Today is Friday; 27th of the Iranian month of Esfand 1395 solar hijri; corresponding to 18th of the Islamic month of Jamadi as-Sani 1438 lunar hijri; and March 17, 2017, of the Christian Gregorian Calendar.

1827 solar years ago, on this day in 180 AD, Roman Emperor, Marcus Aurelius, died after a reign of 19 years that saw his generals emerge as victors of the 5-year long war (161-65) against the Parthian Empire of Iran in Armenia and Mesopotamia (Iraq), following initial Iranian victories in Syria and Anatolia (Turkey). The Roman success, however, was short-lived, and despite the sacking of the Iranian-controlled Greek city of Seleucia on the eastern banks of the Tigris and plunder of the Parthian capital, Ctesiphon, on the eastern banks of the same river, the Iranians soon remobilized and reclaimed lost ground, although Armenia was briefly lost. The Parthian Empire was at that time under the long 44-year rule of Balaash, known to the Romans as Vologases IV.

1492 lunar years ago, on this day 54 years before Hijra the blessed marriage took place in Mecca, of Abdullah ibn Abdul-Muttaleb and Amenah bint Wahb (peace upon them), the parents of Prophet Mohammad (blessings of God upon him and his progeny). It is worth noting that the Prophet’s parents and grandparents, as well as all his ancestors descending from the Prophets Ishmael and Abraham (peace upon them), and extending right up to the Father of mankind, Adam, were upright monotheists, who had neither worshipped idols nor had ever deviated from the path of the One and Only Creator. Abdullah was a pious handsome young man from whose forehead a light shone out, indicating that he would be the father of a very blessed person. Many ladies of Arabia sent their proposals for marriage to him but Abdullah left the matter to his father to decide. Abdul-Muttaleb, who knew the divine promise that his grandson would be the Almighty’s Last and Greatest Messenger, approached the Bani Zuhrah clan and sought the hand of the chaste and virtuous Amenah for his son. The nuptials were celebrated in Mecca with great rejoicing, and on consummating of the marriage, the light was transferred to Amenah from Abdullah, and within a year resulted in the blessed birth of Prophet Mohammad (blessings of God upon him and his progeny). 

1393 solar years ago, on this day in 624 AD, Abu Jahl (literally ‘Father of Ignorance’), a hardcore Arab polytheist and one of the most bitter enemies of Islam and Prophet Mohammad (blessings of God upon him and his progeny), died following the fatal wounds he had received in the Battle of Badr, which he along with the pagan Arabs of Mecca had imposed upon Muslims. Named Amr and notorious for his persecution, imprisonment, torture, and killing of the early Muslims of Mecca, he vehemently opposed the message of Islam, imposed the 3-year economic-social boycott of the Prophet, denied miracles, and was the evil mind behind the pagan plot to murder the Prophet with the help of assassins from various clans – a plot that failed because of the migration of the Prophet to Medina, with instructions to his cousin Imam Ali (AS) to sleep on his bed, so that the conspirators would have no idea of his leaving Mecca.

1381 solar years ago, on this day in 636 AD, Bayt al-Moqaddas was liberated by Muslims, who defeated the Romans to free Palestine from European control. Over four centuries later, the Europeans launched the bloody Crusader Wars to occupy Bayt al-Moqaddas and Palestine. In 1187, after 88 years of the illegal existence of the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem, Bayt al-Moqaddas and Palestine were once again liberated by a united Muslim army of Kurds, Turks, Arabs and Persians. The Christians of Europe again occupied these lands briefly but were finally defeated by the Turkish Mamluk rulers of Egypt and expelled from Palestine in early 14th century. Over six hundred years later in 1917, during World War I, Palestine and Bayt al-Moqaddas were re-occupied by the Europeans, and this time by the British, who illegally settled in this Muslim land, hundreds of thousands of Zionists from Eastern Europe. In 1948, upon British withdrawal, the illegitimate birth of Israel took place, and simultaneously the Zionist terrorists expelled into neighbouring lands over 700,000 Palestinians. Today, 66 years later, the struggle for liberation of Palestine and Bayt al-Moqaddas still continues, and the Muslims are confident of weeding out the Zionists one day.

