Today is Wednesday; 2nd of the Iranian month of Aban 1397 solar hijri; corresponding to 14th of the Islamic month of Safar 1440 lunar hijri; and October 24, 2018, of the Christian Gregorian Calendar.

1402 lunar years ago, on this day in 38 AH, the governor of Egypt, Mohammad bin Abu Bakr, who was one of the loyal disciples of the Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali ibn Abi Taleb (AS), was martyred at the age of 27 by the Godless invader Amr bin Aas, sent by the rebellious Omayyad governor of Syria, Mu'awiyah bin Abu Sufyan. His grave in Cairo is a site of pilgrimage. His mother was the virtuous Asma bint Omays, the widow of the Imam’s elder brother Hazrat Ja’far at-Tayyar, whom circumstances had compelled to become the wife of Abu Bakr before the latter seized the caliphate. Mohammad, a toddler when his father died, was brought up by Imam Ali (AS), who loved him and regarded him as his own son. The place that he had in the Imam’s heart is sometimes compared to that of Abu Dharr in the heart of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA). As an honest and truthful person, Mohammad bin Abu Bakr, was one of the leading critics of the conduct of Othman bin Affan, the third caliph. During the caliphate of Imam Ali (AS), he was commander of a section of the army in the battles of Jamal and Siffin. The Imam sent him to Egypt as governor, where he was opposed by the “Deserters” or those who had broken their allegiance to the Imam. He strove to restore order to Egypt, but Mu’awiyah who was in correspondence with the “Deserters” dispatched Amr bin Aas to create sedition, as a result of which he was martyred. His wife was Kayhan Bano, a daughter of the last Sassanid emperor of Iran, Yazdegerd III, which means a sister of Hazrat Shahr Bano, the wife of Imam Husain (AS) and mother of Imam Zain al-Abedin (AS). Mohammad bin Abu Bakr’s son was Qasim, a renowned jurist and scholar of Medina, whose daughter Omm Farwa was married to Imam Mohammad Baqer (AS), and became the mother of Imam Ja’far Sadeq (AS).

1145 lunar years ago, on this day in 295 AH, Abu Ibrahim Isma'il I, the most prominent Amir (ruler) of the Iranian Samanid Dynasty of Central Asia and Khorasan, died after a reign of 15 years and was succeeded by his son Ahmad. Isma'il added Kerman, Sistan and Kabul to his empire. A nominal vassal of the Abbasid caliph, he made his capital Bukhara into one of the most glorious cities of the Islamic world, rivaling Baghdad and attracting scholars, artists, and doctors of law into the region. The first translation of the holy Qu'ran into Persian was completed during Samanid rule, which saw the revival of Persian language and literature, along with the patronizing of Arabic. Ismail took Talas, the capital of the Qarluq Turks in what is now Kazakhstan, and propagated Islam amongst the inhabitants, with the result that as many as 30,000 tents of Turks became Muslim. His campaigns kept the heart of his state safe from the raids of the hitherto pagan Turks, and allowed Muslim missionaries to expand their activities in the region. The Samanids were descendants of the famous Sassanid general, Bahram Chobin, and had accepted Islam during Abbasid rule. They also propagated the jurisprudence of what came to be known as the Sunni school, and it was during their rule that most of the Hadith compilers, like Bukhari, Muslim, Tirmizi, Nasa’i, Hakem Nishapuri, and others flourished. They repressed Ismailis, because of the fear of the expanding influence of the Fatemid Dynasty of Egypt-North Africa-Syria-Hijaz, but were rather tolerant of Asna Ash'ari or Twelver Shi'ite Muslims.

808 lunar years ago, on this day in 632 AH, the judge and historian, Baha od-Din Yusuf ibn Rafi ibn Shaddad, passed away at the age of 93. Born in Mosul in Iraq, he memorized the holy Qur’an in childhood and later honed his skills in exegesis, hadith and other sciences. He taught at Baghdad’s famous Nizamiyyah Academy, founded by the Iranian statesman, Nizam ol-Molk Tousi, and later after visiting several Islamic lands, he went to Syria to serve as advisor to Salah od-Din Ayoubi, the Kurdish sultan who liberated Palestine and Bayt al-Moqaddas from Crusader occupation. He was an eyewitness to several battles against the Christian invaders from Europe, including the Siege of Acre, and wrote the historical work titled "an-Nawader as-Sultaniyyah”, which is an account of military campaigns. His other well-known book is the 4-volume "Dala'el al-Ahkaam" on jurisprudential issues.

