Today is Saturday; 17th of the Iranian month of Tir 1396 solar hijri; corresponding to 13th of the Islamic month of Shawwal 1438 lunar hijri; and July 8, 2017, of the Christian Gregorian Calendar.

1243 lunar years ago, on this day in 194 AH, the famous Iranian Sunni Muslim compiler of hadith, Mohammad Ibn Ismail Ibn Ibrahim Ibn Bardizbah ibn Bazzabeh Bukhari, was born in the ancient Iranian city of Bukhara in what is now the Republic of Uzbekistan, in a family which before conversion to Islam was either Zoroastrian or Jewish. He started collecting hadith from anyone who could relate. In his late teens, along with his brother and mother, he travelled to Mecca for pilgrimage. After visiting the centres of learning, exchanging information on hadith from over 1,000 persons, and recording more than 600,000 narrations, he returned to his hometown after a 16-year absence. Here he compiled his "al-Jame' as-Sahih", which is revered as "Sahih Bukhari" by Sunni Muslims, and contains 7,275 hadith selected as per his inclination. Although he has acknowledged some of the unparalleled merits of the Ahl al-Bayt, he did not visit the rightful heirs of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA) or met their disciples for precise information on authentic hadith. It is claimed that it was fear of the wrath of the Abbasid regime that made him omit any hadith related from such an outstanding authority as the Prophet's 6th Infallible Heir, Imam Ja'far Sadeq (AS), but he felt no inhibitions to include in his so-called "Sahih" narrations from dubious persons – even avowed enemies of the Prophet's Household. In 250 AH he settled in Naishapur in Khorasan, following his expulsion from Bukhara for issuing a weird fatwa against the letter and spirit of the shari'ah that persons drinking the milk of the same cow, goat or donkey, are foster siblings and hence ineligible for marriage with each other. Here he met another Iranian with Sunni inclinations, named Muslim Ibn Hajjaj, who became his student, and eventually collector of a separate book on hadith, known as "Sahih Muslim". Bukhari died at the age of 62 while on a visit to Khartank, a village near Samarqand.

1078 solar years ago, on this day in 939 AD, “Ghaybat a-Kobra” (Major Occultation) of Prophet Mohammad’s (SAWA) namesake and his 12th and Last Infallible Heir, commenced following the death of Ali Ibn Mohammad Samari the last of the Four Deputies (Nawwab al-Arba’), who had been informed six days before his death through an epistle by the Imam to tell the faithful that no other Deputy would replace him. The Imam’s Letter reads:

"In the Name of Allah the All-Compassionate the All-Merciful; O Ali Ibn Mohammad Samari, in the grievance of your death shall God grant your brothers a great reward. You will leave this world in 6 days. Settle your affairs and do not assign a successor for yourself. The time of the “Ghaybat al-Kubra” (Major Occultation) has arrived and I will not reappear until Allah grants me the permission to do so, and my reappearance will only be after a long time and the pitilessness of hearts and the overspread of injustice on the Earth. There will be those who will announce themselves as my deputy to my Shi’ites (followers). Beware that if anyone before the emergence of the (bloodthirsty) Sufyani and the Loud Announcement from the sky, makes any such claims (to be my deputy), then (he/she) is a liar and a deceiver as all movements and influences are from none but Allah."

The 69-year period of “Ghaybat as-Soghra” (Minor Occultation) that had started on the martyrdom of the Prophet’s 11th Infallible Heir, Imam Hasan al-Askari (AS) for his 5-year old son and successor thus ended, and during the long period of the Major Occultation the faithful have been advised to refer to devout, sincere, pious, far-sighted, and courageous ulema for guidance, until God orders the 12th Imam’s reappearance as Mahdi al-Qa’em (AS) to cleanse the Planet of all vestiges of oppression and corruption by establishing the global government of peace, prosperity and justice.

