Today is Friday; 18th of the Iranian month of Aban 1397 solar hijri; corresponding to 1st of the Islamic month of Rabi al-Awal 1440 lunar hijri; and November 9, 2018, of the Christian Gregorian Calendar.

1440 lunar years ago, on the eve of this day when the Arabs of Mecca plotted to assassinate Prophet Mohammad (SAWA), he was commanded by God to migrate to Yathreb, which became known as “Medinat an-Nabi” (City of the Prophet), or simply Medina, as it is known to this day. On the night of 1st Rabi al-Awwal, the Prophet asked his dear ward and cousin, Imam Ali ibn Abi Taleb (AS), to sleep on his bed so that the assassins hovering around the abode of divine revelation would think their intended victim was still in the house, and this would enable the Prophet to leave Mecca undetected. The young Imam Ali (AS) gladly accepted the proposal at the risk of his life and limbs. At the break of dawn when the infidel Arabs burst into the house to carry out their murderous plot, to their surprise, up sprang from the bed the valiant Ali (AS), while the Prophet was nowhere to be found. The frustrated Meccans afraid to face the Imam, darted out in every direction hoping to find their victim, but the Prophet had safely taken refuge in the Cave of Thaur far away from the city. A party of infidels tracked his footprints to the said cave, but by the time they arrived there was a big cobweb on its mouth while a bird had laid eggs, presenting the spectacle of an undisturbed place. They left in despair and later when the danger had subsided the Prophet continued his trek toward Medina. As exegetes of the holy Qur'an agree, God Almighty pleased with this selfless act of Imam Ali (AS) revealed ayah 207 of Surah Baqarah in his praise, which reads:

"And among mankind is he who sells his soul seeking the pleasure of Allah; and Allah is Most Kind to (His) servants."

Hijra or the historic migration, thus heralds the emergence of Islam from a persecuted faith to a dynamic state religion, which eventually asserted its universal nature by enlightening most of mankind. After the Prophet’s passing away, the Hijra, as per the advice of Imam Ali (AS), was fixed as the basis of the Islamic calendar, but unfortunately, the 2nd caliph chose to retain the pagan practice of Muharram I as start of the New Year instead of Rabi al-Awwal I, the actual date.

1375 lunar years ago, on this day in 65 AH, the Tawwabin or Penitents launched their heroic uprising in Iraq to avenge the innocent blood of Imam Husain (AS), who was cruelly martyred in Karbala in 61 AH (680 AD) by the bloodthirsty hordes of the Omayyad usurper, Yazid. The Tawwabin were mostly inhabitants of Kufa and its surroundings who had invited the Prophet's grandson to Iraq to free them from tyranny, but when Yazid sent the brutal Obaidullah Ibn Ziyad as governor, these people, despite numbering several thousand, lost the courage to support the Imam, and left him alone to be martyred along with 72 steadfast companions including his 6-month infant, Ali Asghar (AS). When the children and womenfolk of the Prophet's household along with the heads of the martyrs mounted on lances, were paraded in Kufa these people were shocked, and soon on the death of Yazid they rose up to drive away Ibn Ziyad. Finally on this day in 65, after visiting the grave of the martyred Imam and beseeching God for forgiveness, the penitents, clad in white shrouds and numbering about 4,000 led by the Prophet's aged 93-year companion, Sulayman bin Surad al-Khuzaie (one of the conquerors of Transoxiana or Central Asia), formally launched their uprising, swearing either to wreak vengeance upon the killers or achieve martyrdom in the process. They created awe and fear among the better armed Omayyad forces sent from Syria, and after initially routing the enemy, most of them achieved martyrdom. The remnants joined the uprising of Mokhtar Ibn Abi Obayda Thaqafi for the same purpose and succeeded in bringing to justice most of the killers of the Prophet's grandson, including Ibn Ziyad, Omar Ibn Sa'd, Shemr Ziljowshan, Harmala bin Kahel, Khouli, etc.

