Today is Saturday; 27th of the Iranian month of Azar 1395 solar hijri; corresponding to 17th of the Islamic month of Rabi al-Awwal 1438 lunar hijri; and December 17, 2016, of the Christian Gregorian Calendar.

1491 lunar years ago, on this day, 53 years before Hijra; the Almighty's Last and Greatest Messenger, Prophet Mohammad (SAWA) was born in Mecca in Aam al-Fil (Year of the Elephant), following the Abyssinian governor of Yemen, Abraha's elephant-led abortive attempt to attack the holy Ka'ba in 570 AD that brought divine wrath upon the aggressors in the form of a flock of small birds that showered them with a hail of deathly pebbles. The Prophet’s birth was accompanied by miracles, such as the appearance of a radiant light on the horizon in the Hijaz; the fall of idols in temples all over the world including in the Ka'ba which the Arab polytheists had polluted; the sudden crack in the main arch of the palace of the Sassanid king of kings, Khosrow Anushirvan, in Ctesiphon (Mada'en near Baghdad in Iraq) accompanied by the crashing down of several parapets; the extinguishing of the sacred fire of the Zoroastrian temple in Fars near Shiraz; the drying up of Lake Saveh between Yazd and Khorasan; the gushing out of a fresh water spring in the Samawah Valley in Iraq; the fall of thrones of all kings throughout the world and their inability to speak that day; the bewilderment of soothsayers; and above all the deep moan of Iblis the Satan. On this day the whole world was enlightened and there was joy in the world of nature, whether trees or rocks and other forms of life that praised God in their particular way. In brief, Prophet Mohammad (SAWA), whose celestial light was the first thing created by God Almighty, was born in the virtuous and monotheist Hashemite clan of the Quraysh that was descended from Prophet Abraham in lineage that was free of any disbelief or polytheism all the way up to the first created pair of human beings, Adam and Eve.

1355 lunar years ago, on this day in 83 AH, Imam Ja'far as-Sadeq (AS), the 6th Infallible Heir of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA) was born in Medina. His period of “imamate” (divinely-decreed leadership) was 34 years, starting in 114 AH at the martyrdom of his father, Imam Mohammad Baqer (AS), and ending in 148 AH with his own martyrdom at the age of 65, as a result of a fatal dose of poison by Mansour Dawaniqi, the 2nd self-styled caliph of the usurper Abbasid regime. The jockeying for political power of the Islamic state by the Omayyads and the Abbasids, provided the 6th Imam with an opportunity, to groom a generation of scholars in different fields, including theology, Qur'anic sciences, hadith, medicine, astronomy, mathematics, physics, chemistry, botany, history, ethics, etc. His famous academy of Medina at its height had 4,000 scholars studying different branches of science, including the Father of Chemistry, Jaber bin Hayyan (Geber to medieval Europe). The founders of the four schools of jurisprudence of what later came to be known as the Sunni sect were directly or indirectly indebted to him. In short, the 6th Imam was the Reviver of the genuine teachings of Islam and the pristine practice and behaviour of his ancestor, the Prophet. In other words, his school of jurisprudence, the Fiqh al-Ja'fari, unlike other schools, is not any innovation or guesswork, but is the unsullied shari'ah of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA).

1061 lunar years ago, on this day in 377 AH, the acclaimed grammarian of Arabic, Hassan bin Ahmad, known popularly as Abu Ali al-Farsi al-Fasawi, passed away in Baghdad. He was attached to the court of the famous Buwaiyhid ruler of Iran-Iraq, Azud od-Dowla Daylami.

734 solar years ago, on this day in 1273 AD, the famous Persian poet and mystic, Jalal od-Din Mohammad Balkhi Rumi, passed away at the age of 67 in Konya in what is now Turkey. Born to Iranian parents in Wakhsh, a town located on the river of the same name in Balkh, Khorasan (Wakhsh is now in Tajikistan while Balkh is in Afghanistan), the most important influences upon him, besides his scholarly father Baha od-Din Walad who was connected to the spiritual lineage of Najm od-Din Kubra, were the Persian poets Attar Naishapuri and Sana’i Ghaznavi. He was hardly ten years when the family had to flee Khorasan towards Iraq because of the barbaric Mongol invasion. After a sojourn in Baghdad and travel to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, followed by a brief stay in Damascus, he settled in Konya in Anatolia which was under the Persianate Seljuq Sultanate of Rum – hence his title Rumi. He produced his magnum opus the “Mathnawi” here, where his shrine has become a place of pilgrimage for Sufis. Known also as “Mowlavi” and “Mowlana”, his poems have been translated into many of the world's languages including English. His “Mathnawi” remains one of the literary glories of the Persian language. In addition to Persian literature, his poetry has influenced Urdu, Punjabi, Turkish, Pashto, Bengali, Chaghatai, and Sindhi languages. In his poems he has lauded the unsurpassed merits of Imam Ali (AS), the divinely-decreed vicegerent of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA).