918 solar years ago, on this day in 1099 AD, as part of the First Crusader invasion of Muslim lands, 15,000 Christian soldiers marched in a religious procession around Bayt al-Moqaddas as its Muslim defenders looked on. Bayt al-Moqaddas was then under the rule of the Fatemid Ismaili Shi’ite Muslim Dynasty of Egypt-North Africa. Because of disunity in Muslim ranks, coupled with the underestimation of the designs of the enemies, this holy Islamic city was seized by the Crusaders, who massacred as many as 70,000 men, women, and children of various ethnicities, including Arab, Iranian, Turkish and Kurdish. It took 88 years for the Muslims to close ranks and liberate Bayt al-Moqaddas in 1187 under a united Muslim force of Arabs, Iranians, Kurds, and Turks.

527 lunar years ago, on this day in 911 AH, the famous jurisprudent Shaikh Zayn od-Din al-Juba'i al-Ameli, known as “Shaheed Thani” (Second Martyr), was born in Jabal Amel in Lebanon. He is believed to have some connection with Tous in Khorasan, because he occasionally signed his name as "at-Tousi ash-Shami" – the second part pertaining to Greater Syria since Lebanon like Palestine and Jordan is actually a part of Syria. After initial study under his father, he was groomed for some 8 years by the celebrated Shaikh Ali bin Hussain bin Abd al-Aali Muhaqqaq Karki, and by the age of 33 became a Mujtahed. He had also studied in Damascus under Sunni ulema, and became an authority on such texts as “Sahih Bukhari” and “Sahih Muslim”. He visited Egypt to study medicine, geometry, prosody and logic from different teachers. He performed the Hajj pilgrimage and visited Bayt al-Moqaddas, in addition to travelling to Iraq for the pilgrimage to the shrines of the Imams of the Ahl al-Bayt. During a visit to Istanbul had a lively discussion with the Chief Qazi of the state, Mohammad bin Mohammad Qazizadah ar-Roumi, to whom he presented a treatise titled “Ten Knowledges” that greatly impressed the latter. He was permitted to teach at the Nooriyah Islamic School in Ba’lbek, where he taught the five schools of Islamic jurisprudence, that is, Ja'fari, Hanafi, Shafei, Maliki and Hanbali. Apart from proficiency in jurisprudence, he was well versed in theology, philosophy, Gnosis, medicine and astronomy. A man of piety, known for his austere way of life, his students have recorded in his biography that he maintained his family by selling wood that he cut during the nights, and then sat to teach during the day. Some pseudo ulema adverse to Islamic unity, conspired against him, labeled false accusations, and complained to the Ottoman Sultan. In mid Ramadhan 965 AH, he was brutally beheaded on his way to see the Sultan, and a shrine was built by Turkmens on the site as they realised his stature. His assassin was killed on the Sultan's orders. He is the author of several books, but his greatest work is the commentary he wrote on the jurisprudential manual "Lum'at-ad-Dimashqiyya" (The Damascene Glitter) of the First Martyr, Mohammad Jamal od-Din al-Makki al-Ameli, titled "ar-Rawdhat-al-Bahiyah ft Sharh al-Lum'at-ad- Dimashqiyya" (The Beautiful Garden in Interpreting the Damascene Glitter).

138 solar years ago, on this day in 1880 AD, the French scientist and founder of science of Phrenology, Pierre Paul Broca, died at the age of 56. He conducted extensive research on the skulls of the deceased and made major discoveries. He realized that the left side of the brain is responsible for speaking and any harm to this part would lead to speech disorders.

115 lunar years ago, on this day in 1323 AH, the prominent Islamic scholar, Ayatollah Shaikh Mohammad Taha, passed away at the age of 83. Born in holy Najaf in Iraq, he acquired knowledge under the prominent Islamic scholar, Sheikh Morteza Ansari Dezfuli. He was a polymath in theology, principles of theology, hadith, and exegesis of the Holy Qur'an. He has left behind several books, including an Annotation on "Ma'alem al-Osoul".

