Today is Thursday; 11th of the Iranian month of Bahman 1397 solar hijri; corresponding to 24th of the Islamic month of Jamadi al-Awwal 1440 lunar hijri; and January 31, 2019 of the Christian Gregorian Calendar.

1440 solar years ago, on this day in 579 AD, the 22nd Sassanid Emperor, Khosrow I, known as Anushirvan the Just, died at the age of 78, after a reign of 48 years, and was succeeded by his son, Hormizd IV. Son of Qobad I who reigned for 41 years, Khosrow I is the epitome of the philosopher-king in Iranian history. It was in his era that the Almighty’s Last and Greatest Messenger, Prophet Mohammad (SAWA), was born in Mecca. His wide-ranging social, administrative, military, and tax reforms were adopted by the Muslims when they took over the Sassanid Empire. He patronized scholars and invited scientists from Greece, India, China and other places, and the outcome of this synthesis resulted in what is known as the “Bimaristan”, the first hospital that introduced a concept of segregating wards according to pathology. Greek pharmacology fused with Iranian and Indian traditions resulted in significant advances in medicine that were later fully utilized by the Muslims. He strengthened the famous academy Gondishapur as the centre of learning. In his foreign policy, Khosrow Anushirvan, after agreeing to an abortive “Eternal Peace” treaty with Emperor Justinian of the Roman Empire, followed a prudent policy to thwart Roman designs in Syria, Anatolia, Armenia and Upper Mesopotamia. He made sure Rome would never be a threat to Iran by keeping close contacts with the Goths, the Arabs, and the people of Yemen, which he brought under Iranian influence to control the trade routes between India and Europe. In the northeast, he kept the Turks under check and his reign signifies the promotion of the Silk Road linking ancient China with India and Rome through the Iranian Empire.

584 solar years ago, on this day in 1435 AD, the Xuande Emperor of China died at the age of 37 after a 10-year long reign. Named Zhu Zhanji, he was the fifth emperor of the Ming dynasty. An accomplished painter, particularly skilled at painting animals; some of his art works are preserved in the National Palace Museum. He was also fond of poetry and literature. His era name "Xuande" means "Proclamation of Virtue". In 1430-31, he permitted his Muslim admiral of Iranian origin, Zheng He, to lead the seventh and last maritime expedition. Zheng, who was great-great-great-grandson of Seyyed Ajjal Shams od-Din – a Persian from Bukhara who served the Mongol Empire and was the Governor of Yunnan, had launched his first expedition in 1405 (18 years before Henry the Navigator began Portugal's voyages of discovery). He journeyed to the major trade centers of Asia – as far as Hormuz in the Persian Gulf, and Malindi in north-eastern Africa.

458 solar years ago, on this day in 1561 AD, the famous general and statesman, Bairam Khan, who served three of the Moghal Emperors of the northern Subcontinent, was martyred in Gujarat by Mubarak Khan Lohani at the age of 61 while proceeding on Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. He had helped Zaheer od-Din Babar conquer northern India, assisted Naseer od-Din Humayun in retaking his Indian kingdom with Iranian help, and consolidated Jalal od-Din Akbar’s rule. A Baharlu Turk of the larger Qara Quyunlu tribe that once ruled Iran and Iraq (until 1468), Bairam was born in Badakhshan (in present day Afghanistan), and like his father joined the service of the Timurid prince, Babar, who was a protégé of Shah Ismail I, the Founder of the Safavid Empire. He played an active role in Babar's conquest of India, and served Humayun as Mohrdar (keeper of the seals), taking part in military campaigns in Benares, Bengal and Gujarat. He accompanied Humayun during his exile in Iran, and as a follower of the Ahl al-Bayt of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA), was influential in persuading Shah Tahmasp to provide help to retake Hindustan. Following Humayun's death in 1556, as regent of the 13-year old Akbar, he consolidated Moghal rule in northern India and most notably won the Second Battle of Panipat against a Afghan-Hindu alliance. Bairam Khan has left a divan of Persian and Chaghatay Turkic poetry, which includes qasidas in praise of the Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali ibn Abi Taleb (AS) and Imam Reza (AS). His son Abdur-Rahim Khan-e Khanaan was a prominent scholar and official at Akbar's court.

