Today is Wednesday; 27th of the Iranian month of Mordad 1395 solar hijri; corresponding to 14th of the Islamic month of Zi’l-Qa’dah 1437 lunar hijri; and August 17, 2016, of the Christian Gregorian Calendar.

1050 lunar years ago, on this day in 387 AH, the Hanbali hadith scholar and prominent orator, Abu’l-Hussain Mohammad bin Ahmad, popular as Ibn Sam’oun, died in his hometown Baghdad at the age of 87. Having married a slave-girl of the harem of the Abbasid caliph, at-Ta’ey, he lived a luxurious life, wearing expensive clothes and eating rich food, in contrary to what he preached to the masses, and tried to justify his practice by saying that these luxuries increase his attachment to God. He was involved in the sectarian conflicts plaguing Baghdad of those days, and despite the ban placed on public oratory by Adhud od-Dowlah Daylami, the Iranian ruler of the Buwayhid dynasty of Ira1-Iran in order to stop sectarian riots, he continued to ascend the pulpit on Fridays and indulge in inflammatory speech – probably because of support from the Abbasid regime.   

670 lunar years ago, on this day in 767 AH, Mohammad Shah Bahmani defeated Krishna Raja of Vijaynagar, following the latter's invasion of the Muslim kingdom of the Deccan in south-central India, and chased him right till the gates of his capital, agreeing to lift the siege when the Raja pleaded for peace with promises not to attack again. Better known as organizer of the Bahmani Kingdom of Iranian origin and founder of its institutions, Mohammad Shah was the second king of the dynasty founded by his father, Ala od-Din Hassan Gangu Bahman Shah, who revolted against the excesses of Sultan Mohammad bin Tughlaq of Delhi. The Bahmani Sultanate, which lasted for 180 years, developed a distinct Muslim culture and style of architecture evolved out of direct contact with Iran and the migration in large numbers of Iranian scholars, poets, architects, traders, statesmen, and soldiers

505 lunar years ago, on this day in 932 AH, Bahadur Shah ascended the throne of Gujarat in western India, succeeding his brother Mahmoud Shah II. During his 11-year reign he had to face the menace of the Portuguese who raided the seaports of his realm and seized several islands including Mumbai. He made the fatal mistake of seeking assistance from the Portuguese against the expansion of the Mughals of north India. While on board a Portuguese ship to sign a treaty, he was treacherously killed by the Portuguese admiral and his body dumped into the sea.

299 solar years ago, on this day in 1717 AD, a year after start of the Austro-Turkish War, the month-long siege of Belgrade ended with Prince Eugene of Savoy's Austrian troops capturing the city from the Ottoman Empire. The Austrian occupation ended 22 years later in 1739 with the liberation of Belgrade by Turkish Muslims who in 1521 had built it as an Islamic city, complete with baths, public fountains, libraries, bazaars, and mosques. The city was occupied by the Serbs in 1807 and became capital of Serbia in 1841. The Christians have erased much of the Islamic features of Belgrade.  

182 solar years ago, on this day in 1834 AD, Bosnian Muslim revolutionary general, Hussain-Kapetan Gradascevic, died in Istanbul under mysterious circumstances at the young age of 32, after fighting against the policies of the Ottoman Empire and for Bosnian autonomy. He was born in the town of Gradacac and grew up surrounded by a political climate of turmoil in the western reaches of the Ottoman Empire. The young Hussain developed a reputation for wise rule and tolerance and soon became one of the most popular figures in Bosnia. When Sultan Mahmoud II attempted to forcefully mass-recruit the Bosnian populace into his new army in the year 1830, the Bosniaks led by Hussain Kapetan felt compelled to launch a massive uprising that lasted for three years. His forces dealt a heavy defeat to the imperial army during the Third Battle of Kosovo and at Novi Pazar. The uprising was subdued when Ali-Pasha Rizvan-Begovic defected to Mahmoud II, in return for rule over the Vilayet of Herzegovina. Hussein Kapetan was forced to flee to Austria from where he negotiated for his return and was ultimately allowed back but barred from ever entering Bosnia. He moved to Belgrade and then to Istanbul, where he died mysteriously. He was an able military commander and administrator and was well versed in Turkish and Arabic. He was taught by two dervishes of the Bektashi order of Iranian origin attached to the Ahl al-Bayt of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA), and built the sprawling Hussainiyya Mosque in his hometown Gradacac.

170 solar years ago, on this day in 1846 AD, during the American-Mexican War, US fleet officer Robert F Stockton annexed the vast region of California 21 years after the independence of Mexico from Spain. Following the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo that ended the 2-year war in 1848, the Alta or Upper California became the US State of California, while Arizona, Nevada, Colorado and Utah became US Territories, and only the lower region called the Baja Peninsula, remained in the possession of Mexico. Because of its congenial climate and rich natural resources, California was coveted by the expansionist US, ever since the Americans occupied Texas from Mexico. California was home to 300,000 Amerindians or one-third of all indigenous people throughout North and South America. The Europeans began to decimate the native population, which still numbered 100,000 when the US occupied it in 1846, while the non-native population of California was not more than 8,000. Washington, as part of its hegemonic and genocidal policies has almost obliterated native Amerindians, who today account for a mere 1.7 percent of the 38 million population.

