfils them can be said to be a true awaiter of the 12th Imam (aj) with action. During the Q&A session, His Eminence responded to a wide range of thoughtful and important questions from attendees, covering topics such as political engagement, wealth and social responsibility, the nature of ma’ruf and munkar, and the importance of following qualified religious authority. Among the themes discussed, Sayyid Muneer addressed concerns about the future of the Shia community in the West. He urged believers not to be swayed by calls to return to the East, but rather to maintain a strong presence in Western societies — through Islamic centres, academic schools, the public expression of Shia identity, and the preservation of rituals such as mourning for Imam al-Husayn (a). He further explained that if individuals genuinely find it difficult to preserve their faith in their current Western environment, the solution may lie in relocating to another country where religious practice is more feasible — not necessarily returning to the East. Missed the event? You can now watch the full lecture on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=PkqDGbx5z04uvHTX&v=kTmCgDVDXdU&feature=youtu.be