Today is Wednesday; 20th of the Iranian month of Tir 1397 solar hijri; corresponding to 27th of the Islamic month of Shawwal 1439 lunar hijri; and July 11, 2018, of the Christian Gregorian Calendar.

1864 solar years ago, on this day in 154 AD, Bardaisan, the Gnostic, scientist, scholar, astrologer, philosopher, and poet of Iranian-Babylonian origin, was born in the upper Mesopotamian city of Edessa, which was historically part of Syria, but is now in Turkey. He was believed to be of Parthian, i.e. eastern Iranian extraction, and was renowned for his knowledge of India, on which he wrote a book. It is said his parents of noble rank had fled Persia and settled in Edessa on the banks of the River Daisan, and thus named him Bardaisan, which means "Son of the Daisan". Edessa in those days was alternately under the influence of the Roman and the Parthian Empires, but was ruled by the local Abgar Dynasty, with whose crown prince and future king, Bardaisan was educated and to whom he later became counselor. Bardaisan soon became a devout follower of the teachings of Prophet Jesus (AS), although he may not have believed in the weird concept of Trinity, since it was he who converted the king and people of Edessa to the monotheistic creed. Despite Roman persecution, he preached extensively as far as Armenia, and wrote prolifically in both Syriac and Aramaic. His chief work, "The Dialogue of Destiny", or "The Book of the Laws of the Countries", is the oldest known original composition in Syriac literature. He also composed 150 hymns like the Psalms of Prophet David.  His thoughts later influenced the Iranian Mani who founded the religion of Manichaeism by incorporating some of the teachings of Prophet Jesus (AS).

1441 lunar years ago, on this day in the third year prior to the Hijra, or migration to Medina, Prophet Mohammad (blessings of God upon him and his progeny) left for the city of Ta'ef, to invite the people to Islam, following growing persecution of Muslims by the pagan Arabs of Mecca, in the aftermath of the death of his uncle and guardian, Hazrat Abu Taleb (AS) and his loyal wife of 25-long years, Omm al-Momineen (Mother of all True Believers) Hazrat Khadija (peace upon her). He met stiff opposition from idolaters in Ta’ef and returned to Mecca, although later the people of Ta’ef embraced the truth of Islam.

1139 lunar years ago, on this day in 300 AH, the pious scholar, Sa'd bin Abdullah al-Ash'ari al-Qomi, passed away in Qom. He had the privilege of meeting Imam Hasan Askari (AS), the 11th Infallible Heir of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA). He wrote several books including "Basa'er ad-Darajaat" and was an active missionary in Iran for promotion of the teachings of the Ahl al-Bayt.

1119 lunar years ago, on this day in 320 AH, Muqtadar Billah, the 18th self-styled caliph of the usurper Abbasid Dynasty, was killed by his slave guard after 25 years of misrule that bankrupted the state and increased the people's misery, while the Byzantines felt emboldened to attack at will and occupy large territories in Asia Minor or what is now Turkey. The killing of this caliph, who spent all his time with musicians and dancers in the harem, had been foretold by the Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali (AS).

1058 lunar years ago, on this day in 381 AH, the renowned Iranian theologian and philosopher, Abu'l-Hassan Mohammad ibn Yusuf al-Ameri, passed away in his hometown Naishapur in the northeastern province of Khorasan. He believed that Islam was the perfection of all religions, and the revealed truths of Islam were thus superior to the conclusions of philosophy, however logical, although the two did not contradict each other. He also believed that the Greeks, who produced such philosophers as Socrates, Plato and Aristotle, did not have a final say because they as a society, lacked a prominent prophet, who ought to have a final say in all forms and matters. Ameri lived in a half century period between two other Iranian Islamic geniuses, Abu Nasr al-Farabi and Abu Ali Hussain Ibn Sina. He first studied under Abu Zayd al-Balkhi in Khorasan, before moving to Rayy near modern Tehran and then to Baghdad, where he met such noted intellectuals as Abu Hayyan Ali ibn Mohammad at-Tawhidi and Abu Ali Ahmad ibn Mohammad Ibn Miskawayh. After several years he returned to Iran and took up residence in Bukhara, where he had access to the royal library of the Iranian Samanid Dynasty. His works include: "al-E'laam be Manaqeb al-Islam" (An Exposition on the Merits of Islam), and "Inqadh al-Bashar min aj-Jahr wa'l-Qadar" (Deliverance of Mankind from the Problem of Predestination and Free Will).

