Today is Monday; 15th of the Iranian month of Shahrivar 1395 solar hijri; corresponding to 3rd of the Islamic month of Zi’l-Hijjah 1437 lunar hijri; and September 5, 2016, of the Christian Gregorian Calendar.

1426 solar years ago, on this day in 590, Hormizd IV, the 21st Sassanid Emperor of Iran-Iraq-Afghanistan, was deposed, blinded and killed at the age of 50 after a reign of 11 years by Vistahm and Vinduyih, the maternal uncles of his son and successor, Khosrow II Pervez. Son of Khosrow I Anushirvan, he inherited his father’s wars against Byzantine or the Eastern Roman Empire in the west for control of Syria and Anatolia, and against the Turks in the northeast over Central Asia. Despite the victory of his armies over the Turks in the east, and success in checking the advance of the Romans in the west, it was the arrogance, violent temper and breach of promise of Hormizd IV that made his brothers-in-law turn against him in the midst of the rebellion of his victorious general, BahramChubin, who would seize the Sassanid capital, Ctesiphon (near Baghdad in Iraq) and style himself king, before being defeated and killed Khosrow II.

1317 solar years ago, on this day in 699 AD, the Iranian Sunni Muslim Jurisprudent, Noman Ibn Sabet Ibn Zuṭa Ibn Marzuban, known as Abu Hanifa, was born in Kufa in a family of Zoroastrian origin from Kabul. He learned the holy Qur’an and hadith, and after only two years of study under Imam Ja’far Sadeq (PuH), the 6th Infallible Successor of Prophet Mohammad (blessings of God upon him and his progeny), he founded a jurisprudential school of his own, known as Hanafi. Contrary to the clear definition of Ijtihad, based on the holy Qur’an and the genuine hadith of the Prophet, he resorted to "qiyas" or analogy regarding legal issues, despite warnings from Imam Sadeq (AS) that the first one to indulge in "qiyas" was Iblis (Satan). He died in Baghdad at the age of 68.

1075 lunar years ago, on this day in 362 AH, the prominent Iranian Islamic genius, Abu Rayhan Mohammad ibn Ahmad al-Birouni, was born in Kath, the capital of Khwarezm in Central Asia. His first 25 years were spent in his homeland where he studied jurisprudence, theology, grammar, mathematics, astronomy, medics and other sciences. Regarded as one of the greatest scholars of the medieval Islamic era, he was well versed in mathematics, astronomy, physical and natural sciences, and also distinguished himself as a geographer, historian, chronologist and linguist. While in Mazandaran at the Ziyarid court he wrote one his important books: “al-Asaar al-Baqiyya an al-Qoroun al-Khaliyya” (Chronology of Ancient nations and Vestiges of the Past). With the conquest of the region by Mahmoud Ghaznavi he became court astrologer and accompanied the Turkish Sultan on his invasions of India, where he lived for several years and became acquainted with all things related to that land. He learned Sanskrit and wrote the famous Arabic book “Kitab Tahqiq ma li'l-Hind”, which is a highly analytical work. Of the more than hundred books and treatises known to have been written by him, some 65 percent are devoted to astronomy, mathematics, and related subjects like geography and geology. Birouni also devised his own method of determining the radius of the earth by means of observation of the height of a mountain which he carried it out at Nandana in India. He states in his writings (several centuries before Copernicus and Galileo) that the earth is round and spherical. In mineralogy, this great Iranian Muslim genius, who was a follower of Prophet Mohammad’s (SAWA) Ahl al-Bayt, succeeded in determining the specific density of many metals and minerals with remarkable precision. Almost all his works were written in Arabic except for “Kitab at-Tafhim”, in Persian, and in which he has scientifically proven the movement of the earth around the sun and the force of gravity. He died in Ghazni at the age of 78.

