Today is Thursday; 18th of the Iranian month of Khordad 1396 solar hijri; corresponding to 13th of the Islamic month of Ramadhan 1438 lunar hijri; and June 8, 2017, of the Christian Gregorian Calendar.

1384 solar years ago, on this day in 632 AD as per the Gregorian calendar, the Almighty’s Last and Greatest Messenger to mankind, Prophet Mohammad (SAWA), passed away in Medina on completion of his 23-year mission that saw the gradual revelation of the final heavenly scripture to entire humanity, the holy Qur’an. Over two months before his departure from the world, he had on God’s express commandment, proclaimed his dear ward, cousin, and son-in-law, Imam Ali ibn Abi Taleb (AS), as vicegerent. The Prophet, ever since his formal declaration of the universal creed of Islam, had stressed the rights and role of Imam Ali (AS) and the Ahl al-Bayt. Unfortunately, some of his companions disobeyed his explicit emphasis by depriving Imam Ali (AS) of the right of political leadership – a factor that has been the cause till this day of the greatest discord in the Islamic ummah. According to the Islamic lunar hijri calendar, the Prophet passed away on 28th Safar 11 AH.

1343 lunar years ago, on this day in 95 AH, the tyrannical governor-general of the Godless Omayyad regime, Hajjaj ibn Yusuf, died of pain in his stomach at the age of 54. Of uncertain paternity and born to a morally-loose woman in Ta’ef, he was named “Kulayb” – Arabic for whelp, that is, offspring of dog or wolf. Although later in life he changed his name to Hajjaj and added the surname Thaqafi, without any connection to the famous Thaqafi clan, his innate canine characteristics were evident throughout his bloodthirsty life. His mean mentality earned him the post of “Shurta” or police chief in Damascus, and his subsequent cruelties against any form of dissent caught the attention of the Omayyad usurper, Abdul-Malik ibn Marwan, who appointed him governor-general of Iraq and Iran, to crush the followers of the blessed household of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA). It is said that as many 125,000 Muslims were killed on the orders of Hajjaj, in addition to those who died fighting against his tyrannical rule. Among the prominent and pious figures martyred by this tyrant was the Prophet’s venerable companion, Jaber ibn Abdullah al-Ansari and two of the most loyal followers of Imam Ali (AS) – the devoted servant Qanbar and the faithful disciple, Kumayl bin Ziyad to whom the Imam had taught the famous supplication of the same name that is recited by believers on Friday eve. Among the other unpardonable sins of Hajjaj was his storming of the holy Ka'ba in Mecca in pursuit of the self-styled caliph, Abdullah ibn Zubair, who was eventually killed along with 10,000 of his men. The holy Ka'ba also suffered extensive damage and desecration. On his death when prisons were opened, over 50,000 men and women were released, while thousands of corpses were discovered.

453 lunar years ago, on this day in 985 AH, Ismail II, the 3^rd king of the Safavid dynasty died at the age of 40 on consuming poisoned opium after a brief 15-month reign of terror and fratricide in Iran. Imprisoned by his father Shah Tahmasp I for plotting to seize the throne he was freed and declared king by a faction of the powerful Qizilbash Guard in the dispute that ensued on the death of Shah Tahmasp. The Qizilbash were split between him and his younger brother Haydar Ali. The pro-Haydar faction was briefly successful in placing their candidate on the throne but Haydar was killed in the ensuing fight between supporters and opponents that made his tutor, the great scholar, Mir Mohammad Momin Astarabadi to leave Iran for the safety of the Deccan in southern India, where he became Prime Minister of the Qotb-Shahi Dynasty of Iranian origin of Golkandah and helped found the city of Hyderabad. Another faction tried to make a third son of Tahmasp as king, but was thwarted by Ismail's supporters. It seems the almost 20-year imprisonment of Ismail at the fortress of Qahqaha had affected his mind. As well as executing members of the faction that had opposed him, he also turned on his own supporters. He killed or blinded five of his own brothers and four other Safavid princes. He is known in Iranian history as "Ismail-e Murted" (The Apostate) for turning away from the path of the Ahl al-Bayt of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA). The Qizilbash began to regret their choice and plotted to assassinate him with the help of his sister Pari Khan Khanum. lsmail was succeeded by his almost blind brother, Mohammad Khodabandah, the father of Shah Abbas the Great.

327 solar years ago, on this day in 1690 AD, Yadi Sakat, the Siddi Muslim general of Abyssinian origin, razed the Mazagaon Fort in British-held Mumbai, before withdrawing on the orders of his overlord Yaqut Khan of Janjira Island, following Governor John Child’s acceptance of the terms set by Mughal Emperor, Aurangzeb, for peace including payment of 150,000 rupees (Over a billion USD at present conversion rates). Yaqut Khan was the title given by Aurangzeb to Qasim Khan, the Siddi Naval Admiral and administrator of Janjira Island, who first served under the Bijapur Sultanate of Iranian origin and later under the Mughal Empire. During a Muhgal-British conflict he laid siege to Mumbai in 1689. The Siddis were loyal to the Mughals and had earned a reputation as excellent sea-farers. Earlier also in October, 1672, Yaqut Khan had entered the seven islands of Mumbai and attacked the Marathas, and returned the following year on 10 October 1673, after destroying the towns of Pen and Nagothane. Yaqut, along with Khairiyat Khan, had earlier saved the Portuguese from the Marathas of Sambhaji at Chaul. In 1689, Aurangzeb ordered the Siddis to attack Mumbai for the third time after Indian vessels sailing to Surat were captured in 1686 by the British. The Siddis had adopted Persian language and culture.