618 solar years ago, on this day in 1398 AD, Sultan Naseer ud-Din Mahmoud Tughlaq's armies were defeated near Delhi by the fearsome Turkic conqueror Amir Timur, whose campaigns were marked by systematic slaughter and other atrocities on a massive scale as was the case in all the lands he conquered, including Iran. He crossed the Indus River at Attock (now in Pakistan) on 24 September 1398, and after defeating the Jats, the Ahirs, and the governor of Meerut, resolved to capture Delhi. Sultan Mahmoud's army had war elephants, armoured with chain mail and poison on their tusks. Timur loaded his camels with as much wood and hay as they could carry. When the war elephants charged, he set the hay on fire and prodded the camels with iron sticks, causing them to charge at the elephants howling in pain. The elephants faced with the strange spectacle of camels flying straight at them with flames leaping from their backs, panicked, turned around and stampeded toward their own lines. Timur capitalized on the disruption in the Indian Muslim army and secured an easy victory. Delhi, one of the richest cities at the time, was sacked and left in ruins, while artisans and scholars were carried off to Samarqand.

460 solar years ago, on this day in in 1556 AD, the Mughal statesman and literary figure, Abdur-Rahim Khan-e Khanaan was born in Lahore to the famous Baharlu Turkman general, Bairam Khan, who had accompanied Emperor Humayun during his exile in Iran. His mother was the daughter of the Rajput Muslim chieftain, Jamal Khan of Mewat. Abdur-Rahim, following his father’s assassination, was raised at the court of Emperor Jalal od-Din Akbar, and became an accomplished scholar of Persian, Arabic, Turkic and Sanskrit languages. He translated Emperor Babar's memoirs “Tuzuk Babari” from Chaghatai to Persian as “Babarnamah”. He wrote books in Sanskrit on astrology, and named them “Kheta Kautukama” and “Dwawishd Yogavali”. He is famous today for his Hindi couplets known as “Dohe”.

429 lunar years ago, on this day in 1009 AH, the prominent religious scholar, Seyyed Shams od-Din Mohammad Tabataba’i al-Ameli, passed away in Jaba' village in Lebanon, at the age of 62. His father was the leading scholar of the region, Seyyed Noor od-Din Ali al-Ameli, while his mother was a daughter of the famous Second Martyr, Shaheed Thani, Shaikh Zain od-Din. Noted for his knowledge and piety, his teachers include his father, and the celebrated Iranian theologian Moqaddas Ardabeli, who taught him in Holy Najaf in Iraq. Among his students, mention could be made of the Iranian Akhbari scholar Mohammad Amin Astarabadi, who was martyred in Holy Mecca. His son Seyyed Hussain al-Ameli migrated to Iran and was appointed Shaikh ol-Islam of Holy Mashhad by the Safavid Emperor. Sharif Morteza, a contemporary scholar of Allamah Mohammad Baqer Majlisi, was from his progeny. Seyyed Shams al-Din Mohammad wrote several books such as “Madarek al-Ahkam fi Sharh Shara’e al-Islam”, as well as commentaries on Shaikh at-Tayefa Tousi’s hadith collections “al-Istibsar” and “at-Tahdhib al-Ahkam”.

371 solar years ago, on this day in 1645 AD, the celebrated Mughal Empress Noor Jahan died in Lahore at the age of 68. Born in Qandahar to Iranian nobleman, Mirza Ghiyas Beg Tehrani, who rose to prominence as E’temad od-Dowla in the court of Emperor Jalal od-Din Akbar in Agra, she was named Mehr un-Nisa at birth. A lady of outstanding beauty, she was married to migrant Iranian nobleman Ali Qoli Khan Istajlu titled Sher-Afgan (Lion-Thrower), who was in the service of the Safavid Emperor, Shah Ismail II (the Apostate), and on whose death had come to the Mughal court in India. On the murder of her husband in Bengal, she returned to the court and later became the consort of Emperor Jahangir. She was the power behind the throne, and a great patron of poetry, art, architecture, culture and social etiquette.