844 solar years ago, on this day in 1174 AD, Amalric, the ruler of the usurper Latin kingdom of Jerusalem (established in Bayt al-Moqaddas and Palestine by European invaders), died after a 11-year reign during which he attempted several unsuccessful attacks on Fatemid Egypt, by forming alliances with some of the local Syrian and Turkic Amirs, who were ready to betray fellow Muslims for paltry gains – like the present day Arab regimes which are serving Zionist interests. In 1171, three years before Amalric’s death, the Kurdish general, Salah od-Din, who was appointed vizier in Cairo by the young Fatemid caliph, al-Adid, deposed his benefactor and seized Egypt. Amalric was succeeded by his 13-year old leprous son, Baldwin IV, with Raymond III, Count of the occupied Lebanese region of Tripoli (Tarabolous) as regent, and William of the occupied Lebanese region of Tyre (Sour) as chancellor. During his 11-year reign, Baldwin used to constantly raid Palestinian, Lebanese and Syrian cities, as far as Damascus, but without permanent success. In 1177, he launched a surprise attack and routed almost the entire army of Salah od-Din, who was lucky to escape alive. As the historian Ibn Jubayr writes, Baldwin IV, in view of his mean nature, was called by Muslims as “al-Khinzir” (the Swine). Two years after his death, Salah od-Din led a united army of Kurds, Turks, Arabs and Iranians, to liberate Bayt ol-Moqaddas, thus ending the 87-year illegal existence of the Crusader kingdom of Jerusalem.

774 solar years ago, on this day in 1244 AD, the Turkish slave-soldiers from the ancient Iranian land of Khwarezm in Central Asia, who were in the service of the Turkic Mamluk or Slave-Dynasty of Egypt liberated the Islamic city of Bayt al-Moqaddas or Jerusalem from the Crusader European occupiers. By August 23 the Khwarezmian Turks had taken complete control of the city and its surroundings and razed the edifices erected by the Christian usurpers.

613 solar years ago, on this day in 1405 AD, Admiral Zheng He of China's Ming Dynasty, who was a Muslim and whose actual name was Mahmoud Shams od-Din, set sail to explore the world on the first of his seven voyages that took him to Southeast Asia, the Subcontinent, Arabia, Iran, and Africa. He was a great-great-great-grandson of Seyyed Ajal Shams od-Din, the Iranian statesman who served in the administration of the Mongol Empire, and was appointed governor of Yunnan Province. He commanded a flotilla of several hundred galleys, including huge five-decked ships, on each of his voyages spread over 28 years, and in addition to demonstrating the might of China through presents to the rulers of lands he visited, he brought back exotic things and animals including zebras, giraffes and ostriches. He cleared the Malacca Straits of pirates and in places he visited he built mosques.

339 lunar years ago, on this day in 1100 AH, the pious scholar Seyyed Mirza Ala od-Din Golestaneh passed away. He traced his lineage to Imam Hasan Mojtaba (AS), the elder grandson and 2nd Infallible Successor of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA). He authored the valuable book “al-Hada’eq” which is commentary on “Nahj al-Balaghah” (Highway of Eloquence), the collection of the eloquent sermons, letters, and maxims of the Commander of the Faithful, the Prophet’s 1st Infallible Heir, Imam Ali Ibn Abi Taleb (AS). He later summarized it under the title “Bahjat al-Hada’eq”. Among his works, mention could be made of “Manhaj al-Yaqeen” – a collection of letters and admonitions of the Prophet’s 6th Infallible Successor, Imam Ja’far Sadeq (AS). Golestaneh was the brother-in-law (wife’s brother) of the celebrated scholar, Allamah Mohammad Baqer Majlisi.  