100 lunar years ago, on this day in 1338 AH, Ayatollah Mirza Mohammad Taqi Shirazi issued the fatwa for jihad against the British invaders of Iraq, following the occupation of Basra and Baghdad during World War I. Known as the “Revolution of the 1920s”. The edict united Iraqis, who initially inflicted defeats on the British army, until crushed by the superior fire power of the invaders. Earlier in 1329 AH, following the invasion of northern Iran by Russian forces and the killings of Iranian Muslims, Ayatollah Mohammad Taqi Shirazi, who had not yet migrated to Iraq, issued a fatwa to the effect that it is an obligation to resist the Russian aggressors. In 1332 AH, when Britain and its allies launched war against the Ottoman government, Ayatollah Mohammad Taqi Shirazi along with other prominent scholars of Iraq issued statements about the obligation of jihad against the forces invading the Ottoman territories. Ayatollah Mohammad Taqi Shirazi's migration to Karbala facilitated the coordination among scholars of Karbala and Najaf, as well as contacts with nomads for resistance against the occupiers. The British martyred him through poisoning, exiled to Iran Sheikh Kashef al-Gheta and Sheikh Mohammad Khalesi, and installed in Baghdad an imported king – Faisal, a son of the British agent of Hejaz, Sharif Hussain.

61 solar years ago, on this day in 1956 AD, the Italian thinker and author, Giovanni Papini, died at the age of 75. He was born in Florence and went through a tough childhood, but his interest in learning led him to frequent public libraries, which helped him develop his sublime talent in literature. He wrote his autobiography at a young age, disclosing his mental trauma and non-belief in religion. After World War I, he felt a major spiritual change within him that awakened his innate feelings for faith in Almighty God. He has stated his views and thoughts in his books.

58 lunar years ago, on this day in 1380 AH, the famous Source of Emulation (Marja’), Grand Ayatollah Seyyed Hussain Borujerdi, passed away in the holy city of Qom at the age of 88 and was laid to rest in the mausoleum of Hazrat Fatema Ma’soumah (SA). Born in Boroujerd in a scholarly family descended from Imam Hasan Mujtaba (AS), the elder grandson and second Infallible Heir of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA), he completed his higher studies at the Islamic Seminary of holy Najaf, under prominent ulema such as Akhound Mullah Mohammad Kazem Khorasani, Ayatollah Shaikh osh-Shari’ah Isfahani, and Allamah Seyyed Kazem Yazdi, on his return to Iran, he became head of the Qom Islamic Seminary. A pious scholar well versed in different Islamic sciences, he promoted the teachings of the Ahl al-Bayt abroad by sending Seyyed Muhaqqiqi to Hamburg, Germany, Aqa-e-Shari'at to Karachi, Pakistan, al-Faqihi to Medina and Seyyed Musa as-Sadr to Lebanon. He established cordial relations with Mahmoud Shaltut, the grand Shaikh of Egypt’s al-Azhar Seminary. Together, the two scholars established in Cairo the "Centre for Proximity among Islamic Schools of Jurisprudence”. Shaltut issued a famous fatwa accepting the Shi'a faith as one of the recognised sects of Islam. Grand Ayatollah Borujerdi opposed the Pahlavi regime's agrarian policies as "agrarian destruction." In his view, the confiscations of large concentrations of landholdings disrupted the fabric of rural life and eroded religious institutions. He groomed a large number of scholars such as Grand Ayatollah Seyyed Mohammad Reza Golpayegani, Grand Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Sistani, Grand Ayatollah Lotfollah Safi Golpayegani, Grand Ayatollah Mohammad Fazel Lankarani, Grand Ayatollah Nasser Makarem Shirazi, Ayatollah Morteza Motahhari, Ayatollah Seyyed Mohammad Hussaini Beheshti, etc. He wrote several books and treatises.

35 solar years ago, on this day in 1982 AD, the Iranian calligrapher, Mirza Ahmad Najafi Zanjani, popularly known as “Ma’soumi”, passed away. While studying Islamic sciences at the Najaf Seminary in Iraq, he started learning the art of calligraphy. His works include 110 books, and more than 250 inscriptions for mosques and historical monuments. The inscriptions in Mashhad at the Holy Shrine of Imam Reza (AS), the 8th Infallible Successor of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA), and also at Tehran University, are the two most famous works of this acclaimed calligrapher.