246 solar years ago, on this day in 1770 AD, the famous German composer and musician, Ludwig van Beethoven, was baptized in his hometown Bonn. Grandson of his namesake, who was also a musician, he learned music, initially from his father Johann and then under prominent musicians of his era, such as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. A crucial figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western art music, Beethoven was hard of hearing and went deaf as of the age of 49. He composed nine symphonies; all of which are the most famous classical music symphonies. His 5th Symphony, because of its epical spirit, holds a special status among his works. He died at the age of 57.

238 solar years ago, on this day in 1778 AD, English chemist and physicist, Humphrey Davy, was born. His research led him to separate sodium, potassium, calcium, barium, and magnesium from other elements, and this was considered a major achievement in Europe, although Islamic scientists had already accomplished it a thousand years earlier. He founded the science of electrochemistry. He died in 1829.

226 solar years ago, on this day in 1790 AD, Mexico's greatest Aztec relic, a calendar stone was discovered in what is now Mexico City. The 24-ton "Sun Stone" bears carved astronomical symbols. Based on movements of the stars, it reflects the Aztecs' knowledge of astronomy and mathematics. Used to predict the seasons and natural events, it also regulated economic and social activities as well as religious ceremonies. Its making took 52 years (from 1427-to-1479), and it is 103 years older than the Christian Gregorian calendar. The Spanish invaders, who destroyed the Aztec civilization and forcibly Christianized the people, buried this colossal monument at the site of the Metropolitan Cathedral that stands today in the main plaza of Mexico City. This heritage of mankind was lost for 250 years, until it was accidentally uncovered during repair work at the Cathedral. The Aztecs and the Incas were culturally advanced societies that were wiped out by the Spanish invaders.

209 solar years ago, on this day in 1807 AD, French Emperor, Napoleon Bonaparte, issued the Milan Decree to enforce the Berlin Decree of 1806 which had initiated the Continental System for defeating the British by waging economic warfare by calling on European states to sever commercial ties with Britain. The decree authorized French warships and privateers to capture even neutral ships sailing from any British port or from any country that was occupied by British forces. This was in response to the measures adopted by London on November 11 that British cruisers have the right to search, detain, and subject to an arbitrary tax the ships of countries allied to France.

186 solar years ago, on this day in 1830 AD, the famous South American revolutionary, Simon Bolivar, died at the age of 47 in Colombia, where after initial burial his remains were transferred to his hometown Caracas in Venezuela. He played the key role in Hispanic America's successful struggle for independence from the Spanish colonial empire, and is today considered one of the most influential politicians in the history of the Americas. He led Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia to independence, and helped lay the foundations for democratic ideology in much of Latin America. Bolivar participated in the foundation of the first union of independent nations in Hispanic-America, a republic, which was named Gran Colombia, of which he was president from 1819 to 1830, and which included present day Colombia, Venezuela, Panama and Ecuador. Bolivar, who had become a member of the secretive Zionist outfit "Freemason" while studying in Europe in his youth, dreamt of unity of South America within a federation but failed to fulfill his goal. The country “Bolivia” is named in his honour.

113 solar years ago, on this day in 1903 AD, the first airplane after several experiments finally took off successfully and flew for almost a minute. Made by the Wright Brothers – Wilbur and Orville – it was tested in the US State of North Carolina. The history of aviation is as old as Man’s quest to fly since antiquity. The earliest known record is of Yuan Huangtou, a Chinese prince, who was briefly airborne by tying himself to a kite. In the heyday of Islamic science and civilization, there are records pertaining to the Spanish Muslim polymath, Abbas ibn Firnas, who flew from Jabal al-Arus Hill by employing a rudimentary glider in the 9th century AD – a thousand years before the airplane was invented

97 solar years ago, on this day in 1919 AD, Albert Porta a seismographer and meteorologist claimed that a conjunction of six planets on this date would spell the end of the world as a result of a magnetic current which would pierce the sun and engulf the earth in flames. As the date approached suicides and hysteria were reported in the western world. It all turned out to be a hoax, since no one can predict the future, which is known only to God the Creator.