917 lunar years ago, on this day in 520 AH, on this day in 520 AH, one of the prominent Persian poets, Khaqani Shirvani, was born in the northwestern Iranian region of Shirvan, which is now in the Republic of Azerbaijan. He is considered amongst the great classical poets of Iran and composed different styles of poems. The na'at, a poem which he wrote in praise of Prophet Mohammad (blessings of God upon him and his progeny) at a time when his literary talent had reached its peak, procured him the title “Hassaan al-Ajam” (حسان العجم) or the Hassaan of Persia – a reference to Hassaan ibn Sabet, the famous Arabic poet who composed panegyrics in praise of the Prophet. In 551 AH, he went on Hajj pilgrimage and described the spiritual atmosphere of the holy city of Mecca and the rituals through composing beautiful odes. On his return he stayed in Iraq and met Iraqi scholars. His travels gave him material for his famous versified book entitled “Tohfat ol-Iraqain” (Gift of the Two Iraqs), that is, 'Persian Iraq' and 'Arab Iraq'. He also wrote the famous ode “Aiwan-e Mada'en” (The Portal of Ctesiphon), beautifully depicting his impressions of the remains of the Sassanid Palace near Baghdad. His collection of poems contains 18,000 couplets. In the later days of his life he turned into a recluse after the tragic death of his children and wife. He passed away in Tabriz in 595 AH.

505 lunar years ago, on this day in 932 AH, Budapest the capital of Hungary surrendered to the Ottoman Turks under the leadership of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent who inflicted a crushing defeat on the Hungarians in the famous Battle of Mohacs. Till 1718 “Majaristan” as Hungary was called by the Turks was an Ottoman province. Although Islam in Hungary has a long history that dates back to at least the twelfth century, predating the Ottoman Empire, following the end of Turkish rule, Muslims were persecuted and either expelled or forced to become Christians. Today only a few thousand Muslims live in Hungary.

350 solar years ago, on this day in 1666 AD, the Great Fire of London, which began September 2 finally ended. Ten thousand buildings including St Paul's Cathedral were destroyed.

244 solar years ago, on this day in 1772 AD, Fath-Ali Shah, the second king of the Qajarid Dynasty of Iran, was born. Son of Hussain Qoli Khan, the brother of the founder of the dynasty, Agha Mohammad Khan, he was governor of Fars and succeeded his childless uncle on his assassinated in 1797. Much of his 37-year long reign that saw the gradual loss of vast areas of Iran in the Caucasus, Khorasan, Sistan-Baluchestan, Central Asia and the Persian Gulf, was marked by the resurgence of Persian arts and painting, as well as a deeply elaborate court culture. Portraiture and large-scale oil paintings reached new heights under his personal patronage. While the economic conditions of the people declined, Fath Ali Shah ordered the creation of royal regalia, including coronation chairs such as the bejeweled "Takht-e-Tavoos" (Peacock Throne) – modeled on the famous Peacock Throne of the Mughal Emperor, Shah Jahan, which Nader Shah Afshar had brought as booty from India, and which was dismantled and distributed amongst his generals after his assassination. Fath Ali Shah also modified with a large number of pearls and gems his uncle’s crown, the "Taj-e-Kiyani". He led a life of luxury oblivious of the poverty of the people and the political humiliation to Iran’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as a result of the Russian-imposed Golestan and Turkmanchai Treaties, coupled with growing British pressures and encroachments. When his son and crown prince Abbas Mirza died on 25 October 1833, he named the latter’s son (his grandson) Mohammed Mirza as successor.

223 solar years ago, on this day in 1793 AD, the Reign of Terror began during the French Revolution as the National Convention instituted harsh measures to repress counter-revolutionary activities. One delegate, claiming that the middle class Girondist (or moderates) leaders be sentenced to death cried, "It is time for equality to wield its scythe over all the heads. Very well, Legislator, place Terror on the agenda!" The delegates agreed to arrest all suspects and dissenters, try them swiftly in the kangaroo courts known as the Revolutionary Tribunals, and sentence them uniformly to death.

168 solar years ago, on this day in 1848 AD, Mohammad Shah Qajar, the 3rd ruler of the Qajarid Dynasty of Iran, died at the age of 40, after a reign of 14 years, and was succeeded by his 16-year old son, Nasser od-Din Shah, with the famous reformist prime minster, Mirza Taqi Khan Amir Kabir as regent. Son of the famous crown prince, Abbas Mirza, who predeceased Fath Ali Shah, he succeeded his grandfather, and twice tried to unsuccessfully liberate Herat, the “Pearl of Khorasan” from Afghan occupation, but was thwarted by the British, who sent naval forces to the Persian Gulf to occupy Kharg island and threaten Bushehr. It was during his rule that the symbol of “Shir-va-Khorshid” (Lion and Sun) against a red, white, and green background became the flag of Iran.