208 solar years ago, on this day in 1809 AD, the English philosopher and author, Thomas Paine, died at the age of 74 in New York. He came to New England in what is now the US in 1774, and helped foment the American Revolution through his writings, most notably Common Sense, an incendiary pamphlet advocating independence from Britain. His sixteen “Crisis” papers, published between 1776 and 1783, helped to inspire the colonists during the ordeals of the revolution. He was an active advocate of the French Revolution as well. In his work "Rights of Man", written in reply to Edmund Burke's criticism of the French Revolution, he dismissed monarchy. He opposed slavery and was among the early advocates of social security. In his works, Paine emphasized on faith and monotheism.

162 solar years ago, on this day in 1855 AD, in the wake of a massive earthquake, Portugal’s capital, Lisbon, went up in flames and was completely destroyed. Almost 40,000 people lost their lives and two thirds of homes and commercial establishments were flattened. A total of 2,000 ships, warships, and boats anchored at the port were sunk.

134 solar years ago, on this day in 1783 AD, Laki, a volcano in Iceland, began an eight-month eruption which killed over 9,000 people and started a seven-year famine.

122 solar years ago, on this day in 1895 AD, the Iranian author and translator, Saeed Nafisi, was born in Tehran. He was the son of Ali Akbar Nafisi, popularly known as “Nazem ul-Atebba”, the compiler of Persian lexicon "Farhang-e Nafisi". Saeed Nafisi studied Law and Political Science, and lectured on history and literature in Tehran. He was an active member of Iran’s Cultural Centre and cooperated with several cultural institutions in European and Asian countries. He wrote numerous articles and books in different domains such as history, poetry, and lexicography. Among his works, mention could be made of the book “Social History of Iran”. He passed away in 1966.

110 lunar years ago, on this day in 1328 AH, the Iranian theologian and mystic, Mirza Jahangir Khan Qashqai, passed away. Born among Qashqai nomads in central Iran, he became a prominent Islamic scholar, and groomed numerous students in the seminary of Isfahan, including Ayatollah Seyyed Hassan Modarres, and Grand Ayatollah Seyyed Hussain Boroujerdi, during his 50-year teaching career. He passed away at the age of 85 in Isfahan.

98 lunar years ago, on this day in 1340 AH, the prominent theologian, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Sistani (grandfather of the current Source of Emulation Grand Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Sistani of holy Najaf) passed away in holy Mashhad, Khorasan in northeastern Iran. The reason the family is called Sistani is because of the appointment of an ancestor to the religious post of Shaikh ol-Islam in Greater Sistan Province by Shah Sultan Hussain Safavi, for promotion of the teachings of the Ahl al-Bayt of Prophet Mohammad (blessings of God upon him and his progeny). Ayatollah Sistani, after completion of studies in Najaf, returned home to Iran and settled in Mashhad. He used to lecture on theology and jurisprudence, in addition to leading the Friday Prayers at Gowhar-Shad Mosque adjacent to the holy shrine of Imam Reza (AS), the Prophet’s 8^th Infallible Heir. He was jailed for a while during the Constitutional Movement due to his struggles against despotism of the Qajarid regime.

81 solar years ago, on this day in 1936 AD, the prominent researcher and jurisprudent, Ayatollah Seyyed Mirza Ali Aqa Shirazi, passed away at the age of 67. Son of the celebrated Grand Ayatollah Mirza Hassan Shirazi (famous for his anti-tobacco fatwa to save Iranian economy from British exploitation), he reached the status of Ijtihad at the young age of 20, and was known for his piety.

50 solar years ago, on this day in 1967 AD, Israeli air force jets and navy torpedo boats jointly attacked an American technical research ship, the USS Liberty, killing 34 crew members, and wounding 171 others, in international waters north of the Sinai Peninsula, about 47.2 km northwest from the Egyptian city of Arish. Surprisingly, the US ruled as "case of mistaken identity" this act of Zionist state terrorism which was intended to force Washington to side more openly with Israel.

50 solar years ago, on this day in 1967 AD, the army of the illegal Zionist entity occupied the Islamic Palestinian city of al-Khalil, naming it Hebron and desecrating the sacred shrine of Prophet Abraham, as well as the Cave of the Patriarchs, where many prophets of God used to worship.

31 solar years ago, on this day in 1986 AD, the contemporary Iranian author, Zabihollah Mansouri, passed away after years of translation and compilation of several books. He was an expert on works and Divans of most Persian poets, and was fluent in English, Arabic, and French languages as well. He wrote articles in different magazines and papers for almost seventy years. Among his valuable works, mention can be made of “Imam Husain (AS) and Iran”, “Life and Works of Mullah Sadra”, and “The Fall of Constantinople”.

25 solar years ago, on this day in 1992 AD, the notorious Zionist spy agency, Mossad, assassinated in France, prominent Palestinian security official, Atef Bassiso. It took seven years for the French Police to admit that Mossad had masterminded this terrorist act in France.

20 solar years ago, on this day in 1997 AD, the prominent Hadith scholar and historian, Ayatollah Sheikh Qawwam od-Din Mohammad Veshnavi Qomi, passed away at the age of 90 in holy Qom and was laid to rest in the shrine of Hazrat Ma’soumah (SA). Born in Veshnavah village in the Fordu Rural District of Kahak near holy Qom, at the age of 22 he left for Iraq to study at the famous seminary of holy Najaf, where he attained Ijtihad before returning to Iran. He was an expert on narrators of hadith, history and jurisprudence, and wrote several books in this regard such as “Hadith Thaqalayn”, Makarem al-Akhlaq”, and “Hayat an-Nabi wa Siratuhu” (The Prophet’s Life and Behaviour).

AS/ME