Today is Sunday, 2nd of the Iranian month of Aban 1395 solar hijri; corresponding to 21st of the Islamic month of Muharram 1438 lunar hijri; and October 23, 2016, of the Christian Gregorian Calendar.

1125 solar years ago, on this day in 891 AD, the famous Greek Muslim admiral, Damian of Tarsus, known by his Islamic name of Ghulam Yazman al-Khadim, died during the siege of the Byzantine fortress of Salandu in what is now southwestern Turkey, as a result of a catapult wound. His troops carried him to his seat of power Tarsus, and buried him there. According to the historian al-Mas'udi, his fame was such that he was among the ten illustrious Muslims whose portraits were hung in Byzantine churches in recognition of their valour. For a decade he was a thorn in the Greek side, and won several land and sea battles against the Christians, sometimes in alliance with another valourous Greek convert to Islam, Cleo or Raseq al-Wardami, who is famous for besieging the Byzantine capital, Constantinople, and briefly taking over Thessalonica, the second largest city.

1008 lunar years ago, on this day in 430 AH, the Iranian Shafei hadith scholar and historian, Ahmad Ibn Abdullah, known as Hafez Abu Nu'aym al-Isfahani, passed away in his hometown Isfahan. Initially taught by his scholarly grandfather and father, he later studied under leading scholars, including the famous hadith authority of Syria, at-Tabarani, who had settled in Isfahan. Abu Nu’aym Isfahani travelled widely, as far as Islamic Spain. He authored scores of books and treatises including “Dala’el an-Nubuwwa” (Proofs of Prophethood), “The History of Isfahan”, and the 10-volume work “Hilyat al-Awliya”, which is a biography of 650 pious figures, including six of the 12 Infallible Imams of the Prophet’s Household. Abu Nu’aym Isfahani was the ancestor of the famous Imami scholar, Allamah Majlisi, who says his forbear was a devout follower of Prophet Mohammad’s (SAWA) Ahl al-Bayt and because of the repressive atmosphere of the times, he lived in a state of dissimulation (taqiyya).

930 solar years ago, on this day in 1086 AD, at the Battle of az-Zallaqah in Islamic Spain, a Muslim army led by the Almoravid general, Yusuf ibn Tashfin, defeated the Christian forces of Castile's King Alfonso VI, when the latter refused both the offers to avoid bloodshed that is, convert to Islam, or to pay tribute. The reason for the battle was Alfonso's occupying of the Muslim city of Toledo a year earlier followed by his invasion of the emirate of Zaragoza. The Spanish Muslims appealed to Yusuf ibn Tashfin of Morocco for help, and he responded, forcing Alfonso to lift the siege of Zaragoza. The Almoravid ruler returned to North Africa after his decisive victory, which created fear among the Christians for several generations.

712 lunar years ago, on this day in 726 AH, the renowned theologian Hassan Ibn Yousuf Ibn Ali Ibn Mutahhar al-Hilli, passed away at the age of 78 in his hometown Hilla and was laid to rest in Najaf in the holy mausoleum of the Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali (AS). Renowned as "Allamah Hilli", he was a child prodigy, and after initial education under his qualified father, and acquiring of fiqh from his famous maternal uncle "Muhaqqiq Hilli", he proceeded to study from other masters of his era, including the celebrated scholars of Iraq, Seyyed Ali bin Tawus and Seyyed Ahmad bin Tawus, as well as Maytham al-Bahrani of Bahrain and the Iranian Islamic genius, Khwaja Naseer od­Din Tusi, who taught him philosophy and logic. Later, he held debates with scholars of the four Sunni schools of jurisprudence – Hanbali, Hanafi, Maleki, and Shafei. During one such debate in the Ilkhanid court, his rationality convinced the Buddhist-born and Christian-baptized Mongol Emperor of Iran-Iraq, Oljeitu Khodabanda, to become a Muslim and a staunch follower of the Ahl al-Bayt. Allamah Hilli's works include at least a hundred books and treatises on various subjects such as jurisprudence, theology, logic, philosophy, hadith, exegesis of the holy Qur'an and Rijal or evaluation of hadith narrators. Each book of this great mujtahid is enough to portray his precocity and genius. Among his works are "Ma'arej al-Fahm", "Qawa'ed al-Ahkaam", "Tadhkirat ul-Fuqaha" and "Tabsirat ul-Mutallimeen", the last being studied by seminary students till this day. He also wrote on proofs from the holy Qur'an, the hadith, and the intellect, on the right to caliphate of Imam Ali (AS) after the passing away of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA). This famous book is titled "Nahj al-Haq wa Kashf as-Sidq". Allama Hilli was succeeded by his worth son, Mohammad, who is acclaimed as “Fakhr al­-Muhaqqiqeen” (Pride of Researchers).