45 solar years ago, on this day in 1971 AD, the combatant religious scholar, Ayatollah Mohammad Taqi Amoli, who was an outspoken critic of the British-installed and US-backed repressive Pahlavi regime, passed away at the age of 84 in Tehran. After completing his studies under his scholarly father and other ulema, he left for Iraq at the age of 34 for higher studies at the famous seminary of holy Najaf, where he stayed for thirteen years and reached the status of Ijtehad. On return to Iran he busied himself in teaching and writing books. His works include “Ithbaat-e Towhid” (Proving Monotheism), “Proof of the Creator from Materialism to Idealism”, and “Misbah al-Huda” (Lamp of Guidance).

37 solar years ago, on this day in 1979 AD, the Iranian religious scholar, Dr. Mohammad Mofatteh, attained martyrdom at the hands of terrorists at the age of 51. He studied at the Islamic seminary in holy Qom, while continuing his academic studies at Tehran University, from where he obtained PhD in philosophy. He later lectured at Tehran University, and was active against the Shah’s despotic regime. Following the victory of the Islamic Revolution, he was appointed as Dean of the Faculty of Theology at Tehran University. Martyr Mofatteh was one of the pioneers of unity between the seminaries and universities. Hence, his day of martyrdom in Iran has been named as “The Day of Unity between Seminaries and Universities.”

24 solar years ago, on this day in 1992 AD, the illegal Zionist entity banished 415 members and leaders of the Islamic Jihad Movement and the Palestine Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, to the border areas of southern Lebanon, where the exiles had to endure cold and shortage of food and medicine. These inhuman measures angered Muslims worldwide, forcing the UN Security Council to issue Resolution 977 castigating the Zionist entity and calling for return home of the Palestinian exiles. Israel relented and allowed the 415 exiles to return home, since it was alarmed to see the Palestinians developing crucial ties with the Lebanese people, especially after coming into contact with members of the legendry anti-terrorist movement, the Hezbollah, a factor that strengthened the revolutionary spirit and steadfastness of Hamas and Islamic Jihad.

20 solar years ago, on this day in 1996 AD, the prominent Iranian researcher and bibliographer, Mohammad Taqi Daneshpazhuh, passed away at the age of 85. Born in Amol in Mazandaran, after initial studies under his scholarly father, he enrolled at the seminary of holy Qom to benefit from the knowledge of the leading ulema. Simultaneously he graduated in Islamic studies from Tehran University, where he later became a lecturer at the College of Divinities. At various times, he served as head of some important university libraries, where he diligently catalogued old books, especially manuscripts, compiling valuable lists. As part of his work, he visited several countries to trace manuscripts relating to Iran, Persian literature, and Islamic eschatology. He served for decades as deputy librarian at Tehran University before joining the Department of History of the Faculty of Theology. In addition to editing and publishing works of others, he authored a number of articles of his own.

18 solar years ago, on this day in 1998 AD, the famous preacher Hojjat al-Islam Mohammad Taqi Falsafi passed away at the age of 90 in his hometown Tehran. After initial studies under his father, Ayatollah Mohammad Reza Tonekabouni, he enrolled at the seminary where he mastered different branches of Islamic knowledge, specializing in philosophy and logics. An outstanding orator, his speeches from the pulpits of mosques and hussainiyas, attracted wide audiences, as a result of which, he was banned from preaching on several occasions by the repressive Pahlavi regime. A firm supporter of the Father of the Islamic Revolution, Imam Khomeini (God bless him), he continued his discourses after establishment of the Islamic Republic. He authored several books, including “Commentary on the Du’a Makarem al-Akhlaq”, “The Youth from the View of Intellect and Emotions”, and “Resurrection on the Basis of Soul and Body”.

13 solar years ago, on this day in 2003 AD, in a blatant act of Islamophobia and encroachment on the right of women to protect their dignity in public, French President Jacques Chirac announced his decision to pass a law banning Islamic headscarves in public schools. This lawless attitude of France and other European countries towards Islam and women’s freedom shocked the civilized world and has led to wide scale protests.

6 solar years ago, on this day in 2010 AD, the alleged self-immolation of a Tunisian youth, Tareq Tayyeb Mohammad bin Bu Azizi, sparked the liberation movement against the US-supported dictatorial rule of Zain al-Abedin bin Ali, who finally fled the country and sought asylum in Saudi Arabia. The uprising soon spread to Egypt, Libya, Yemen, Bahrain, Jordan, Morocco, and Saudi Arabia. Bu Azizi was an educated 26-year old vendor, who in protest to the humiliating seizure of his goods by a municipality officer allegedly set himself on fire in front of the municipality premises. With the release of this report, tens of thousands of Tunisians gathered next to the Labour Ministry protesting the high unemployment rate and dire economic conditions.

AS/ME