1254 solar years ago, on this day in 763 AD, the tyrant Haroun ar-Rashid, who styled himself as the 5^th caliph of the usurper Abbasid regime, was born in Rayy near modern Tehran, to Khayzaran a Yemeni concubine of dubious character of Mahdi al-Abbasi. He seized power after the suspicious death of his elder brother Hadi al-Abbasi. He consolidated his rule over the vast realm from North Africa up to the borders of China and India, largely through the administrative abilities of the Iranian Barmakid family, whose head Yahya Barmaki was made prime minister. The crafty Haroun gradually liquidated the Barmakids and behaved ruthlessly with all those who opposed his immoral and illegitimate rule, especially the followers of the Ahl al-Bayt of Prophet Mohammad (blessings of God upon him and his progeny). During his tyrannical rule of 23 years, he cruelly martyred over 60 descendants of the Prophet, including the most noblest of them all, the 7th Infallible Imam, Musa al-Kazem (AS). Haroun died in Khorasan at the age of 45 while on his way to suppress an uprising in Kabul, in what is now Afghanistan and was buried in Tous. Today there is no sign of his rotten grave, while the sprawling golden-domed mausoleum of Imam Reza (AS), the Prophet’s 8^th Infallible Heir in Mashhad, beckons millions of pilgrims from all over the world, as testimony to the triumph of the Ahl al-Bayt over the usurper caliphs.

669 lunar years ago, on this day in 769 AH, the acclaimed Persian poet Mahmoud ibn Amir Yameen od-Din, popularly known as Ibn Yameen Faryumadi, passed away at the age of 84. Born in Faryumad near Sabzevar in Khorasan, northeastern Iran, he is said to have been the court poet of the Shi’a Muslim Sarbedar dynasty. Over 5,000 of his poems, mainly aphorisms, have survived, including qasidas (or panegyrics) and mathnawis (or long odes) of a philosophical and mystical nature.

565 solar years ago, on this day in 1452 AD, the Battle of Los Alporchones was fought in southern Spain between the troops of the Muslim Emirate of Granada and the combined Christian forces of the Kingdom of Castile and the Kingdom of Murcia. The Spanish Muslim army was commanded by Malik ibn al-Abbas, while the Christian mercenaries were led by Alonso Fajardo el Bravo. The battle was fought in the area around the city of Lorca and resulted in a victory for Castile.

491 lunar years ago, on this day in 947 AH, a treaty was signed in Istanbul between the Ottoman Empire and the Republic of Venice, ending the 3-year naval war between the two sides, with the Venetians paying three million gold liras as war damages to the Turks, in addition to ceding all islands in the Aegean Sea as well as key mainland holdings in the Peloponnese Peninsula. The war had started over a Venetian insult to Sultan Sulaiman, prompting the Ottoman navy, led by Khair od-Din Pasha (Barbarossa or Redbeard to the Europeans), to raid Apulia in southern Italy. In response, a combined fleet of 81 Venetian ships, 50 Spanish ships, and 36 papal ships of the Holy Roman Empire, launched an attack on the Ottoman fleet. Khair od-Din Pasha retaliated with further raids up and down the coasts of the Aegean and Adriatic seas, capturing numerous Venetian-controlled islands and trading outposts, and staging a major raid on Crete. Next, with 120 warships he took on the might of the combined European fleet and inflicted a stunning defeat at Prevesa, forcing the allies to conclude a peace treaty.

490 solar years ago, on this day in 1527 AD, the Battle of Khanwa was fought near the village of the same name, about 60 km west of Agra. It was the second major battle fought by the first Mughal Emperor Zaheer od-Din Mohammad Babar after the Battle of Panipat a year before and firmly established his rule in northern India. As the Mughal Empire expanded it faced new opponents especially in the regions around Agra and inside Rajputana. After defeating Sultan Ibrahim Lodi of the Delhi Sultanate, Babar faced many Lodi Afghan warriors including Sikandar Lodi and his son Mahmud Lodi who rallied behind the Muslim Rajput ruler Raja Hassan Khan Mewatpatti of Mewat, who was supported by the Rana Sanga, the Hindu Rajput ruler. The Hindu Rajputs in league with the Muslim Rajputs and the Pashto opponents of Babar gathered a formidable army, but were soundly defeated by the combined Mughal-Tajik army.