1324 solar years ago, on this day in 694 AD, Ergica, the Visigoth king of Spain, accusing Jews of collaborating with enemies for overthrowing Christian rulers, enacted a law declaring all Jewish-held lands forfeit, all Jews to be enslaved by Christians, all Jewish children over the age of seven to be taken from their homes and raised as Christians, and Jewish-owned Christian slaves to become owners of their masters’ property. Some 17 years later in 711, with the advent of Muslims in Spain and establishment of the glorious Islamic culture and civilization in this part of Europe when the rest of the continent was immersed in dark ages, the Jews were liberated, enjoyed all rights as citizens, along with the Christians, and produced statesmen and scholars, such as the philosopher-physician, Musa bin Maymoun of Cordoba, known by his Latinized name Maimonides, who flourished at the courts of the Muslim rulers of Spain, Morocco and Egypt.

1270 solar years ago, on this day in 748 AD, Nasr ibn Sayyar, the last Omayyad governor of Khorasan and killer of the Prophet’s venerable descendent, Yahya ibn Zaid, died in Saveh, southwest of Tehran at the age of 85, while fleeing the uprising of Abu Muslim Khorasani that replaced the Omayyads with the equally repressive Abbasid regime. For several decades, Nasr was in charge of northeastern Iran and Transoxiana, where, as an anti-Islamic Arab nationalist leading Syrian and north Arabian tribal forces, he terrorized the people, and as in other parts of the Omayyad Empire, prevented them from becoming Muslims, since this would deprive the self-styled caliphs in Damascus of the revenues they reaped by levying heavy taxes on non-Muslims. Yayha, the grandson of Imam Zain al-Abedin (AS), the 4th Infallible Heir of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA), was martyred in Jowzajan (currently in Afghanistan), and his head sent to Damascus.

526 solar years ago, on this day in 1492 AD, prominent Persian poet and literary figure, Noor od-Din Abdur-Rahman Jami, passed away in Herat in Khorasan Province. He went to Samarqand to learn Islamic sciences, literature and history, and visited several other lands before settling in Herat. He has left behind a large number of works in prose and verse, including “Baharestan”. Jami, who died at the age of almost 80, has also composed beautiful odes in praise of Prophet of Islam and the Infallible the Ahl al-Bayt (peace upon him).

393 lunar years ago, on this day in 1047 AH, Iranian merchant, statesman, poet and scholar, Mir Mohammad Amin Shahristani, who held the post of Mir Jumla (prime minister/chancellor) in the Qutb Shahi kingdom of Golkandah/Hyderabad in the Deccan (southern India), died at the age of 66 in Hindustan (northern India), while in the service of Moghal Emperor Noor od-Din Jahangir. Born in a prominent Seyyed family in Isfahan, whose members, including his nephew Seyyed Razi, held senior posts at the Safavid court, he travelled to Deccan in 1013 AH (1604-05 AD) to seek fortune. The king of Golkandah, Mohammad Qoli Qotb Shah – himself of Iranian stock from Hamedan – recognized his talents and gave him an important administrative post. He finally became “vakil” (regent). After the death of the king, he was dismissed by the new monarch and moved to the neighbouring Adel-Shahi kingdom of Iranian origin of Bijapur. Unable to find a suitable post there, he returned to Iran (1614). His nephew being Sadr at that time, he was received courteously by Shah Abbas. He expected a high post, but the Shah did not offer him an important position, being only eager to cash in on the fortune Mir Mohammad had accumulated in India. After four years, he gave up his post at the Safavid court with the intent of going to Moghal India. Made aware of Mir Mohammad Amin Shahristani’s ability, Emperor Jahangir wrote him an invitation and he left Isfahan for Lahore in 1027 AH (1617-1831). Jahangir gave him command of 2,500 foot soldiers and 200 horses. Later he received important positions at court such as “Mir-Samaan” and “Mir-Bakhshi” and was promoted to the command of 5,000 foot soldiers and 2,000 horses. He died in India (1637). An ardent Shi’a Muslim, he gave, according to the book “Ẕakhirat al-Khavanin”, a great deal of money in charity for people starving as a result of a drought in the Deccan, where he had started his career in India and rose to the prime position of Mir Jumla I. At the same time, he sent two hundred thousand rupees every year to his sons and relatives in Iran to buy houses, gardens and property. He excelled in poetry, using the pen name “Rouh al-Amin”. On the model of the famous Persian poet, Nizami Ganjavi, he composed a set of “Khamsah”, totaling nearly thirty thousand couplets. His method in poetry is one that poet Kalim Kashani, has said: “he sewed the clothes of words into the meanings”. His purpose in composing the poem of “Khosrow va Shirin” was to remove the weaknesses of Khosrow and Shirin by Nizami. He had the same idea about “Laila va Majnoon” and changed the narrative style of the story. Many of the words, phrases and expressions used by Nizami have gotten new frames in Rouh al-Amin’s poetry. Mir Mohammad Amin Mir Jumla I should not be confused with his compatriot, Mir Mohammad Sa’eed Ardestani titled Mir Jumla II, who flourished in the Deccan and later at the Moghal court and Bengal, a generation later.  

