Today is Sunday; 24th of the Iranian month of Shahrivar 1398 solar hijri; corresponding to 15th of the Islamic month of Muharram 1441 lunar hijri; and September 15, 2019, of the Christian Gregorian Calendar.

1088 lunar years ago, on this day in 353 AH, the Iranian Sunni Muslim collector of Hadith, Abu Ali Sa'eed bin Osman ibn as-Sakan al-Baghdadi, passed away at the age of 59 in Egypt, where he had settled after travelling widely over Iraq, Iran, Central Asia, Syria and Arabia, for trade and for recording of hadith from any source available. He claimed descent from the Sassanid Emperor, Khosrow Anushirvan, and introduced to Egypt the hadith compendium known as "Sahih Bukhari", compiled a century earlier by his Iranian compatriot, Mohammad Bukhari – also born in a family of Zoroastrian converts to the Sunni sect. Among the books written by Ibn as-Sakan, mention could be made of "Sunan as-Sihah" on hadith and "al-Horouf fi Sahabah" on the companions of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA). Ibn as-Sakan also recorded narrations from the Prophet foretelling the martyrdom in Karbala of his younger grandson, Imam Husain (AS).

1025 solar years ago, on this day in 994 AD, the Fatemid Ismaili Shi'ite Muslim Dynasty of Egypt, North Africa, Syria and Hejaz won a major victory over the Byzantine Empire at the Battle of the Orontes near the river of the same name in what is now south-central Turkey. The Byzantine army was led by Michael Bourtzes, while the Fatemid forces were under command of the vizier of Damascus, the Turk general Manjutakin. The fighting also involved the Hamdanid Shi'ite Muslim rulers of Aleppo who had become Byzantine vassals. Manjutakin besieged Apamea, and when the two armies met across two fords on the Orontes River, he sent his forces to attack the Hamdanids across one ford while pinning the main Byzantine force down on the other. His men succeeded in breaking through the Hamdanids, turned round and attacked the Byzantine force in the rear. The Byzantine army panicked and fled, losing some 5,000 men.

852 lunar years ago, on this day in 589 AH, the famous Islamic scholar, Seyyed Razi od-Din Ali Ibn Musa, known popularly as Seyyed Ibn Tawous, was born in the city of Hillah in Iraq. The House of Aal-e Tawous, descended from Imam Hasan Mojtaba (AS), the elder grandson of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA), was originally from Medina, and the most famous family of scholars in Hillah. Seyyed Razi od-Din Ibn Tawous studied basic sciences under his grandfather in Hillah and then went to Najaf, Karbala and Kazemayn for higher studies. He stayed in Baghdad for 15 years, conducting researches in different branches of science, but rejecting any offer of portfolio in the court of the Abbasid rulers. He was expert in many sciences including astronomy. He was a prolific writer and among his works is the famous Prayer Manual titled "Iqbal al-A'maal" as well as "al-Luhouf" on the martyrdom of Imam Husain (AS) in Karbala. His other important book is "al-Malahem wa’l-Fitan" on the events leading to the reappearance of the Prophet's 12th and Last Successor, Imam Mahdi (AS), who will weed out corruption and oppression from the earth by establishing the global government of peace, prosperity and justice. He passed away at the age of 75.

765 solar years ago, on this day in 1254 AD, the Venetian traveler, Marco Polo, was born. His travels are recorded in the book “Il Milione”, which introduced Italians and other Europeans to the rich culture and advanced civilizations of Iran, Central Asia and China. His accounts of use of paper money and coal as fuel were scoffed by Europeans. His father and uncle, Niccolo and Maffeo, had earlier travelled through Asia and met the Mongol Emperor, Kublai Khan, in China. He went with them on an epic journey to Asia, returning after 24 years to find Venice at war with Genoa. Marco was imprisoned and dictated his stories to a cellmate. He was released in 1299 and became a wealthy merchant. He died in 1324 at the age of 70. Marco Polo was entrusted by Kublai Khan to escort to Iran the Mongol princess, Kokechin, who on arrival in Soltaniyeh became the wife of the Ilkhanid ruler, Ghazaan Khan, who converted to Islam and took the name Mahmoud.