402 lunar years ago, on this day in 1038 AH, Shah Abbas I, regarded as the greatest emperor of the Safavid dynasty of Iran, passed away at the age of 59. Son of Sultan Mohammad Khodabanda, he ascended the throne as a 16-year youth during troubled times, when the country was rife with discord between the different factions of the Qizilbash army, who killed his elder brother Hamza Mirza and mother Queen Khair on-Nisa Begum Mahd-e Olya – descended from Imam Zain al-Abedin (AS), the 4th Infallible Heir of the Prophet (SAWA). Meanwhile, Iran's enemies, the Ottomans and the Uzbeks, exploited the political chaos to seize territory in the west and northeast. Abbas soon reduced the influence of the Qizilbash in the administrative and military affairs, executed the killers of his mother and brother, and reformed the army, enabling him to fight the Ottomans and Uzbeks and retake Iran's lost provinces. He decisively defeated the Ottomans in several battles in the Caucasus, in Anatolia and in Iraq, where he rebuilt on a grand scale the shrines of the Infallible Imams in Najaf, Karbala, and Kazemain. He drove back the Uzbeks from the northern and western parts of Khorasan, and in fulfillment of a vow walked on foot from his new capital Isfahan to distant Mashhad, where he rebuilt the shrine of Imam Reza (AS), the 8th Infallible Heir of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA). He also liberated Iranian territories from the Portuguese invaders in the Persian Gulf and from the Mughals of India in what is now Afghanistan. Shah Abbas I was a great builder and moved his capital from Qazvin to Isfahan, which he adorned with beautiful mosques, such as Masjid Sheikh Lotfollah and the largest one named after, and which is now called Masjid-e Imam. He also built the Aali Qapu Palace and the world famous Naqsh-e Jahan Square, to the extent that Isfahan came to be known as Nisf-e Jahan or Half of the World. He patronized poets and painters, resulting in the birth of the Isfahan School that created some of the finest arts in Iranian history, by such illustrious painters as Reza Abbasi and others. He respected religious figures, and during his era some of the greatest ulema and philosophers of Iran, such as Shaikh Baha od-Din Ameli, Mir Baqer Damad and Mullah Sadra Shirazi flourished. During his 42-year reign, Shah Abbas also promoted commerce, trade and diplomacy, establishing relations with European powers to keep the Ottomans in check, and strengthening ties with the Shi'ite Muslim sultanates of Golkandah-Haiderabad and Bijapur in the Deccan (southern India), where the name of the Safavid Emperor was recited in the Friday Prayer sermons. At the same time he maintained friendly relations with the Mughal Emperor Jahangir of Hindustan (North India). He was succeeded by his grandson, Shah Safi.

169 solar years ago, on this day in 1850 AD, the biggest uprising of Chinese people, known as the “Taiping Rebellion”, commenced as a consequence of the extreme poverty of villagers due to foreign rule over China. It resulted in a widespread civil war in southern China from 1850 to 1864, led by Christian convert Hong Xiuquan against the Qing Dynasty. About 20 million people died, mainly civilians, in one of the deadliest military conflicts in history. Hong, who claimed to be a brother of Prophet Jesus, set up what he called the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom with its capital at Nanjing. The new militaristic regime instituted several changes, including abolition of foot binding, land socialization and common property, suppression of private trade, and the replacement of Confucianism, Buddhism and Chinese folk religion by a form of Christianity. The rebellion was eventually crushed with the help of the British and French. In the 20th century, Sun Yat-sen, founder of the Chinese Nationalist Party, looked on the Taiping Uprising as an inspiration, while Chinese communist leader, Mao Zedong, glorified the Taiping rebels as early heroic revolutionaries against a corrupt feudal system.

119 solar years ago, on this day in 1900 AD, Malaysian freedom fighter, Datu Muhammad Saleh was assassinated in Kampung Teboh, Tambunan, ending what is known as the Mat Saleh Rebellion, which was a series of major armed encounters against the British in North Borneo, now the Malaysian state of Sabah. Datu Muhammad Saleh, who was a local chief from the Lingkabo district and Sugut River, led the freedom-fighters from 1894 until his death. The resistance then continued for another 5 years until 1905. Saleh’s uprising was widely supported by the local communities and affected a large geographical area from Sandakan, across Gaya Island, including the interior, especially Tambunan. His most notable uprising occurred at midnight on 9 July 1897, when he led his followers to successfully attack a major colonial settlement on Gaya Island.