166 solar years ago, on this day in 1850 AD, Argentine general and politician Jose de San Martin, who became the 1^st President of Peru on liberating the southeastern parts of South America from Spanish colonial rule, died at the age of 72 in Boulogne-sur-Mer, France, where he was living in self-exile. Born in Yapeyu, Corrientes in modern Argentina, he was seven-years old when his soldier-father moved to Spain and enrolled the boy for studies in Malaga. In his teens, San Martin joined the army and took part in Spanish aggressions on the North African coastal Muslim cities of Melilla (Morocco) and Oran (Algeria). He also fought against Portugal and defended Spain in the Peninsular Wars against Napoleon Bonaparte of France. After a brief sojourn in Britain, in1808, at the age of 30, he contacted South American supporters of independence from Spain. In 1812, he set sail for Buenos Aires and offered his services to the United Provinces of the Rio de la Plata, in present-day Argentina. After the Battle of San Lorenzo during 1814, he organized a plan to defeat the Spanish forces that menaced the United Provinces from the north, using an alternative path to the Viceroyalty of Peru. This objective first involved the establishment of a new army, the Army of the Andes, in Cuyo Province, Argentina. From there, he led the Crossing of the Andes to Chile, and triumphed at the Battle of Chacabuco and the Battle of Maipu (1818), thus liberating Chile from Spanish rule. Then he sailed to attack the Spanish stronghold of Lima, Peru. On 12 July 1821, he was appointed Protector of Peru, and Peruvian independence was officially declared on 28 July. On 22 July 1822, after a closed-door meeting with fellow liberator Simon Bolivar at Guayaquil, Ecuador, he handed over to the latter the task of liberating the rest of the continent, resigned command of his army, and in 1824 set sail for France, where he died 26 years later after visiting some European countries. The details of the meeting would be a subject of debate by later historians. San Martin is regarded as a national hero of Argentina and Peru, and, together with Bolivar, one of the Liberators of Spanish South America. The Order of the Liberator General San Martin, created in his honour, is the highest decoration conferred by the Argentine government.

150 solar years ago, on this day in 1866 AD, the 6^th ruler of the Asef-Jahi Dynasty of Deccan in south India, Mahboob Ali Khan Nizam ol-Mulk, was born in Hyderabad. In 1889, at the age of three, on the death of his father, Afzal od-Dowla, he was crowned as ruler by the able Prime Minister, Turab Ali Khan Salaar Jung. Besides his native Urdu, he was well versed in Persian, Arabic and English. He founded schools and libraries, even though he led a lavish life – his extensive wardrobe being the largest in the world along with his collection of Jewels. He was a poet in both Urdu and Persian, and maintained relations with the Qajarid Dynasty of Iran. Many Iranians, including men of letters, settled in the Deccan during his reign, which also saw establishment of the famous publication house of books on Islamic sciences – later expanded by his son and successor, Osman Ali Khan Asef Jah VII, as Dairat-ul-Ma’arif al-Osmania.

143 lunar years ago, on this day in 1294 AH, Ayatollah Mirza Radhi od-Din Zon-Nouri, was born in the northwestern Iranian city of Tabriz. After completing preliminary Islamic studies he left for the famous seminary of holy Najaf in Iraq, where he attained the status of Ijtehad. He returned to Iran and taught at seminaries for many years. He also wrote several books and groomed numerous students, many of which achieved the status of Ijtehad. One of his books is titled "Qaza wa Shahadat".

95 solar years ago, on this day in 1921 AD, Akhound Abdul-Karim Gazi bin Mahdi Gazi passed away at the age of 77. Born in the town of Gaz, near Isfahan, in a scholarly family, after preliminary studies in Isfahan, he left for the seminary of holy Najaf in Iraq, where he attained the status of Ijtihad. On return to Iran, he taught for several years at the Neem Avard Madrasah, training a number of scholars. He was a prolific writer, and among his books, mention could be made of “Tadhkirat-al-Qobour” on the prominent persons buried in Isfahan. 

76 solar years ago, on this day in 1940 AD, the prominent Iranian painter, Mohammad Ghaffari, titled “Kamal ol-Molk” (Wonder of the State), passed away in exile in the northeastern Iranian city of Nayshapour. He was a product of Tehran’s Dar ul-Fonoun School and on joining the court of the Qajarid King, Naser od-Din Shah, created valuable works of art. He painted 170 masterpieces in this era. He later traveled to Europe to acquire further knowledge in the field of painting and upon return to Iran groomed numerous students. He was exiled to a village in the vicinity of Naishapur by the British-installed Pahlavi potentate, Reza Khan, whose portrait he refused to paint. This renowned painter was laid to rest in the garden of the mausoleum of the acclaimed Iranian poet, Fareed od-Din Attar Naishapuri.