758 solar years ago, on this day in 1260 AD, Saif od-Din Qutuz, the 3rd Turkic Mamluk (slave) sultan of Egypt, while returning from Syria after his decisive victory over the combined forces of the Mongols, Armenian Christians, and European crusaders, was assassinated at as-Salehiyya by some of his own emirs. His bravery, along with that of his able general and successor as sultan, Baibars al-Bunduqdari, shattered the Mongol myth of invincibility at the crucial battle of Ain Jalut in Palestine in which Hulagu Khan's famous Christian Turkic general, Kitbuqa Noyan, was killed, thereby ending the threat to Egypt and North Africa, a few years after the Mongol sack of Baghdad and the subjugation of Syria, which included the turning of the Omayyad Mosque of Damascus into a cathedral. Although the reign of Qutuz was short, he remains one of the most heroic sultans of Egypt for saving the Muslim world, at a time when the eastern Islamic lands including Iran had been ravaged by the bloodthirsty Mongol hordes. His early life is obscure. Captured by the Mongols in Central Asia and sold as a slave, he was brought to Syria where he was resold to an Egyptian merchant who in turn sold him in Cairo to Ezz od-Din Aybak, the first Mamluk sultan of Egypt. According to some sources, Qutuz claimed that his original name was Mahmoud ibn Mamdoud and he was descended from Ala od-Din Mohammad II, the Khwarezm Shahi ruler. He became deputy sultan to Aybak, after whose murder he served his son, al-Mansur Ali, as Sultan for two years, before deposing him on November 12, 1259, and becoming sultan himself on the promise that the emirs could install any other sultan after he defeated the Mongols.

433 lunar years ago, on this day in 1007 AH, the prominent Iranian Islamic Gnostic, jurisprudent, philosopher, and Hadith Authority, Mullah Mohsin Mohammad Fayz Kashani was born in Kashan in a family renowned for its learning. He began his education under his father, Shah Morteza, who possessed a rich library. At the age of twenty he went to Isfahan to pursue his studies, but after about a year moved to Shiraz to study Hadith and jurisprudence with Seyyed Majed Bahrani, on whose death he returned to Isfahan where he joined the circle of the great scholar Shaikh Baha od-Din Ameli, and attended the lectures of the famous Mir Baqer Damad on philosophy. At the age of 23, he departed for Mecca and after performing the Hajj, remained there in order to study Hadith with the Lebanese scholar, Mohammad bin Hassan bin Zayn od-Din Ameli (grandson of the Second Martyr). On his return to Iran, he studied for 8 years with the philosopher, Mullah Sadra Shirazi, whose daughter he married. He later served as Friday Prayer Leader of the Safavid Capital, Isfahan, and towards the end of his 82-year fruitful life, returned to his hometown Kashan where he passed away. Fayz Kashani was a prolific writer in both Persian and Arabic, with more than a hundred and twenty books and treatises to his credit. His widely-read works include “Mahjat-al-Bayza”, “Ayn al-Yaqin”, “Tafsir Safi” (exegesis of holy Qur’an), “Abwaab-ol-Jenan” and “al-Waafi” – which is a commentary of the famous “Osoul Kafi” of Allamah Kulayni. In addition to composing excellent Persian poetry, he wrote “Safinat-an-Nejaat” on astronomy and an exposition of the “Sahifat-as-Sajjadiyya” or collection of supplications of Imam Zain al-Abedin (AS), the 4^th Infallible Heir of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA).

417 solar years ago, on this day in 1601 AD, Danish astronomer and mathematician, Tycho Brahe, died in Prague, in what is now the Czech Republic at the age of 55. Born in Scania, which was then under Denmark, but is now part of Sweden, he studied for a while in Germany, and later was helped by the Danish ruler to set up an observatory on Hven Island. Influenced by the discoveries of Muslim scientists, centuries earlier, he conducted wide scale observations of the skies and discovered a supernova.

