Today is Sunday; 16th of the Iranian month of Aban 1395 solar hijri; corresponding to 6th of the Islamic month of Safar 1438 lunar hijri; and November 6, 2016, of the Christian Gregorian Calendar.

1115 lunar years ago, on this day in 323 AH, the prominent Iranian grammarian of Arabic, Ibrahim bin Mohammad Naftawaih, passed away. He was a student of the celebrated grammarian of the Arabic language, Sibawaih, who was also an Iranian. Arab scholars used to regard these two Iranian grammarians as authorities on Arabic language and the use and meaning of Arabic words.

804 lunar years ago, on this day in 634 AH, the famous Iranian philosopher, astronomer, and physician, Qotb od-Din Mahmoud Shirazi, was born in the city of Shiraz. He initially studied medicine and worked at one of Shiraz’s hospitals, where for ten year he studied the books of the multi-sided Iranian Islamic genius, Abu Ali Ibn Sina, in addition to other scientific and philosophical works. With the establishment of the observatory in Maragheh, northwestern Iran, he learned astronomy under the prominent Iranian scientist and theologian, Khwaja Naseer od-Din Tousi. Qotb od-Din Shirazi traveled to numerous cities and countries and met a large number of ulema, developing his experiences and scientific knowledge. He has left behind a large number of books, including “Jam’e al-Osoul”. He passed away in 710 AH.

522 solar years ago, on this day in1494 AD, Sultan Suleiman I of the Ottoman Empire was born in Trabazon. He succeeded to the throne at the age of 26 and ruled for 46 years till his death at the age of 72. He greatly expanded the Turkish Empire into south-central Europe as well as the North African coast of the Mediterranean Sea, which was dominated by his fleets. He also seized Iraq and parts of Anatolia, such as Van and Erzurum from the Safavid Empire of Iran, but failed to further expand into the east and the Caucasus, because of the stiff resistance of the Iranians. Three times he attempted to invade Iran in 23 years from 1532 to 1555, but the astute policy of Shah Tahmasp I aborted his attempts and he was forced to sign a peace treaty with Iran. In his internal policy he instituted legislative changes relating to society, education, taxation, and criminal law. He spoke five languages: Ottoman Turkish, Chaghtai Turkic, Persian, Arabic, and Serbian. He has left behind a divan of Persian poetry.

384 solar years ago, on this day in 1632 AD, King Gustav Adolph of Sweden was killed on the battlefield at the age of 38 years, after ruling for 21 years. He was an able military commander and was known as the Lion of North, because of his victories in the 30-year sectarian wars between Catholics and Protestants from 1618 to 1648.

372 solar years ago, on this day in 1644 AD, Thomas Roe, English diplomat and ambassador to the Mughal and Ottoman Courts, died at the age 63. A scholar and a patron of learning, he learned the Persian and Turkish languages as well. After two unsuccessful expeditions to South America in search of gold and the fabled “Eldorado”, he sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1614 and 1644. Roe was ambassador to the court at Agra, India, of the 4th Grand Moghul Emperor of Hindustan (Northern Subcontinent), Noor od-Din Jahangir. The principal object of the mission was to obtain protection for the East India Company`s factory at Surat in Gujarat. At the Moghul court, Roe became a favorite of Jahangir and his drinking partner. His book titled “Journal of the Mission to the Moghul Empire” is a valuable source of information for the reign of Jahangir. In September 1621, Roe was dispatched to Constantinople as ambassador to the Ottoman Empire. In this role, he obtained an extension of the privileges of the English merchants. In 1624, he concluded a treaty with Algiers, by which he secured the liberation of several hundred English captives. He wrote book in this regard, titled “Discourse upon the Resolution taken in the Valteline”. In 1629, Roe was successful in another mission undertaken, to arrange a peace between Sweden and Poland. In so doing, he was able to help free up Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden to intervene decisively in the Thirty Years War on the side of the Protestant German princes.

203 solar years ago, on this day in 1813 AD, the first battle of the famous Freedom Leader of South America, Simon Bolivar, for liberation of his homeland, Venezuela, from Spanish colonial rule, ended in victory. Bolivar’s 6500 soldiers defeated the 13,000-strong Spanish army. After liberating Venezuela from Spanish colonial rule he led the struggles of several other South American nations for an end to Spain’s domination. Bolivia is named after him.

156 solar years ago, on this day in 1860 AD, one of the main opponents to slavery in the US, Abraham Lincoln, was elected as president. Following his election South Carolina seceded from the Union followed by Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Texas. Hannibal Hamlin was his vice-president. Lincoln was fatally shot by John Wilkes Booth at Ford's Theater in Washington, D.C., on April 14, 1865.  During his presidential term, the civil wars broke out in the US, in which the supporters of slavery were defeated. He was assassinated in 1865.