436 lunar years ago, on this day in 1002 AH, ambassadors of the sultanates of the Deccan (southern India) conveyed the refusal of the Nizamshahi, Adelshahi and Qotbshahi sultans to acknowledge Jalal od-Din Akbar Shah, the Mughal Emperor of Hindustan (northern subcontinent), as their overlord. Akbar was furious and sent armies to attack them, but did not succeed in subjugating the three Persianate sultanates which followed the creed of the Prophet’s Ahl al-Bayt, and considered the Safavid emperor of Iran as their overlord, reciting his name in the Friday sermons in their capital – Ahmadnagar, Bijapur and Golkandah-Haiderabad.

199 AD solar years ago, on this day in 1817 AD, Pierre Larousse, French lexicographer and author was born. After years of study, he compiled the Larousse Lexicon. Pierre Larousse, passed away at the age of 58.

183 solar years ago, on this day in 1834 AD, Fath-Ali Shah, the second king of the Qajarid Dynasty of Iran, died, and was succeeded by his grandson, Mohammad Shah, the son of the deceased crown prince, Abbas Mirza, who had died a year earlier. Son of Hussain Qoli Khan, the brother of Agha Mohammad Khan, the founder of the dynasty, Fath-Ali Shah was governor of Fars before succeeding his childless uncle. 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. 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. His successor, Mohammad Shah ruled for 14 years and died in 1848 at the age of 40, leaving his 13-year minor son, Nasser od-Din Shah, as the next king.

144 solar years ago, on this day in 1872 AD, the French author and poet, Theophile Gautier, died. His important poems include "Albertus", and "The Comedy of Death". He also wrote prose works such as "The Mummy's Foot", and "History of Dramatic Art".

104 solar years ago, on this day in 1912 AD, the Battle of Kumanovo, which resulted in a victory of Serb rebels over the Ottoman army in the Kosovo Vilayet, occurred shortly after start of the First Balkan War. After this defeat, the Turkish army abandoned the major part of the region, suffering heavy losses in manpower (mostly due to desertions) and in war material.

88 solar years ago, on this day in 1928 AD, the Iranian scholar, and statesman, Ayatollah Dr. Seyyed Mohammad Husseini Beheshti, was born in Isfahan. In Qom he studied under leading ulema, including the Father of the Islamic Revolution, Imam Khomeini (RA). He also continued his academic studies at the university and obtained PhD in philosophy. He was active in political and cultural spheres as well, and was involved in the 15th Khordad uprising (June 5, 1963). Later he spent several years at the Islamic Centre in Hamburg, Germany. His fluency in German, English, and Arabic assisted him in promoting Islam in Europe. He returned to Iran in 1971 and continued his struggles against the dictatorial Pahlavi regime. Following the victory of the Islamic Revolution in 1979, he was assigned key posts, the last of which was Chief Justice. He achieved martyrdom, along with 72 prominent officials, when a bomb planted by MKO terrorists exploded. He wrote several books, including "God in View of Islam"; "Banking and Islam’s Financial Laws"; and "Role of Faith in Mankind’s Life". In paying him tribute, Imam Khomeini said: “Martyr Beheshti lived and died in oppression; since he was a thorn in the eyes of the foes of Islam.”

74 solar years ago, on this day in 1942 AD, during World War II, the Battle of al-Alamein, in the city of the same name in northern Egypt, occurred between the British and German troops. The British were led by Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery and the Germans by Field Marshal Erwin Rommel. The Germans were defeated, but war between the two countries continued in other regions of North Africa until the final Nazi defeat.