71 solar years ago, on this day in 1945 AD, Ahmad Sukarno and Mohammad Hatta proclaimed the independence of Indonesia on launching the Indonesian National Revolution against Dutch colonial rule. Four years later, thanks to the people's uprising, Indonesia emerged as an independent country. In 1956, total independence was achieved and Sukarno was elected the first president.

56 solar years ago, on this day in 1960 AD, Gabon in West Africa, gained its independence after four centuries of European colonial rule and the wanton plundering of its natural resources, in addition to the enslavement of its people. Gabon covers an area of 267,000 sq km. It shares borders with the Central African Republic, Congo, Cameroon, and Guinea. Islam, which is practiced by some 20 percent of the Gabonese people, is the fastest growing religion.

37 solar years ago, on this day in 1979 AD, following armed sedition in the western border areas of Kurdistan Province and a bid by anti-revolutionaries to detach the strategic city of Paveh and adjoining regions from Iran, the Father of the Islamic Revolution, Imam Khomeini (RA), issued a communiqué for mass mobilization forces to liberate the areas. Paveh had been surrounded by the anti-revolutionaries, with the active backing of the US, but the timely arrival of Basiji forces thwarted the bid of the separatists, and the whole region was cleared off seditious elements.

35 solar years ago, on this day in 1981 AD, Ayatollah Shaikh Baha od-Din Mahallati, passed away at the age of 85. After preliminary studies under his scholarly father, he left of the Islamic seminary of holy Najaf in Iraq, where he stayed for ten years, attaining the status of Ijtihad. On his return to Iran, he became popular amongst the people and was a firm supporter of the Father of the Islamic Revolution, Imam Khomeini (RA) in the struggle against the despotic Pahlavi regime.

29 solar years ago, on this day in 1987 AD, Rudolf Hess, the deputy of German Nazi leader Adolph Hitler, committed suicide in prison in Britain at the age of 93. Following the end of World War II, he was prosecuted at the war criminals court in Nuremburg and was sentenced to life imprisonment.

28 solar years ago, on this day in 1988 AD, Pakistani President Mohammad Zia ul-Haq, along with US Ambassador to Islamabad, Arnold Raphel, was killed in a plane crash, thirteen days after the martyrdom of prominent Shi’a Muslim scholar, Seyyed Arif Hussain al-Hussaini in Peshawar – believed to be the dirty work of the state apparatus. Born in Jullundur, Punjab, undivided India in 1924, he shifted to Pakistan on its birth and joined the military. In 1977, he led a military coup to seize power from Prime Minister Zulfeqar Ali Bhutto, who ironically had promoted him as chief of the general staff over senior generals. He later got himself elected as Pakistan’s 6^th president and was the country’s longest serving head of state for 11 years. He has earned lasting notoriety for destabilizing Pakistan, in collaboration with the US and Saudi Arabia, through uncontrolled flow of arms for creating sectarian terrorism.

28 solar years ago, on this day in 1988 AD, a ceasefire formally took effect as per UN Security Council Resolution 598, ending the 8-year war launched on Islamic Iran by the US through its agent, Saddam, of the tyrannical Ba'th minority regime of Iraq. The goal of the invasion was to topple the Islamic Republic but thanks to the committed and courageous Iranian forces the Ba'thist war machine failed in its efforts.

25 solar years ago, on this day in 1991 AD, Iranian historian Seyyed Mohammad Moheet Tabatabaie passed away at the age of 89. Besides his native Persian, he was an expert in Arabic, English, French and some ancient Iranic languages. For years he taught at several scientific academies, and was regular face at scholastic seminaries, presenting highly researched articles on a wide variety of subjects. He has left behind some 2,500 research articles, while the books written by him include, “Seyyed Jamal od-Din and the Awakening of the Orient”, “Analytical History of the Iranian Media”, and “Evolution of Government in Iran after the Advent of Islam.”

20 solar years ago, on this day in 1996 AD, Ayatollah Qodratollah Vajdani Fakhr passed away at the age of 64. Born near Sarab in northwestern Iran, he studied at the Islamic seminary of holy Qom, where he attended the classes of prominent ulema, such as Grand Ayatollah Seyyed Hussain Boroujerdi, Seyyed Mohaqqeq Damad, Ayatollah Mohammad Ali Araki, and the Father of the Islamic Revolution, Imam Khomeini (RA). During his 40-year long missionary activities, which warranted his travels around the country and also abroad, he groomed thousands of scholars and intellectuals. He had permission to related hadith from several Sources of Emulation, and has written a number of books, which include “Norms of Etiquette in Islam”, “Ijtihad in Islam”, and the 16-volume “al-Fahriyya” on jurisprudence.

17 solar years ago, on this day in 1999 AD, a 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck Izmit, Turkey, killing more than 17,000 and injuring 44,000.

AS/SS