Today is Sunday; 26th of the Iranian month of Bahman 1399 solar hijri; corresponding to 2nd of the Islamic month of Rajab  1442 lunar hijri; and February 14, 2021, of the Christian Gregorian Calendar.
1273 solar years ago, on this day in 748 AD, after years of secret networks and simmering discontent, the Hashemiyya Movement came to surface as the Iranian warlord Vehzaadaan-Pour Vandaad Hormoz, known as Abu Muslim Khorasani, drove out the battle-hardened governor, Nasr ibn Sayyar, to capture Marv, capital of the Omayyad province of Khorasan, marking the consolidation of the Abbasid revolt. With the slogan of restoring to the most worthy descendent of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA), the rule of the vast Islamic realm – stretching from Spain in the west till the borders of China and India in the east – the Abbasids attracted the support of both Arabs and Persians to the movement to overthrow the Godless Omayyad regime. Marv, founded in the 6th century BC by Cyrus the Great of the Achaemenid Empire, became a base for spread of the movement in Khorasan and Transoxiana that resulted in a string of defeats for the Omayyads in Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Egypt, and led to the emergence in 750 of a new dynasty of usurpers. The Abbasids, who claimed descent from the Prophet’s uncle Abbas, exploited the sentiments of the Muslim masses to deprive the Imams of the Ahl al-Bayt of their divinely-decreed right of political leadership. Abu Muslim, who ordered his partisans to don black clothes (hence Siyah-Jamegaan) and deceitfully named all males born that year in Khorasan as "Yayha” in memory of the 4th Infallible Imam’s grandson, Yahya ibn Zaid, who was martyred in Jowzajan in 742 by the Omayyads, managed to absorb the followers of the Ahl al-Bayt, whom he eventually betrayed by endorsing the caliphate of Abbas as-Saffah (Bloodshedder) in Kufa, rather than pledge allegiance to the Prophet’s 6th Infallible Heir, Imam Ja’far as-Sadeq (AS) in Medina. Abu Muslim continued to rule Marv and Khorasan as a semi-independent ruler until he paid the price with his life of having supported the Abbasid usurpers. In 755, at the age of 55, when he went to Iraq to meet the 2nd self-styled caliph, Mansur Dawaniqi in Mada’en (Ctesiphon the former Parthian & Sassanid capital), the latter accusing him of heresy in spite of being reminded of his key role in placing the Abbasids in power, was killed and his body thrown into the River Tigris. Throughout the Abbasid era, Marv remained the capital and most important city of Khorasan. From 813 to 818, it was effectively made capital of the Muslim world by Mamoun, the 7th self-styled Abbasid caliph, who forced the Prophet’s 8th Infallible Heir, Imam Reza (AS) to come to Marv from Medina, and after declaring him heir-apparent against his will, martyred him through poisoning in Tous (Mashhad). Marv, which for over two millenniums was an integral part of Iran, was seized in 1785 by Shah Murad the Emir of Bukhara, and is presently part of the Republic of Turkmenistan.
1221 lunar years ago, on this day in 221 AH, the renowned Arabic poet, Ali ibn Abbas ibn ar-Rumi, was born in Baghdad. The son of an Iranian Muslim mother and a half Greek Muslim father, named Abbas ibn Jurayj, by the age of twenty he was an accomplished poet. His patrons included the Taherid ruler of Khorasan, Obaydallah ibn Abdullah, and the Persian Ismail ibn Bulbul. He was a follower of the School of the Ahl al-Bayt of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA). He composed numerous poems in praise of Imam Ali al-Hadi (AS) and Imam Hasan al-Askari (AS) – the Prophet’s 10th and 11th Infallible Heirs. He died of illness at the age of 59, although some have suggested he was poisoned. His Diwan is a masterpiece of Arabic poetry.
1074 lunar years ago, on this day in 368 AH, the Iranian Arabic philologist, Hassan ibn Abdullah Sirafi, passed away in Baghdad. He was among the childhood teachers of Seyyed Radhi, the famous scholar and compiler of the "Nahj al-Balagha” – the collection of sermons, letters and maxims of Imam Ali ibn Abi Taleb (AS). Once the child Radhi had a lively discussion with him on the wrong track the caliphate took after Prophet Mohammad (SAWA).