32 solar years ago, on this day in 1985 AD, the revolutionary Islamic scholar, Ayatollah Mohammad Mahdi Rabbani Amlashi, passed away at the age of 51. Born in a religious family in the holy city of Qom, he started his Islamic studies in his hometown. He was politically active against the despotic regime of the Shah and was imprisoned for six years. After the victory of the Islamic Revolution, he was named by Imam Khomeini (RA) as a juriconsult member of the Council of Guardians.

23 solar years ago, on this day in 1994 AD, the Leader of North Korea and Secretary-General of the country’s communist party, Kim Il-Sung, died at the age of 82. In 1945, he led the Korean communists and in 1948 upon foundation of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, he was instated as the premier. He was Commander-in-Chief during the Korean War and was instated as president in 1972. He ably led the country despite the US plot and division of the Korean Peninsula into North and South. He maintained independence from the two major communist powers, the Soviet Union and China. The measures taken by Kim Il-Sung for reconstruction and industrial development of North Korea were highly successful.

22 solar years ago, on this day in 1995 AD, the jurisprudent and prominent researcher, Ayatollah Seyyed Mohammad Hussain Hussaini Tehrani, passed away in his hometown Tehran at the age of 69. After studying in holy Qom under Grand Ayatollah Seyyed Hussain Boroujerdi, and the famous exegete of the holy Qur’an, Allamah Seyyed Mohamnmad Hussain Tabatabai, he left for Iraq to study at the seminary in Holy Najaf, were he studied under Grand Ayatollah Seyyed Abu’l-Qassem Khoie, and Ayatollah Seyyed Mahmood Shahroudi. On his return to Iran he was engaged in grooming students and writing books in Persian, including the 18-volume “Imam-Shinasi” (Cognizance of the Imam), the 10-volume “Ma’ad-Shinasi” (Understanding Resurrection), the 4-volume “Noor-e Malakout-e Qur’an” and “Rooh-e Mojarrad” (The Detached Soul) on Gnosis. In this last named book, he has mentioned in detail his meeting with the reclusive Gnostic Seyyed Hashem Haddad and how his spiritual guidance totally transformed him, taking him to higher levels of spirituality.

18 solar years ago, on this day in 1999 AD, prominent Iranian thinker, Ayatollah Dr Mahdi Ha’eri Yazdi, passed away at the age of 77 and was laid to rest in the holy mausoleum of Hazrat Ma’souma (SA) in Qom. Son of the Reviver of the Islamic Seminary of Qom, Grand Ayatollah Shaikh Abdul-Karim Ha’eri Yazdi, after initial studies under his elder brother, Ayatollah Morteza Ha’eri and Grand Ayatollah Seyyed Mohammad Reza Golpayegani, he became a student of the Father of the Islamic Revolution, Imam Khomeini (RA), Grand Ayatollah Seyyed Hussain Boroujerdi, Ayatollah Seyyed Mohammad Hojjat Kohkamrehi, Ayatollah Seyyed Taqi Khansari, Ayatollah Seyyed Ahmad Khansari, and Allamah Mirza Mahdi Ashtiani, mastering theology, jurisprudence, philosophy and other sciences. He was sent to the US as representative of Grand Ayatollah Boroujerdi to North America, where besides teaching Islamic sciences and supervising affairs of the Shi’a Muslim community, he studied western philosophy at the University of Michigan in the US and the University of Toronto in Canada, obtaining PhD in this field. He taught Islamic studies and Persian literature at American universities. In 1979 he returned to Iran and wrote several books in different fields, such as rationalism, Qur’anic sciences, metaphysics, philosophy and political theories. In 1992 he published "The Principles of Epistemology in Islamic Philosophy: Knowledge by Presence". The book aimed to present Western scholars and philosophers a theme that he considered most important: knowledge by presence - knowledge that arises from immediate and intuitive awareness.

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