60 solar years ago, on this day in 1956 AD, the uprising in Hungry against the domination by the Soviet Union commenced three years after dissolution of the Hungarian Communist Party by nationalist Premier, Imre Nagy, who tried to make his country independent of Moscow. The Soviets crushed the uprising by arming and financially assisting the communists, who along with the Red Army slaughtered a large number of people. Most of Hungary was part of the Ottoman Empire from the decisive Muslim victory in 1526 at the Battle of Mohacs till 1718, when the Turks withdrew.

33 solar years ago, on this day in 1983 AD, in an anti-terrorist operation by martyrdom-seeking Lebanese Muslims against occupation forces in Beirut, 241 American and 58 French soldiers were killed. The US, French, British, and Italian occupation forces had entered Beirut to tilt the balance in favour of the Christian Phalangist militia in the Lebanese civil war, as well as to support the occupation of parts of Lebanon by the illegal Zionist entity, Israel. This heroic act forced the occupiers to pull out troops from Lebanon.

28 solar years ago, on this day in 1988 AD, Grand Ayatollah Jawad Aqa Tehrani passed away at the age of 85. He was born in Tehran and after completing his studies in Qom left for Holy Najaf in Iraq to continue his higher studies. He groomed many scholars and was known for his piety and ascetic nature. While in Mashhad, he was the teacher of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei. Among the books written by him are: "Mizan al-Mataleb" in Arabic and the 2-volume "Aieen-e Zendegi" in Persian.

23 solar years ago, on this day in 1993 AD, Ayatollah Seyyed Ahmad Mirkhani passed away in his hometown Tehran at the age of 76. A product of the seminary of holy Qom, among his teachers were Grand Ayatollah Seyyed Shehab od-Din Mar’ashi Najafi and Grand Ayatollah Seyyed Hussain Boroujerdi. He was active in Tehran in academic and revolutionary circles. On establishment of the Islamic Azad University, following the triumph of the Islamic Revolution, he was one of the benefactors who helped establish this higher education centre and generously donated a building for the university to obtain the permit to establish a branch. Besides his religious activities and authoring books, he was interested in social and cultural affairs. Thanks to his efforts, thousands of young knowledge seekers from all around the country have attended the Islamic Azad University to reap the benefit.  

20 solar years ago, on this day in 1996 AD, the erudite scholar Ayatollah Mohammad Vasef Lahiji passed away. He was a picture of piety and a staunch defender of the School of the Ahl al-Bayt of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA). He was well versed in theology, jurisprudence, philosophy, logic, mathematics, physics, literature, poetry, Arabic language and Qur’an studies. An excellent orator in Arabic and Persian, as well as a poet in both languages, he strove to promote the genuine teachings of Islam through his speeches, his writings, and his poems, which were often composed on scientific factors. His published works total two hundred and include books such as “History of the Infallible Imams”, and “Tibb an-Nabawi” (Medicinal Anecdotes from the Prophet of Islam). His poetical works include “Bayt al-Ahzaan-e Asheqaan”.

11 solar years ago, on this day in 2005 AD, Iranian painter Mokarrameh Qanbari, passed away at the age 77. Born in the village of Darikandeh between Qaemshahr and Babol in Mazanderan Province, she was a self-made painter who despite her great talent never received any formal training in painting. She won several international talent prizes. Mokarrameh actually began painting at the age of 63 when she came across some artist's paintings which her son had left at her home. Within a few years her works were noticed by painters in Iran and overseas. She held her first exhibition at the Seyhun Gallery in Tehran in 1995. She also participated in ten other exhibitions and was awarded the jury prize at the Roshd Film Festival and another award at the Rural Artistic-Literary Festival. In 2001, she was awarded an honorary certificate at the Conference of the Foundation of Iranian Women's Studies in Stockholm, Sweden and was named the year's exemplary woman. Iranian filmmaker Ibrahim Mokhtari has made a documentary film about her life and works titled: “Her Memories and Dreams.” She was buried in the courtyard of her house.

AS/ME