141 solar years ago, on this day in 1877 AD, the Poet of the East, Allamah Mohammad Iqbal Lahori, was born in Sialkot, Punjab in what is now Pakistan. After completing his studies, he went to Germany and Britain and stayed for four years to learn the philosophy of the West. He started composing poems in his teenage years in both Urdu and Persian. He was also active in politics to reform and unite the Muslims of undivided India. He believed in pan Islamism or the revival of Muslims worldwide, and used the medium of poetry, especially Persian poetry, to express his ideas and thoughts. Iqbal gave the concept of a separate homeland for the Muslims of northwest India, which several years after his death resulted in the birth of Pakistan. He has left behind a large number of poetical collections in Persian and Urdu. His poems include couplets, quatrains, odes, and lyrics, in several collections such as “Asraar-e Khudi” (Secrets of the Self), “Zabour-e Ajam” (Psalms of Persia), and the “Javid-Namah”, which he wrote as admonition and guidance for his young son, Javid. He passed away in 1938.

107 solar years ago, on this day in 1911 AD, the renowned Urdu poet, Mas’ood ul-Hassan “Tabish Dehlvi”, was born in Delhi. Great-grandson of the prominent Persian poet of India, Nizam od-Din Nizami, he had a flair for languages, and mastered Urdu, Persian, Arabic and English. Educated at Dar ul-Uloom in Haiderabad-Deccan where he became a disciple of the famous Urdu poet, Fani Badayuni, he composed ghazals (lyrics), na’at (eulogies), marsiya (elegies), free verse and national songs, besides writing essays and establishing himself as an authority in all spheres of Urdu literature. Endowed with a rich voice, he started his career at the All India Radio (AIR) in Delhi as announcer/newsreader in 1941. On the partition of the Subcontinent, he migrated to Pakistan and was a newscaster par excellence whose voice ruled over the skies for several decades. The masses would be glued to their radio sets in order to hear his sonorous voice presenting Urdu news bulletins. He could justifiably claim that he had announced many breaking news events. His collection of poetry includes: “Nimroz” (1963), “Chiragh-e Sahra” (1982), “Ghobar-e Anjum” (1984), and “Mah-e Shikasta” (1993). He passed away in Karachi at the age of 93 in 2004.

100 solar years ago, on this day in 1918 AD, following the defeats of the German army in World War I, and breakout of unrest in the country, Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicated and Germany was proclaimed a republic.

65 solar years ago, on this day in 1953 AD, Abdul-Aziz Ibn Saud, who was installed by the British as King of the artificial country they created for him named Saudi Arabia, died at the age of 73. Born in Najd in a Wahhabi clan, he had fled to Kuwait as a teenager following the Ottoman victory over the Saudi clan in Najd. The British used him as a salaried servant against the Ottoman-supported Aal-e Rasheed dynasty as part of London’s project to destabilize Arabia. During World War 1 and decline of Ottoman power, he raided the eastern Shi’a Muslim part of Arabia and forced the local chiefs to enter into a time-bound agreement which he never honoured, especially after oil was discovered in this area. By 1921, with British help he decimated the 85-year rule of the Aal-e Rasheed dynasty and seized their dominions up to the borders of Iraq and Jordan. When he invaded the Land of Revelation Hejaz and ousted another British agent, Sharif Hussein, after massacring tens of thousands of Muslims in the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, Britain decided to gift him with a kingdom in 1932. In 1934, with British help he seized the northern Yemeni provinces of Najran, Jizaan and Asir. His most criminal act was the blasphemous destruction in 1925 of the sacred cemeteries of Jannat al-Mo’alla in Mecca that housed the holy tombs of family members of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA) and of Jannat al-Baqie in Medina that housed the holy shrines of four of the twelve Infallible Successors of the Prophet’s Ahl al-Bayt – Imam Hasan Mojtaba, Imam Zain al-Abedin, Imam Mohammad Baqer, and Imam Ja’far as-Sadeq (peace upon them).