222 solar years ago, on this day in 1796 AD, the United States took possession of Detroit and the adjoining lands from Britain under terms of the Jay Treaty that avoided another war.

136 solar years ago, on this day in 1882 AD, the British fleet started the bombardment of the port city of Alexandria in Egypt as part of the Anglo-Egyptian War, following a coup by Colonel Ahmed Orabi against Towfiq Pasha, the Khedive of Egypt and Sudan, because of grievances over disparities in pay with European employees and other concerns. As a nation, Egypt was in limbo. Although a province of the Ottoman Empire, the Turks neither governed nor cared for Egyptian affairs, because of their own internal decline. Consequently, Egypt had been looted and misgoverned for decades by the Khedives, who in turn were exploited by the British and the French. This naturally caused resentment among nationalist forces manifested by Orabi’s coup. The British who had no right to meddle in the internal affairs of Egypt, bombarded Alexandria for three days, followed by marines occupying it. Much of the city was destroyed by fires that broke out as a result of the bombardment. The British then restored to power Khedive Towfiq, who declared Orabi a rebel. Orabi counteracted by obtaining a fatwa from the al-Azhar Shaikhs stating that Towfiq was a traitor to Islam for helping a foreign power occupy Egypt. Orabi ordered conscription and the British army tried to reach Cairo through Alexandria, but was stopped for five weeks at Kafr ad-Dawwar by Orabi. In August, a British army of over 40,000, commanded by Garnet Wolseley invaded the Suez Canal Zone. Orabi redeployed to defend Cairo while his main force dug in at Tel al-Kabir, north of the railway and the Sweetwater Canal, both of which linked Cairo to Ismailia on the Suez Canal. Wolseley, on being informed of the weak defences of the Egyptians, attacked them and slaughtered over two thousand Egyptian Muslims. Orabi’s forces were routed by the British cavalry which pursued them till undefended Cairo and captured it. Khedive power was restored while the British occupied Egypt until the Anglo-Egyptian Treaties of 1922 and 1936, giving gradual control back to the corrupt and inefficient Khedives, who were finally overthrown in the 1952 revolution by Colonel Jamal Abdun-Nasser and General Mohammad Najib.

113 solar years ago, on this day in 1905 AD, the famous Egyptian jurist and reformist religious scholar, Shaikh Mohammad Abduh, passed away in Alexandria, at the age of 56. A product of al-Azhar where he studied logic, philosophy and mysticism, when the great Iranian pan Islamist scholar, Seyyed Jamal od-Din Asadabadi, arrived in Egypt, Abduh became his student and was deeply influenced by him. On being appointed editor-in-chief of “al-Waqa'e al-Misriyya”, the official newspaper of the country, he dedicated to reforming all aspects of Egyptian society. In his articles he criticized corruption, superstition, and the luxurious lives of the rich. He was exiled from Egypt in 1882 for six years, which he spent in Lebanon and Paris, where he joined Seyyed Jamal od-Din in publishing the Islamic revolutionary journal "al-Urwat-al-Wusqa" which promoted anti-colonial views. Abduh also visited Germany and Britain and during his exile dedicated his efforts toward furthering respect and friendship amongst Muslims and Christians. He returned to Egypt in 1888, became a consultative member of the Court of Appeal in 1890, and in 1899 was appointed Mufti of Egypt – a position he held until he died. He embarked on reforming the education system at al-Azhar having come to the conclusion that Muslims suffer from ignorance about their own religion because of the despotism of unjust rulers. He was a prolific writer, and among his works is a commentary on “Nahj al-Balagha”, the famous collection of the sermons, letters, and maxims of the Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali (AS) – a book, reintroduced to the Egyptians, seven centuries after the end of Fatemid rule.

107 lunar years ago, on this day in 1332 AH, the Gnostic Seyyed Ahmad Karbalai, passed away. Born in Iran, he grew up in the holy city of Karbala and studied under such prominent scholars as Akhund Mullah Mohammad Kazem Khorasani and Mullah Hussain-Qoli Hamedani. He was an expert on ethics and among his students mention could be made of the Martyr Shaikh Mohammad Taqi Bafqi, Seyyed Mohammad Kazem Assar, the famous Gnostic Mirza Ali Aqa Qazi Tabatabai, and Seyyed Mohsin Amin al-Ameli of Syria – author of the voluminous biographical encyclopedia “A’yaan ash-Sh’ia”.