114 lunar years ago, on this day in 1326 AH, Iran’s freedom-seeking author and preacher, Mirza Nasrollah Malek al-Motakallemin, was detained and martyred by agents of the Qajarid King, Mohammad Ali Shah at the age of 49. Born in Isfahan, he was 22 when during a visit to India he wrote a book on the appalling conditions of Indian Muslims under British colonial rule, titled: “Min al-Haq il’al-Haq”, which means From Truth towards Truth. The book was hailed by the ulema and people but enraged and angered the British and their agents. As a result he was detained and deported to Iran. Having become familiar during exile with the thoughts and ideas of the great pan-Islamist figure, Seyyed Jamal od-Din Asadabadi, on return to his hometown Isfahan, he started preaching and delivering sermons to awaken the people, as a result of which he was attacked by the Qajarid agents and attained martyrdom.

104 solar years ago, on this day in 1915 AD, during World War I, Germany became the first country to make large-scale use of poison gas in warfare in the Battle of Bolimów against Russia.

93 solar years ago, on this day in 1926 AD, the Nahzat ul-Ulama (NU) was established by Wahab Chasbullah with support from Hasyim Asyari, the most respected Muslim scholar in East Java. By 2010 NU was one of the largest independent Islamic organizations in the world.

64 lunar years ago, on this day in 1375 AH, the Gnostic Mirza Ali Aqa Shirazi, passed away. He was noted for his piety and simple way of life, despite being an erudite scholar who could be called the embodiment of “Nahj al-Balagha”, the famous collection of the sermons, letters, and maxims of the Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali ibn Abi Taleb (AS).

40 solar years ago, on this day in 1979 AD, the demoralized forces of the Shah’s regime staged a parade in the streets of Tehran in a futile bid to scare the Iranian Muslim nation. To the horror of the generals, during the parade, many of the soldiers joined the masses and expressed solidarity with the Islamic Movement against the despotic British-installed and US-supported Pahlavi regime. At the same time, news agencies announced that the Father of Islamic Revolution, Imam Khomeini (RA) would be leaving Paris at 3:30 a.m. local time on February 1, and arriving in Tehran at 9:30 a.m. On hearing this, people poured into the streets to prepare a glorious welcome home to their beloved leader.

12 lunar years ago, on this day in 1428 AH, the prominent scholar Ayatollah Hassan Tabatabaei Qomi, passed away in his hometown, holy Mashhad, at the age of 99 years. When his father, Ayatollah Hussain Tabatabaie Qomi staged an uprising for protection of Islamic values against the British-installed Pahlavi tyrant, Reza Khan, and was expelled to Iraq, he also accompanied him into exile. Several years later, following the passing away of his father in Iraq, he returned to his hometown, Mashhad, to take charge of the Islamic seminary. In addition to teaching and writing books, he continued his political activities against the Pahlavi regime, taking part in the Khordad 15 (5 June 1963) uprising of the Father of the Islamic Revolution, Imam Khomeini (RA). As a result, the regime banished him to remote areas of the country. He finally returned to Mashhad sixteen years later following the victory of the Islamic Revolution in 1979, and served Islam and the people for the next 28 years until his departure from the mortal world. 

6 solar years ago, on this day in 2013 AD, Dr. Hassan Ibrahim Habibi, Iranian revolutionary politician, lawyer, scholar, head of Academy of Persian Language and Literature, and the First Vice President for 13 years (1989-2001), passed away in Tehran at the age of 76. He held a PhD in law and sociology. While he was a university student in Paris he visited the Father of the Islamic Revolution, Imam Khomeini (RA), during the latter’s brief stay in a village near Paris, and was tasked to draft the prospective constitution of Iran. After victory of the Iranian revolution, Habibi was named public spokesman for the revolutionary council. He was elected to the Majlis, and later served as the minister of justice. He was also head of the Academy of Persian Language and Literature, in addition to being a member of the State Expediency Council. Among his books are: “God” (1981), “Society, Culture, Politics” (1984), “Islam and the Crisis of Our Time” (1984).

AS/SS