Today is Wednesday; 23rd of the Iranian month of Tir 1395 solar hijri; corresponding to 8th of the Islamic month of Shawwal 1437 lunar hijri; and July 13, 2016, of the Christian Gregorian Calendar.

1065 lunar years ago, on this day in 372 AH, the greatest ruler of the Iranian Buwaiyhid dynasty of Iran-Iraq-Bahrain-Oman, Adhud od-Dowla Daylami, passed away in Baghdad and was laid to rest in holy Najaf in the mausoleum of the Command of the Faithful, Imam Ali ibn Abi Taleb (AS). Born in Shiraz and named Fana Khosrow, he was the son of Amir Rukn od-Dowla, and became ruler of Fars after the death of his childless uncle, Amir Emad od-Dowla. He was sent by his father to crush a rebellion by his cousin Ezz od-Dowla, on whose defeat he claimed the emirate of Iraq for himself. On his father’s death, as senior Amir of the Buwaiyhid family, Adhud od-Dowla chose as his capital, Baghdad, which was suffering from violence and instability due to sectarian sedition by the Hanbali sect. In order to bring peace and stability, he banned public demonstrations and polemics. He patronized a number of scholars such as the celebrated Shaikh Mufid, and renovated the holy shrines in Najaf and Karbala. He also undertook several scientific projects, such as the observatory in Isfahan, and the dam known till this day as “Band-e Amir” between Shiraz and Istakhr to irrigate some 300 villages. He also ordered digging of the Haffar Canal joining the Karun River to the Arvand Roud at the confluence of the Rivers Tigris and Euphrates. He embellished Baghdad with several buildings including the famous public hospital known as “Bimaristan-e Adhudi”, where the great Iranian physician Zakariyya ar-Raazi used to practice.

695 solar years ago, on this day in 1321 AD, the most prominent Sufi preacher of the Deccan (Southern India), Seyyed Mohammad Zaidi Hussaini, known popularly as “Band-e Nawaz Gesudaraz”, was born in Delhi into a family of migrants from Herat, Khorasan, that traced its lineage to Martyr Zaid, the son of Imam Zain al-Abedin (AS) – the great-grandson and 4^th Infallible Heir of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA). He was a disciple of Seyyed Naseer od-Din, titled “Chiragh-e Dehli” (or Lamp of Delhi), and spent several years in Qandahar (currently in Afghanistan) and Baluchestan as a preacher, before returning to Northern India. In 1398, at the age of 77, he moved south to Daulatabad in the Deccan or southern India, owing to the attack of Amir Timur on Delhi, and finally settled down in Gulbarga, at the invitation of Taj od-Din Firouz Shah of the Bahmani Dynasty of Iranian origin. He died forty years later at the age of 101, and his shrine in Gulbarga is a site of pilgrimage. He wrote about 195 books in Arabic, Persian and the Deccani form of early Urdu. His book on Prophet Mohammad (SAWA) titled “Me’raj al-Asheqin” for the instruction of the masses is regarded as the first one of its kind in vernacular language, rather than in Persian or Arabic. He was a devout follower of the Prophet’s Ahl al-Bayt. Although the original inscriptions of his mausoleum no longer exist or have been tampered with, his wife’s mausoleum has remained in its original form, and on its entrance is inscribed in stone, the testimony of the Oneness of God, the Mission of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA), and the vicegerency of Imam Ali (AS).

316 solar years ago, on this day in 1700 AD, the Treaty of Istanbul was signed between the Tsardom of Russia and the Ottoman Empire, ending the 14-year long Russo-Turkish War that had begun in 1686. Peter the Great saw the futility of continuing the war without his European allies against the Turks, and secured his occupation of the Azov region, thereby ending 230 years of Muslim rule, and gaining a vital outlet for Russia on the Black Sea. The treaty was superseded by the Treaty of the Pruth in 1711, which returned Azov to the Ottomans and remained with them until the 1783 war when the Russians again occupied it.

245 solar years ago, on this day in 1771 AD, the three-year historical, and scientific voyage of the famous British sailor, James Cook, to the Earth’s southern hemisphere came to its end. A team of biologists, during this voyage, studied the plants, animals, and residents of southern hemisphere, and another team observed the Planet Venus in this long journey, which commenced on July 26, 1768.

138 solar years ago, on this day in 1878 AD, as per the Treaty of Berlin, the European powers redrew the map of the Balkans. Serbia, Montenegro and Romania become completely independent of the Ottoman Empire.

113 lunar years ago, on this day in 1324 AH, the first issue of daily “Majlis” was published in Iran by Constitutional Movement activist Mirza Seyyed Mohammad Sadeq Tabatabai. Following announcement of the freedom of press, several papers were published in different Iranian cities, but “Majlis” was the first daily circulated after opening of Iran’s first parliament. It focused in detail on debates during parliamentary sessions.