515 lunar years ago, on this day in 926 AH, the Mongol Shah Beg Arghun of Qandahar, finding it impossible to maintain his hold on the region against the rise of the Timurid prince, Zaheer od-Din Babar, in Kabul and the surrounding areas, marched south on Thatta in Sindh, where at the Battle of Fatehpur, he defeated and killed General Darya Khan, the prime minster of Jam Firuz, thus ending the 185-year independence of the Samma Dynasty. Jam Firuz fled, but later submitted, was pardoned, and given half of the government of Sindh. Shah Beg then took Sistan and proceeded to Bhakkar which he made his capital. It is said Shah Beg was actually invited to invade Sindh by Jam Firuz’s mother, who wanted to free her son from the hold of the regent Darya Khan.

506 lunar years ago, on this day in 935 AH, the Qizilbash army of the teenaged 14-year old Safavid king, Shah Tahmasb I, defeated the Uzbek occupation forces at Jam in Khorasan and drove back the invaders from Iranian soil. Tahmasb, having succeeded his adventurous father, Ismail, the founder of the dynasty, stabilized the Empire during his 52-year rule, carrying out internal reforms and pursuing a foreign policy of peace and judicious defence. Although he lost Iraq to the Ottomans, he firmly blunted their designs to make inroads into Iran, and on the northeastern frontier thwarted all attempts by the Uzbeks, while maintaining cordial relations with the Mughal Empire, providing refuge to fugitive Emperor Humayun Shah and subsequently restoring him to the throne of the Subcontinent. To the Safavid dynasty, which ruled for 230 years, goes the credit for unifying Iran as a nation state on the basis of adherence to the school of the Ahl al-Bayt of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA).

449 lunar years ago, on this day in 992 AH, Muzaffar Shah III of Gujarat was defeated at Sarkhej by Mirza Khan the general of Mughal Emperor Jalal od-Din Akbar and fled to Cambay where he was again defeated at Rajpipla, thus ending the Muzaffarid Dynasty’s almost 180-year rule.

256 lunar years ago, on this day in 1185 AH, the Iranian poet and calligrapher, Abdul-Majid Taleqani Irani, passed away at the young age of 35. He created unique works of art. His calligraphic works include the Divan or collection of poems of the renowned Iranian poet, Shaikh Sa'di of Shiraz. He has left behind his own poems in book-form titled "Divan-e Khosh".

230 solar years ago, on this day in 1789 AD, US novelist, James Fenimore Cooper, was born in Burlington, New Jersey. He is best known for "The Pioneers" and "Last of the Mohicans". His famous quote: "The press, like fire, is an excellent servant, but a terrible master." He died in 1851.

198 solar years ago, on this day in 1821 AD, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica jointly declared independence from Spain, following the fall of Spain to French emperor, Napoleon Bonaparte. These five countries formed the Central American Alliance that was dissolved in 1838. In mid-19^th century these countries were occupied by the US, but got together again to defeat the American mercenaries. Nonetheless, the US has always aimed to dominate Central American countries and has dispatched troops to these countries on several occasions. These countries have coastlines of the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean.

189 solar years ago, on this day in 1830 AD, William Huskisson, a British statesman became the first railway fatality while observing the ceremonial procession of locomotives at the opening of the Liverpool and Manchester railway. He was one of the dignitaries riding in a special carriage pulled by the leading locomotive, the Northumbrian. Partway along the line, while the Northumbrian stopped to take on water, the passengers stood by the rails to observe the procession of other locomotives passing on the parallel line. Huskisson stumbled and fell in the path of the Rocket locomotive, and was run-over. With severe injuries to his leg and thigh, he died later that evening. Among other government positions, he had been colonial secretary and leader of the House of Commons.