1002 lunar years ago, on this day in 440 AH, the prominent Iranian Islamic scientist, Abu Rayhan Mohammad ibn Ahmad al-Berouni, passed away in the city of Ghazni, in present day Afghanistan at the age of 77. He was a multisided genius and wrote prolifically on history, geography, mathematics, astronomy, mineralogy, and various other topics. He wrote over 180 books. His work on geometry, arithmetic, trigonometry, and algebra, is titled "at-Tafhim” in which he has calculated the weight of objects. Born in Khwarezm, a region adjoining the Aral Sea and presently in Uzbekistan, Beiruni, who was a follower of the Ahl al-Bayt of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA), has written about the spherical shape of the Earth and its revolving on its axis as it orbits around the Sun, several centuries before Europeans were to discover these facts. He was conversant in Arabic, Persian, Greek and Sanskrit, and after visiting India and spending several months in the company of its sages, he wrote the valuable book, "Tahqiq ma lil-Hind”. Among his works, mention could be made of "Kitab Sina‘at at-Tanjim” (The Book of the Elements of the Art of Astronomy), and "Aasaar al-Baqiyah an-il-Qoroun al-Khaliya” (The Remaining Signs of Past Centuries), which is a comparative study of calendars of different cultures and civilizations, interlaced with mathematical, astronomical, and historical information. He also wrote the "Qanoun al-Mas’oudi”, an extensive encyclopedia on astronomy, geography, and engineering.
672 solar years ago, on this day in 1349 AD, over a thousand Jews were publicly burned to death by Christian mobs while the remainder of their population was forcibly driven away from the German city of Strasbourg, as part of the pogroms, the Church used to frequently conduct against the followers of Judaism in Europe, at a time when Jews living in Islamic lands enjoyed all the freedom and privileges of Muslims, even rising to the post of ministers. The massacre followed the deadly bubonic plague of 1348 which was blamed on the presence of Jews in Christian lands. The practices and behaviour of the Jews was also partly responsible for such massacres, because the Jews played the role of money-lenders and manipulated the economy, which brought about serious problems. European chroniclers report that the Jews were arrogant and unwilling to grant anyone else precedence. Those dealing with them could hardly come to an agreement with them. The Jews’ intransigence, coupled with their slandering of Prophet Jesus and his Virgin mother, Mary (peace upon them), were the reason for their frequent massacres by Christians. Until the start of the 18th century, Jews were forbidden to remain in town after 10 pm in any European country, and heavy taxes were levied on them, including a special tax for any horse that a Jew would ride or bring into the city.
538 solar years ago, on this day in 1483 AD, the founder of the Moghal Dynasty of South Asia, Zaheer od-Din Babar, was born in Andijan in the Ferghana Valley in what is now Uzbekistan. Son of the local ruler, Omar Sheikh – a great-grandson of the Central Asian conqueror, Amir Timur – he was on his mother’s side a grandson of Yunus Khan, the ruler of Moghulistan and thus a direct descendent of the fearsome Genghis Khan. Like the rest of the Timurids, Babar had embraced Persian language and culture, although his mother tongue was Chaghatai Turkic. In his obsession to take control of Samarqand he lost Ferghana as well to Obaidullah Khan Shaibani Khan, the ruler of the Uzbeks, who were newcomers to the region and were fast displacing the local Tajiks (or Persian speakers). He accepted Shah Ismail I, the founder of the Safavid Empire of Iran, as suzerain, after rejecting demands from the Ottoman Sultan to acknowledge him as overlord. This alliance enabled him to chalk out an independent kingdom in Kabul, which he used as a base to recapture Samarqand with Safavid help, but soon lost it. Later with his combined Tajik and Turkic military, he conquered the northern parts of the Subcontinent by defeating the Afghan king, Ibrahim Lodhi of Delhi at the Battle of Panipat in 1526 and then routing the huge Rajput-Afghan joint army of Rana Sanga in 1527 to establish the Moghal Empire. He was a poet in both Persian and his Turkic, and was a devotee of the Ahl al-Bayt of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA).
522 lunar years ago, on this day in 920 AH, the Battle of Chaldiran took place between the Ottoman and the Safavid Empires, in which Sultan Selim who was on the verge of defeat and contemplating flight, unexpectedly found victory as Shah Ismail’s forces suddenly gave way after brave resistance. The Turks, who were afraid of the growing influence of the Iranians in Anatolia and Syria, succeeded in checking Shah Ismail’s advance in what is now Turkey, but withdrew from Tabriz and retreated on hearing news of reorganization of the famous Qizilbash Corps by the Iranians. This was the first of the many battles between the two sides that continued intermittently for almost two-and-a-half centuries.
298 lunar years ago, on this day in 1144 AH, a treaty was signed after wars between the Ottoman and Safavid Empires, according to which the Turks withdrew from the western border areas of Iran and the Iranians regained sovereignty over Azerbaijan and parts of the Caucasus
242 solar years ago, on this day in 1779 AD, Captain James Cook, who is supposed to have discovered Australia, was killed by Hawaiians near Kealakekua on Hawaii Island at the age of 50 for his arrogant colonialist intentions. He spent several years surveying the coasts of Labrador and Newfoundland. He made three expeditions to the Pacific on supposedly scientific trips that were a cover for forcing islands to submit to Britain’s colonial rule.