132 solar years ago, on this day in 1844 AD, the celebrated Iranian poet and author, Mirza Mohammad Taqi Bahar, who held the title “Malek osh-Sho’ara” or Poet Laureate, was born in the holy city of Mashhad. His first teacher was his father, Mirza Mohammad Kazem Ṣaburi – the Malek osh-Sho’ara at the shrine of Prophet Mohammad’s (SAWA) 8th Infallible Heir, Imam Reza (AS) in Mashhad. He later studied under the famous poet Adib Naishapuri and soon mastered Persian, Arabic and French. On the onset of the Constitutional Revolution of Iran, he resigned his court position of Poet Laureate and joined the constitutional movement for limiting the powers of the Qajarid monarchy. He clandestinely published the newspaper “Khorasan”, in collaboration with Hussain Ardebili, and the journals “Nou-Bahar” (New Spring), and “Tazeh-Bahar” (Fresh Spring), both in collaboration with his cousin Sheikh Ahmad. He wrote articles in these newspapers exhorting the readers to strive to bring about a parliamentary system of government. After victory of the Constitutionalists, he was elected as Member of Parliament for successive terms. As a member of the fifth Majlis, Bahar opposed the British agent Reza Khan’s coup and dictatorial rule, and despite threats, sided with Ayatollah Seyyed Hassan Modarres, the leading figure of the opposition. He became the target of an assassination attempt following a debate in the Majlis on October 1925 and was lucky to survive when Reza Khan’s agents brutally murdered in front of the Majlis, journalist Wa’ez Qazvini, who had a striking resemblance to Bahar but had nothing to do with the issues involved. Reza Khan imprisoned and exiled him. Following release in 1934, he served as Professor of Persian Literature at the newly founded Tehran University. In 1945, he served for a short period as Minister of Culture and Education. He passed away in 1951.

38 solar years ago, on this day in 1978 AD, wide-scale demonstrations were held across Iran in protest to appointment of the military rule of General Gholam-Reza Azhari by the British-installed and US-backed Pahlavi regime. During these demonstrations the revolutionary people of Iran resolutely announced that superficial changes by the regime cannot obstruct the continuation of the popular protests until victory of the Islamic Revolution. Also on this day, the Father of the Islamic Revolution, Imam Khomeini (RA) conveyed a message to the Iranian nation on the massacre of Tehran university students on November 4, 1978. Part of this message read that the courageous Iranian nation has proved that tanks and machine guns are of no use and cannot counter the Iranian nation’s indomitable determination.

29 lunar years ago, on this day in 1409 AH, the famous Iranian poet, Mohammad Hussain Shahriyar, passed away at the age of 86. Born in the northwestern Iranian city of Tabriz, he completed his studies at Tehran’s Dar ol-Fonoun Academy, and took up the study of medicine, which he did not complete. He published his first collection of poems at the age of 23. His poems are in a variety of styles, including lyrics, odes and quatrains. His poetry was often critical of the British-installed and US-backed Pahlavi regime. He stood by the Iranian nation during the Islamic Revolution, and also composed moving panegyrics in praise of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA) and the Infallible Ahl al-Bayt. Among his famous poems is the one titled “Haydar Baba” in Azeri language, in addition to the Persian masterpiece in praise of the Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali ibn Abi Taleb (AS). The Leader of Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has pointed out to the close bond between Shahriyar and the Holy Qur'an.

18 solar years ago, on this day in 1998 AD, the Iranian poet, linguist, and religious eulogist, Professor Ali Akbar Malek, passed away at the age of 87. An authority on Persian poetry and literature, he was an expert in English, French and German, and taught these languages at the university level. For years his active presence at literary gatherings presented audiences with his artistic and religious works on Prophet Mohammad (SAWA) and the Infallible Imams of the Ahl al-Bayt (AS). He left behind at least fifteen works in poetry and literature, including “Wadi-e Ishq” (Valley of Devotion), “Tarana-e Dil” (Anthem of the Heart), and “Safarnama-e Hajj” (Hajj Travelogue).

3 solar years ago, on this day in 2013 AD, terrorists on the payroll of Saudi Arabia, martyred Iranian state prosecutor Musa Nouri in Sistan-Baluchestan Province in southeastern Iran. In collaboration with the US and the illegal Zionist entity, the Wahhabis indulge in terroristic activities in a vain bid to disrupt Islamic unity in Iran.

AS/ME