137 solar years ago, on this day in 1882 AD, British forces led by General Wolseley entered Cairo two days after crushing the nationalist uprising under Ahmad Uraibi, and on the pretext of protecting Khedive Towfiq Pasha (declared traitor to country and religion by al-Azhar), they virtually occupied Egypt, in particular to have complete monopoly over the Suez Canal. The British occupation officially lasted till the 1922 Anglo-Egyptian Treaty, but in fact continued till the next treaty of 1936 that gave gradual control back to the government of Egypt.

103 solar years ago, on this day in 1916 AD during World War I tanks were used for the first time in warfare at the Battle of the Somme in France by both sides – the Germans and the Anglo-French alliance. The battle was one of the largest of World War I, in which more than one million men were wounded or killed, making it one of humanity's bloodiest battles.

103 solar years ago, on this day in 1916 AD, Romanian researcher, Constantin Virgil Gheorghiu, was born. He conducted extensive research in different fields, including Islam. The book: "Mohammad, the Prophet of Islam" is one of his prominent works, which was welcomed in the World of Islam, especially in Iran. Among his other books, is "The 25^th Hour". He died in 1992.

61 solar years ago, on this day in 1958 AD, for the first time in the history of Medicine, the virus of Trachoma was identified, setting the stage for its treatment since it was the cause of blindness of thousands of people around the world. The virus was identified by the two English physicians, L H Collier, and J Sowa.

32 solar years ago, on this day in 1987 AD, prominent Iranian astrologer, Habibollah Nojoumi, passed away at the age of 72. Born in Shiraz in a family of astrologers that for the past three generations were publishing the astrological calendar, he started studying astrology from his father since the tender age of 9 years. At the age of 25 years, following the death of his father, he personally calculated, computed and published his first astrological calendar. 

28 solar years ago, on this day in 1991 AD, Macedonia, in southeastern Europe, gained its independence. For five centuries it was part of the Ottoman Empire until its occupation by Bulgaria in late 19^th century. In 1913, Serbia seized control of Macedonia, which then became part of the new state of Yugoslavia. After the end of socialism in Europe in 1989, Macedonia followed the path of Croatia and Slovenia, to secede from Yugoslavia. Of the two-million plus population of the country, around 40 percent Macedonians are Muslims, mostly ethnic Albanians. Macedonia covers an area of almost 26,000 sq km, sharing borders with Greece, Serbia, Albania, and Bulgaria in the Balkan Peninsula.

20 solar years ago, on this day in 1999 AD, Iranian historian and researcher, Dr. Abdul-Hussain Zarrinkoub, passed away due to a heart stroke at the age of 77. Born in the western Iranian city of Boroujerd, he obtained his BA in 1948 and later his PhD in history. He was well versed in Persian literature and Islamic mysticism as well. He has left behind several compilations, translations, and articles. Among his books, mention can be made of "Familiarity with Literary Criticism".

10 solar years ago, on this day in 2009 AD, Iraqi journalist, Muntazar az-Zaidi, who won international fame on 14 December 2008, when he threw a pair of shoes at US president, George W. Bush, was released after nine months in prison. On release, he charged Iraqi security forces of torturing him with beatings, whippings and electric shocks. Born in Baghdad’s Sadr City in a family adhering to the school of the Ahl al-Bayt of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA), he shouted "This is a farewell kiss from the Iraqi people, you dog", as he threw his first shoe at Bush during a press in Baghdad attended by Iraqi premier, Noori al-Maleki. As a frightened Bush ducked to avoid being hit in the face, az-Zaidi threw his other shoe at the US president, shouting: "This is for the widows and orphans and all those killed in Iraq."Again, a badly shaken Bush barely evaded a direct hit on the face. The heroic Iraqi journalist was immediately pulled to the ground, as security guards kicked, beat and dragged him outside the conference hall, with blood dripping from his body. He was jailed, tortured, interrogated, put on trial, defended his action as the natural response to the killing of over a million Iraqis by the American occupiers, and sentenced to a year in prison. Nine months later, he was released for good conduct, and now works for a Lebanese TV channel. He has been hailed around the world for his heroic action.

AS/SS