370 solar years ago, on this day in 1648 AD, the last of the treaties of the Peace of Westphalia was signed between Prussia, Austria, France, and Sweden in Osnabruck and Munster, thereby ending the Thirty Years' War in the Holy Roman Empire, and the Eighty Years' War between Spain and the Netherlands. Though these treaties ended the centuries' long bloody sectarian battles between the Catholic and Protestant sects of Christianity, they did not restore peace throughout Europe. France and Spain remained at war for the next eleven years, making peace only in the Treaty of the Pyrenees of 1659. Among the outcomes of the Peace of Westphalia was reduction of the power of the Pope and the Church and emergence of nation states.

223 solar years ago, on this day in 1795 AD, Poland was partitioned among the Russian, Austrian, and Prussian Empires, and ceased to exist on the geographical map of Europe for 125 years until the end of World War 1, when it was revived by the victorious powers in 1921. Poland is located in Eastern Europe, and covers an area of 312,683 sq km with a population of around 39 million. Its capital is Warsaw.

205 solar years ago, on this day in 1813 AD, the Treaty of Golestan was imposed on Iran by Czarist Russia, ending the 9-year Russo-Persian War that resulted in the loss of the Trans-Caucasian territories of the Qajarid Empire. As per the treaty that was mediated by the crafty British, the Russians occupied what are now the republics of Daghestan and Georgia, as well as Baku in northern Azerbaijan. Thirteen years later in 1826, Russia again invaded Iran and occupied other regions, such as Armenia, Nakhchivan and what is now the Republic of Azerbaijan.

90 solar years ago, on this day in 1928 AD, the Iranian scholar, and statesman, Ayatollah Dr. Seyyed Mohammad Husseini Beheshti, was born in Isfahan. In Qom he studied under leading ulema, including the Father of the Islamic Revolution, Imam Khomeini (RA). He also continued his academic studies at the university and obtained PhD in philosophy. He was active in political and cultural spheres as well, and was involved in the 15th Khordad uprising (June 5, 1963). Later he spent several years at the Islamic Centre in Hamburg, Germany. His fluency in German, English, and Arabic assisted him in promoting Islam in Europe. He returned to Iran in 1971 and continued his struggles against the dictatorial Pahlavi regime. Following the victory of the Islamic Revolution in 1979, he was assigned key posts, the last of which was Chief Justice. He achieved martyrdom, along with 72 prominent officials, when a bomb planted by MKO terrorists exploded. He wrote several books, including "God in View of Islam"; "Banking and Islam’s Financial Laws"; and "Role of Faith in Mankind’s Life". In paying him tribute, Imam Khomeini said: “Martyr Beheshti lived and died in oppression; since he was a thorn in the eyes of the foes of Islam.”

73 solar years ago, on this day in 1945 AD, the United Nations was founded by the victorious powers of World War 2 in place of the defunct League of Nations. At the San Francisco Conference in the US, representatives of fifty world countries ratified the charter of the UN, whose headquarters are based in New York. Its main organs are the General Assembly, the Secretariat, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council; and the International Court of Justice. The goals behind setting up of the UN, in accordance to its charter, are safeguarding of global peace and security; promotion of amicable relations among nations; global cooperation for resolution of social, political, economic, and cultural issues of concern; and promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms. Unfortunately, the UN has failed in its goals because of its exploitation by the 5 self-imposed permanent members, especially the US. The other four self-imposed permanent members are Russia, France, Britain, and China, all of which wield the unfair and unjust veto power at the Security Council that kills the aspirations of independent countries, as is the case with the series of unlawful sanctions the UN has imposed on the Islamic Republic of Iran for its peaceful nuclear project, while turning a blind eye to the nuclear arsenal of big powers, and that of the illegal Zionist entity, Israel.

54 solar years ago, on this day in 1964 AD, Zambia gained independence from British colonial rule. Situated in southern Africa, it was seized by the British in 1888 and called Northern Rhodesia. Zambia covers an area of 752,614 sq km. Its capital is Lusaka, and it shares borders with Zaire, Angola, Tanzania, Malawi, Namibia, and Zimbabwe.