93 lunar years ago, on this day in 1344 AH, Wahhabi brigands from the desert region of Najd desecrated the sacred Jannat al-Baqie Cemetery of Medina, destroying the tombs of venerable Islamic figures including the majestic holy shrine that housed the tombs of four of the 12 Infallible Successors of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA), that is, Imam Hasan Mojtaba, Imam Zain al-Abedin, Imam Mohammad Baqer, and Imam Ja’far Sadeq (peace upon them). The Chief Wahhabi Judge, Sheikh Abdullah bin Balhid, issued the blasphemous decree for destruction of the sacred and historical shrines of Medina. The brigands wanted to destroy the Prophet’s shrine as well, but were prevented by the people. These seditious elements also destroyed in the same year the tomb of the Prophet’s uncle, Hazrat Hamza (PuH) and the other martyrs of the Battle of Ohad, as well as the holy mausoleums in the sacred Jannat al-Mu’alla Cemetery of Mecca, where repose in eternal peace, the Prophet’s loyal wife, the First Lady of Islam, Omm al-Momineen or Mother of True Believers Hazrat Khadija, the Prophet’s infant son, Hazrat Qassem the Prophet’s uncle and guardian, Hazrat Abu Taleb, the Prophet’s grandfather, Hazrat Abdul-Mutalleb and other members of the monotheistic Bani Hashem clan (peace upon them).

90 lunar years ago, on this day in 1347 AH, the prominent jurisprudence, Ayatollah Mohammad Hussain Shabzindehdar, was born in Jahrom, Fars Province, southern Iran. After initial studies in his hometown, he moved to Shiraz where for three years he attended the classes of senior scholars. At the age of 18, on the suggestion of his teachers, he travelled to the holy city of Qom and enrolled at the famous seminary. Here his teachers included Grand Ayatollah Seyyed Hussain Boroujerdi and the Father of the Islamic Revolution, Imam Khomeini (God bless him). After mastering various branches of Islamic sciences, he embarked on teaching at the Qom seminary and for the next 40 years groomed several scholars, including Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, Ayatollah Seyyed Hassan Taheri Khorramabadi, Qorban-Ali Dorri-Najafabadi (Head of the Supreme Administrative Court of the Islamic Republic), Ayatollah Seyyed Jamal od-Din Din-Parvar  (Head of the Nahj al-Balagha Foundation), and his own son Ayatollah Mahdi Shabzindehdar, who besides being a prominent teacher of the Qom seminary is a member of the 12-Member Guardians Council of the Islamic Revolution. The Late Ayatollah Hussain Shabzindehdar, who passed away two years ago, was laid to rest in the mausoleum of Hazrat Ma’souma (peace upon her), wrote several books on different subjects, including Annotations on the exegeses of the holy Qur’an such Allamah Tabarsi’s “Majma’ al-Bayan” and Allamah Seyyed Mohammad Hussain Tabataie’s “al-Mizan”.     

72 solar years ago, on this day in 1944 AD, Hungarian mathematician and educator, Erno Rubik, famous for inventing “Rubik's Cube”, was born in Budapest. In 1974 he invented the Cube which consists of 26 small cubes that rotate on a central axis. It has nine coloured cube faces, in three rows of three each, form each side of the cube. When the cube arrangement is randomized, the player must then return it to the original condition of faces with matching colours, which is one among 43 quintillion possible configurations.

33 solar years ago, on this day in 1983 AD, Iran’s Assembly of Experts started its first 8-year term following nationwide elections. The 86-member body is made up of Ayatollahs with the rank of mujtahid and possessing political acumen, coupled with awareness of current issues. Elected directly through people’s votes, it is in charge of supervising the functions and performance of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution. It has the power to elect and dismiss the Leader. In the event of his resignation, dismissal or death, the Assembly of Experts shall take steps within the shortest possible time to choose the new Leader – as it did in June 1989 by electing Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei following the passing away of the Father of the Islamic Revolution, Imam Khomeini (God bless him). 

30 solar years ago, on this day in 1986 AD, the acclaimed Iranian poet, researcher, and author, Dr. Mahdi Hamidi Shirazi, passed away at the age of 72. He had PhD in Persian Language and Literature. He wrote books on history of literature, the different poetical styles and genres, and critiques of poets. Among his books of poetry are “Behesht-e Sukhan” and “Darya-e Gohar”.

23 solar years ago, on this day in 1993 AD, the prominent Iranian historian, Dr. Abdul-Hadi Ha'eri, passed away at the age of 58. He was born in the holy city of Qom and was a grandson of the famous Reviver of the Qom Seminary, Ayatollah Sheikh Abdul-Karim Ha'eri. Following the completion of preliminary studies in theology, Dr. Ha'eri traveled to Canada for higher studies. He was an expert on the Constitutional Revolution and the role played by Ulema in this movement. The outcomes of his extensive research have been stated in the valuable book, titled: “The Ulema and Constitutional Movement”, which has been published in both Persian and English.

AS/SS