97 solar years ago, on this day in 1921 AD, the Red Army captured Mongolia from the White Army and established the Mongolian People's Republic. In 1911, the part of Mongolia under control of China, took advantage of the fall of the Manchu Dynasty to announce independence, which was short-lived, as China and Russia concluded an accord to turn Mongolia into a joint protectorate. In 1917, following the communist revolution in Russia and the fall of the Czarist dynasty, China intended to completely annex Mongolia, but the Soviet Union intervened and helped Mongolia become independent in 1921. In 1991, following the collapse of the Soviet Union, the communist system ended in Mongolia as well. Mongolia covers an area of 1,565,000 sq km and shares borders with China and Russia.

58 solar years ago, on this day in 1960 AD, the West African countries of Benin, Burkina Faso and Niger, gained independence from several decades of French colonial rule. All three countries have Muslim majority populations.

43 solar years ago, on this day in 1975 AD, Chinese archeologists announced the uncovering of a 3-acre burial mound concealing 6000 clay statues of warriors and their regalia dating from 221 to 206 BC. The "Terracotta Army" was uncovered near the ancient capital of Xian. The 7,000 life-size clay soldiers and horses were buried in pits in battle formation facing east to guard the tomb of China's first emperor, Qin Shi Huang. The figures were modeled after the emperor's army, and each face is different. The buried wonder was found in 1974 in the course of digging a well.

27 solar years ago, on this day in 1991 AD, a Nigerian Airlines jet carrying Muslim Hajj pilgrims to Mecca, crashed at the Jeddah international airport in what is called Saudi Arabia, resulting in the death of all 261 people on board. The plane was a Canadian-chartered DC-8.

23 solar years ago, on this day in 1995 AD, during the Bosnian War, more than 8,000 Muslim residents of the city of Srebrenica were slaughtered by Serbs. This outrageous catastrophe was the biggest massacre in Europe since World War II. Although the UN Security Council had announced Srebrenica a safe haven in the year 1993 and the UN forces were stationed in this city, the Serb militias occupied the city and cold-bloodedly slaughtered the people. Amid this carnage, the Dutch peacekeeping forces stationed in the region took no measures to save the lives of Muslim civilians. The indifference of European states toward this human catastrophe was questionable. All the three fact-finding committees which were formed after termination of the war held the European Union and the UN responsible for the massacre of Muslims in Srebrenica.

12 solar years ago, on this day in 2006 AD, two hundred nine people were killed in a series of bomb attacks in Mumbai, India, and over seven hundred others injured. The blasts took place over a period of 11 minutes on the Suburban Railway in Mumbai, the nation's financial capital. The bombs were set off in pressure cookers on trains. Although a variety of terrorist outfits claimed responsibility for the bomb blasts, the identity of the culprits has not been fully established, despite the Indian government’s blaming of Pakistan’s spying agency and indiscriminate arrest of Muslims that led to nationwide protests that the community was being deliberately targeted.

12 lunar years ago, on this day in 1427 AH, Grand Ayatollah Mirza Jawad Tabrizi passed away at the age of 82 in Qom and was laid to rest in the holy mausoleum of Hazrat Ma’souma (peace upon her). Born in Tabriz, after completing his preliminary religious studies, he moved to Qom at the age of 22 and studied under such prominent scholars as Ayatollah Hojjat and Grand Ayatollah Seyyed Hussain Boroujerdi. At the age of 26, he travelled to holy Najaf in Iraq, where his teachers included Grand Ayatollah Seyyed Abu’l-Qassim Khoei. On attaining the status of Ijtehad, he returned to Iran and started holding classes at the Qom seminary on jurisprudence and other branches of Islamic sciences. He wrote several books including “Irshad at-Taleb”, “Tabaqaat ar-Rejaal” (Biography of Narrators) and the 6-volume “Siraat an-Najaat” (Path of Salvation).

AS/ME