65 solar years ago, on this day in 1953 AD, Cambodia in Southeast Asia gained independence from France after 86 years of colonialist rule. In 1975, power was seized by communist general Pol Pot, who installed the Khmer Rouge regime, changed the name of the country to Kampuchea and launched a bloodbath, killing at least three million people by 1976, including the ethnic Cham Muslims. Cambodia has the famous Angkor Vat ruins, regarded as the world’s largest religious monument, which was first a Hindu, and later a Buddhist temple. Buddhism is the official religion of the country, while Muslims number around 3 percent.

65 solar years ago, on this day in 1953 AD, Welsh author-poet Dylan Thomas, who wrote exclusively in English, died in New York at age of 39 during a poetry-reading blitz of the US. He has been acknowledged as one of the most important English poets of the 20th century and noted for his original, rhythmic and ingenious use of words and imagery. Some of his famous poems are “Do not go gentle into that good night” and “And death shall have no dominion”. His books include “The Collected Poems of Dylan Thomas” and “Under Milk Wood”.

48 solar years ago, on this day in 1970 AD, Charles Andre Joseph de Gaulle, French general, writer and statesman died in Paris at the age of 80. He was leader of Free France (1940–44) during World War 2, and headed the Provisional Government of the French Republic (1944–46). In 1958, he founded the Fifth Republic and was elected as the 18th President of France, until his resignation in 1969. He gauged the seriousness of the Algerian people’s struggle for freedom and granted Algeria independence in 1962 against the wishes of the army which favoured annexing of this Arab Muslim North African country to France. He later gradually granted independence to other French colonies. As a military officer who saw action in both the First and Second World Wars, later as president of France during the Cold War Era, de Gaulle initiated his "Politics of Grandeur", asserting that France as a major power should not rely on other countries, such as the United States, for its national security and prosperity. To this end, he pursued a policy of "national independence" which led him to withdraw from NATO's military integrated command and to launch an independent nuclear development program that made France the fourth nuclear power. He restored cordial Franco-German relations in order to create a European counterweight between the "Anglo-Saxon" (American and British) and Soviet spheres of influence. He used to say that the Anglo-Saxons have always exploited France and the rest of Europe for their own vested interests, and twice he vetoed Britain's entry into the European Community. He also openly criticised the US intervention in Vietnam and the "exorbitant privilege" of the US dollar, in addition to supporting an independent Quebec, which should not be part of English-speaking Canada. Many French political parties and figures continue to claim the Gaullist Legacy.

42 solar years ago, on this day in 1976 AD, Hojjat al-Islam Nosratollah Ansari achieved martyrdom after six months of intense torture by the notorious SAVAK in the prison of the British-installed and US-backed Pahlavi regime. Born in Bo’en Zahra near Qazvin, besides his religious activities, he was politically active in the Islamic movement.

29 solar years ago, on this day in 1989 AD, Communist-controlled East Germany opened checkpoints in the Berlin Wall allowing its citizens to travel to West Germany. This key event led to the eventual reunification of East and West Germany, and fall of communism in Eastern Europe including Russia.

21 solar years ago, on this day in 1997 AD, Ayatollah Shaikh Mohammad Hussain Kalbasi Isfahani, passed away at the age of 92. Born in Isfahan, at the age of 18 he went to Iraq to study at the famous seminary of holy Najaf, where he attended the classes of such prominent ulema as Ayatollah Seyyed Abu’l-Hassan Isfahani, Ayatollah Ziya od-Din Iraqi, and Ayatollah Shaikh Mohammad Kazem Shirazi. After thirty years stay in Najaf during which he achieved the status of Ijtehad, he returned to Iran and busied himself with teaching at the seminary of holy Qom. He authored several books including one on the merits of Prophet Mohammad’s (SAWA) Blessed Progeny, titled “Faza’el Ahl al-Bayt”.

12 solar years ago, on this day in 2006 AD, Iraq estimated the civilian death toll in the first three-and-a-half years of the US occupation around 600,000. The US withdrew in 2011 and was responsible for the death of over a 1.2 million Iraqis.

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