419 lunar years ago, on this day in 1019 AH, the famous Iranian scholar, Seyyed Noorollah Shoushtari Mar’ashi, was martyred in Agra, India, at the age of 63, due to the jealousy of pseudo jurists, who framed up false charges against him for being promoted to “Qazi al-Quzzat” (Chief Judge) of the Mughal Empire. Born in Shoushtar in Safavid Iran, after initial studies in his hometown, he travelled to Mashhad in Khorasan for higher studies at the age of 23. In 993 AH, he migrated to Hindustan (northern subcontinent) on the invitation of Emperor Jalal od-Din Akbar Shah, and steadily rose to become the Chief Judge in Lahore. A prolific writer, he wrote several books, including “Majalis al-Momineen” and “Ahqaq al-Haq”, before being martyred on the insinuation of the enemies of the Ahl al-Bayt of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA). Emperor Noor od-Din Jahangir Shah was under the influence of alcohol when he signed the decree drafted by court mullahs for Seyyed Noorollah’s execution. Later, the emperor rued his decision and with the help of his Iranian wife, Empress Noor-Jahan, he executed the plotters for the murder of this eminent Iranian scholar, who is known as “Shaheed Salles” (3^rd Great Martyr), and whose tomb is a site of pilgrimage.

157 solar years ago, on this day in 1860 AD, the First Taranaki War began in the place of the same name in New Zealand between the British occupiers and the indigenous Maori people. It was a major phase of the New Zealand land wars over land ownership and sovereignty that took place in North Island and lasted for a year. The war was sparked by a dispute between the British occupiert and Maori landowners over the sale of a property at Waitara, but spread throughout the region. The British brought more than 3,500 troops from Australia, as well as volunteer soldiers and militia, against Maori forces that fluctuated between a few hundred and about 1,500. Total losses among the British troops are estimated to have been 238, while Maori casualties totalled about 200. The First War ended in a ceasefire, with neither side explicitly accepting the peace terms of the other. Although there were claims by the British that they had won it, the widely held view was that they had suffered a humiliating result.

157 lunar years ago, on this day in 1281 AH, the great Islamic scholar, Ayatollah Shaikh Morteza Ansari Dezfuli, passed away in holy Najaf, Iraq, at the age of 67. He was born in Dezful, southwestern Iran. At the age of twenty while on pilgrimage to the holy cities in Iraq, he decided to stay in Karbala, where for four years, he studied Islamic sciences. When the holy city was besieged by the Ottoman Turkish forces of Dawoud Pasha, he along with the scholars of Karbala and other students moved to Baghdad and the shrine of Imam Musa al-Kazem (AS). He then returned to Iran before going again to Iraq a year later to study for two years at the Najaf Seminary under Shaikh Kashef al-Gheta. He again returned to Iran for pilgrimage to the holy shrine of Imam Reza (AS) in Mashhad, where he encountered Ahmad an-Naraqi, an authority in “Fiqh” (Jurisprudence) and “Irfan” (Gnosis), and decided to study with him for a further four years. After a few years of travelling, Shaikh Ansari went back to holy Najaf to complete his studies under Kashef al-Gheta and the famous Shaikh Mohammad Hassan Najafi, the author of the brilliant book, "Jawaher al-Kalaam". He settled in Najaf, began teaching and was soon universally recognized as the 'most learned Mujtahid and Marja or the Source of Emulation for the Shi'a Muslim world. His classes became incredibly popular, attracting hundreds of students. In spite of the tremendous prestige attached to his position, Shaikh Ansari lived the life of an ascetic. The author of some thirty books and treatises, his works are noted for their clarity and readability. Most of his works centre on Fiqh (Jurisprudence). His most important works are the “Rasa'el” and the “Makaseb”, of which the latter is a book of detailed Islamic Commercial Law, and is still taught today in the Hawza. Among his students was Grand Ayatollah Mirza Mohammad Hassan Shirazi, who issued the famous “fatwa” against the British monopoly on tobacco that saved Iran from an intricate plot. Another prominent student was the pan-Islamist thinker, Seyyed Jamal od-Din Asadabadi.