30 solar years ago, on this day in 1988 AD, Grand Ayatollah Jawad Aqa Tehrani passed away at the age of 85. He was born in Tehran and after completing his studies in Qom left for Holy Najaf in Iraq to continue his higher studies. He groomed many scholars and was known for his piety and ascetic nature. While in Mashhad, he was the teacher of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei. Among the books written by him are: "Mizan al-Mataleb" in Arabic and the 2-volume "Aieen-e Zendegi" in Persian.

24 solar years ago, on this day in 1993 AD, Ayatollah Seyyed Ahmad Mirkhani passed away in his hometown Tehran at the age of 76. A product of the seminary of holy Qom, among his teachers were Grand Ayatollah Seyyed Shehab od-Din Mar’ashi Najafi and Grand Ayatollah Seyyed Hussain Boroujerdi. He was active in Tehran in academic and revolutionary circles. On establishment of the Islamic Azad University, following the triumph of the Islamic Revolution, he was one of the benefactors who helped establish this higher education centre and generously donated a building for the university to obtain the permit to establish a branch. Besides his religious activities and authoring books, he was interested in social and cultural affairs. Thanks to his efforts, thousands of young knowledge seekers from all around the country have attended the Islamic Azad University to reap the benefit. 

22 solar years ago, on this day in 1996 AD, the erudite scholar Ayatollah Mohammad Vasef Lahiji passed away. He was a picture of piety and a staunch defender of the School of the Ahl al-Bayt of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA). He was well versed in theology, jurisprudence, philosophy, logic, mathematics, physics, literature, poetry, Arabic language and Qur’anic studies. An excellent orator in Arabic and Persian, as well as a poet in both languages, he strove to promote the genuine teachings of Islam through his speeches, his writings, and his poems, which were often composed on scientific factors. His published works total two hundred and include books such as “History of the Infallible Imams”, and “Tibb an-Nabawi” (Medicinal Anecdotes from the Prophet of Islam). His poetical works include “Bayt al-Ahzaan-e Asheqaan”.

13 solar years ago, on this day in 2005 AD, Iranian painter Mokarrameh Qanbari, passed away at the age 77. Born in the village of Darikandeh between Qaemshahr and Babol in Mazanderan Province, she was a self-made painter who despite her great talent never received any formal training in painting. She won several international talent prizes. Mokarrameh actually began painting at the age of 63 when she came across some artist's paintings which her son had left at her home. Within a few years her works were noticed by painters in Iran and overseas. She held her first exhibition at the Seyhun Gallery in Tehran in 1995. She also participated in ten other exhibitions and was awarded the jury prize at the Roshd Film Festival and another award at the Rural Artistic-Literary Festival. In 2001, she was awarded an honorary certificate at the Conference of the Foundation of Iranian Women's Studies in Stockholm, Sweden and was named the year's exemplary woman. Iranian filmmaker Ibrahim Mokhtari has made a documentary film about her life and works titled: “Her Memories and Dreams.” She was buried in the courtyard of her house.

9 solar years ago, on this day in 2009 AD, two deadly bomb blasts triggered by terrorists backed by Saudi Arabia, near the Ministry of Justice and the Baghdad Provincial Council, resulted in the martyrdom of around 200 men, women, and children, and injury to almost a thousand others. Among those martyred were 35 employees of the Ministry of Justice and at least 25 staff members of the Baghdad Provincial Council, as well as some 30 children aboard a school bus which was blown apart, along with the driver and others. The blasts took place very close to where car bombers, also backed by Saudi Arabia, martyred over 120 people at the Foreign and Finance Ministries two months earlier. In March 2010, security forces nabbed the cowardly perpetrator of the bomb blasts, Munaf Abdur-Rahim ar-Rawi, who admitted masterminding many other Baghdad bombings on instructions from Saudi Arabia. His capture also led to the death in shootout of al-Qa’eda terrorist leaders Abu Ayub al-Masri and Abu Omar al-Baghdadi.

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