159 solar years ago, on this day in 1857 AD, the French philosopher and mathematician, August Comte, died at the age of 65. Considered Founder of Modern Sociology, he also presented significant views in mathematics, philosophy, physics, and astronomy. In the last years of his life he founded a new school of thought known as "Religion of Humanity". He wrote several books including "Philosophical Treatise on Popular Astronomy".

139 solar years ago, on this day in 1877 AD, four months after his peaceful surrender to end the warfare between the Amerindian natives and the US regime, Oglala Sioux chief ‘Crazy Horse’ was treacherously bayoneted to death by a white soldier at Fort Robinson in Nebraska, at the age of 37.

129 solar years ago, on this day in 1887 AD, the Yellow River flood in China took place. This major flooding lasted more than a month, as a result of which nearly 900,000 people lost their life. Also, hundreds of villages and farmlands were destroyed.

111 solar years ago, on this day in 1905 AD, the Russo-Japanese War ended after a year and a half with signing of the Portsmouth Peace Treaty in New Hampshire, US, mediated by US President Theodore Roosevelt.

59 solar years ago, on this day in 1957 AD, Iranian painter, sculptor, and journalist, Ali Divandari, was born in Sabzevar in Khorasan Province. He is an excellent cartoonist, painter, graphic designer, sculptor and journalist. He studied Graphics at the Faculty of Fine Arts in Tehran University. He began his career as Graphic Designer and Cartoonist in 1975. In 1997, he directed a new International Cartoon Festival in Iran with a main theme of "Man and Nature - Only One, Share & Care". He has also presided as a jury member of several cartoon exhibitions in Iran and Turkey. His works have been published in many international newspapers and magazines and have been exhibited in over than 34 countries

47 solar years ago, on this day in 1969 AD, of the 22 cowardly US soldiers involved in sadistic savagery at My Lai village in Vietnam, only Lt. William Calley was charged with six specifications of premeditated murder for the cold-blooded killing of 109 Vietnamese men, women and children, including infants, on 16th March 1968. Some of the bodies were later found to be mutilated and many women raped prior to the killings. The massacre prompted global outrage when it became public knowledge in 1969. The massacre also increased domestic opposition to the US involvement in the Vietnam War. Three US servicemen who had tried to halt the massacre and protect the wounded were denounced by several US Congressmen as traitors in an attempt to cover up the massacre. They received hate mail and death threats. The three were later widely praised and decorated by the army for their heroic actions. As for the chief culprit William Calley, he was originally given a life sentence, but only served three and a half years under house arrest before being released, which shows the highly flawed nature of justice in the US.

38 solar years ago, on this day in 1978 AD, with the progress of the struggles of the Iranian people against Shah's despotic regime, huge demonstrations were held nationwide. The Pahlavi regime scared of the people's anger banned public protests. The Father of the Islamic Revolution, Imam Khomeini (RA) issued a fatwa from his exile in the holy city of Najaf in Iraq, calling on the Iranian people to continue their struggles until the downfall of the oppressive regime, and terming the holding of demonstrations for attainment of Islamic goals as “a form of worship." 

34 solar years ago, on this day in 1982 AD, a massive bomb explosion was triggered by the MKO terrorists at peak hours in the busy Nasser Khosrow Street of central Tehran, resulting in the martyrdom of scores of innocent men, women, and children, and injury to hundreds of others. The explosion left a huge crater in the street and was heard almost all over Tehran. It was designed to demoralize the people, following a string of defeats suffered by the invading Ba’thist army at the battlefronts of the war imposed by the US through tis agent, Saddam, who was openly allied with the MKO terrorists. Of the 17,000 Iranian citizens so far martyred by the terrorists, the MKO have claimed responsibility for killing 12,000 of them.  

AS/SS