149 lunar years ago, on this day in 1289 AH, the concession to exploit Iran’s vital sources was granted to a British colonialist agent, Julius De Reuters, by the Qajarid King, Nasser od-Din Shah. It included exploitation of Iran’s mines and forests, building railway, and setting up a bank, post office and telegraph lines to serve London’s vested interests. The people and religious scholars, led by Mullah Ali Kani, unanimously opposed the grant to Reuters. As people’s opposition under the leadership of the ulema grew, the concession was annulled, but as compensation Reuters was given the right to set up the Imperial Bank and print currency notes in Iran for sixty years.

97 solar years ago, on this day in 1920 AD, Sheikh Mujib ur-Rahman, the Founding Leader of Bangladesh, was born in Bengal state of British India. In 1940 he joined the All India Muslim Students Federation while studying law at the Islamia College of the University of Calcutta. In 1943 he joined the Bengal Muslim League and grew close to the faction led by Hussain Shaheed Suhrawardi, who was to become Prime Minister of Pakistan. Mujib worked actively for the establishment of Pakistan. After partition, he became one of the most prominent political leaders of East Pakistan, and organized protests when Urdu was made the official language. He was jailed and after release set up the Awami League. With his emphasis on Bengali culture and ethnicity, he was viewed by the government in Islamabad as an Indian agent trying to destabilize Pakistan. In the 1970 elections, the Awami League won the majority of seats and increased demands for autonomy of East Pakistan. The war with India worsened the crisis. Mujib was imprisoned in West Pakistan but the Mukti Bahini militia which his Awami League had created with the support of Indian troops, forced the Pakistani army to surrender. On release he became head of the new country Bangladesh in January 1972, and was assassinated in 1975 by army officers disgruntled with his policies.

69 solar years ago, on this day in 1948 AD, representatives of Britain, France, Belgium, Holland, and Luxemburg met in the Belgian capital to sign the Brussels Pact for a joint defense system and to develop economic and cultural ties. This set the stage for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in April 1949 with the US and Canada as new members.

61 solar years ago, on this day in 1956 AD, French chemist, Irene Joliot-Curie, died. She shared the 1935 Nobel Prize for synthesis of new radioactive isotopes with her husband Frederic. They bombarded stable atoms with alpha particles to transmute them into radioactive elements. They created nitrogen from boron, phosphorus from aluminum and silicon from magnesium. She was the daughter of the famous scientists Marie and Pierre Curie.

21 solar years ago, on this day in 1996 AD, the prominent scholar, Ayatollah Abu’l-Qasim Rahmani Khalili, passed away at the age of 72. Born in a village near Behshahr, Mazandaran Province, after preliminary religious studies, he departed for Iraq to study at the seminary of holy Najaf, where he stayed for thirteen years. On return to his hometown, he taught and preached for ten years, building during this period a mosque, a seminary and a hussainiyah. He then moved to the capital Tehran and for fourteen years taught Islamic courses, before shifting to holy Qom, where he spent the rest of his life, teaching higher Islamic sciences. He wrote many books, including an exegesis of Surah al-Hamd –opening surah of the holy Qur’an.

15 solar years ago, on this day in 2002 AD, Ayatollah Mohammad Mozaffari Qazvini passed away at the age of 76. Born in Qazvin, he was a product of the seminaries of holy Qom and holy Najaf. On his return to Iran he took up residence in his hometown, teaching students and writing books for the next 28 years of his remaining life. Among his works is “Islam and the Medical System”.

6 solar years ago, on this day in 2011 AD, the Islamic Republic of Iran sent the country's first space capsule that is able to sustain life into orbit as a test for a future mission that may carry a live animal. Two years later in 2013, Iran sent its first monkey into space, which came back alive.

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