The al-Khoei Foundation held a memorial gathering in London on Saturday, 25 July 2026, to mark the anniversary of the passing of Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Abu al-Qasim al-Khoei, one of the most influential Shia Muslim scholars of the modern era.
The programme, held at the Imam al-Khoei Islamic Centre, also commemorated the lives of the late marja’s martyred sons and son-in-law. It was attended by Sayyid Murtadha al-Kashmiri, the representative of Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Ali al-Sistani in Europe, alongside scholars, community leaders, academics, intellectuals, media figures and members of London’s Arab and Muslim communities.
Addressing the gathering, Sayyid Munir al-Khabbaz delivered a scholarly lecture on the concept of abrogation in the Holy Qur’an, examining Grand Ayatollah al-Khoei’s theological and jurisprudential position on the subject. Sayyid al-Khabbaz later recited a Hussaini mourning majlis, dedicating its reward to the souls of the late marja, his sons and his son-in-law.
The head of the Khoja Shia Ithna-Asheri Muslim community in Europe also delivered an English-language address, reflecting the broad and diverse presence of Shia Muslim communities across the continent.
Lebanese researcher Dr Mohammed Haidar spoke on the significance of the occasion and the enduring intellectual legacy of Grand Ayatollah al-Khoei, while Iraqi poet Uday Karmasha recited an emotional poem in his memory.
The programme concluded with a short address by Sheikh Mustafa al-Khaliq on the subject of divine blessing, before attendees were invited to a communal dinner offered in remembrance of the deceased.
Grand Ayatollah al-Khoei, who passed away in 1992, remains one of the most prominent figures in contemporary Shia scholarship. His extensive works in jurisprudence, principles of jurisprudence, Qur’anic studies and the science of narrators continue to shape seminary education and religious thought across the Shia Muslim world.