83 solar years ago, on this day in 1938 AD, illegal Zionist migrants from Europe, who formed the Palmach terrorist outfit in British-ruled Palestine, stormed the Palestinian village of Sa’sa, and for two days indulged in the massacre of men, women, and children, killing over 60 Muslims, as part of their ethnic cleansing campaign to create the illegitimate state of Israel.
76 solar years ago, on this day in 1945 AD, Britain and the US jointly conducted the deadliest bombardment of World War 2 by using a total of 1,773 aircraft to flatten German cities and towns. For three continuous days bombs were rained on population centres, turning them into rubble and killing at least 250,000 men, women and children.
59 solar years ago, on this day in 1962 AD, Iranian dramatist and playwright, Seyyed Ali Nasr, considered one of the founders of theatre in Iran, passed away in Tehran at the age of 70. Born in Kashan, after completing his education, he came to Tehran to study French language, literature, and mathematics. He was an active supporter of the Constitutional Movement. He went to Europe to study theatre, and on returning to Iran, founded in 1925 an intellectual group named "Iran comedy”. Many prominent Iranian theatrical figures were part of this group and it became a very important factor in the development of modern Iranian drama. Nasr wrote many plays, and in 1939 he founded an acting school in Tehran, where many important dramatists and actors studied. His plays expressed didactic, moralistic themes promoting modernization, including literacy, and opposition to social backwardness. His best known play is "Wedding of Hussain Aqa”, written in 1939. He was also active in administrative affairs, serving as Minister of Post and Telegraph, and ambassador to India, China, and the UN. He taught the history of art at the university level and wrote several books including the 6-volume "Science of Physics”, and "History of Iran”. He also translated into Persian "History of Greece” and "History of France”.
58 solar years ago, on this day in 1963 AD, English surgeon, Martin Scott successfully carried out for the first time a kidney transplant at a hospital in Leeds.
33 solar years ago, on this day in 1988 AD, Kuwait’s leading Shi’a Muslim religious leader, Ayatollah Seyyed Abbas Musawi al-Mohri, passed away in Tehran at the age of 73. Born in Fars Province, after completing his religious education in holy Najaf, Iraq, he was invited to Kuwait by the people of that tiny Persian Gulf Sheikhdom, and soon became a naturalized citizen. As a staunch follower of the Father of the Islamic Revolution, Imam Khomeini (RA), his house in Kuwait served as the link between Najaf and the outside world, especially Iran, for broadcast of the latter’s speeches and announcements. An eloquent orator himself, he awakened the Kuwaiti people through his lectures and religious discourses. He wrote several works including "Shu’a min at-Tarikh” (Ray of History). Within a year of the establishment of the Islamic Republic in Iran, Ayatollah Abbas al-Mohri was expelled to Tehran by the Kuwaiti regime. His eldest son, Ayatollah Seyyed Mohammad Baqer Musawi al-Mohri, who was a respected scholar in Kuwait, passed away in that sheikhdom, two years ago. His second son, Ayatollah Seyyed Murtaza Musawi al-Mohri, is still active in Kuwait.
16 solar years ago, on this day in 2005 AD, former Lebanese Premier, Rafiq Hariri, was assassinated by Israeli agents in a bomb blast in Beirut. The US and its proxies in Lebanon by setting up a Kangaroo tribunal under the UN, first tried to put the blame on Syria, and then on the legendry anti-terrorist movement, the Hezbollah, but to no avail, since all documented evidence points in the direction of the Zionist entity.
10 solar years ago, on this day in 2011 AD, as part of the Islamic Awakening, the people of the Persian Gulf island state of Bahrain launched their peaceful uprising against the repressive Aal-e Khalifa minority regime, through a series of mass demonstrations in the capital Manama, calling it the "Day of Rage”. The people’s demand for democratic changes, including end of discrimination against the long-suppressed Shi’ite Muslim majority, was met with teargas and bullets. The first martyr of the peaceful uprising this day was 21-year old Abdul-Hadi Saleh Ja’far Mushaima. The "Maidan Lu’lu” (Pearl Square) soon became the site of peaceful mass protests that were savagely attacked by the regime with the help of Saudi Arabian soldiers who desecrate mosques and Hussainiyahs, and burn copies of the holy Qur’an.
9 solar years ago, on this day in 2012 AD, US filmmaker Sean Christopher Stone embraced the truth of Islam in the Islamic Republic of Iran, and added "Ali” to his name in honour of Imam Ali ibn Abi Taleb (AS), the dear cousin, son-in-law and divinely-decreed heir of the Almighty’s Last Messenger to all mankind, Prophet Mohammad (SAWA). Son of the famous film director, Oliver Stone, he told a news conference, following his conversion: "It’s a mistake to believe that Islam is antagonistic towards Judaism and Christianity. What we need is to understand each other’s beliefs and to establish dialogue. The most important thing is I hope I can help Americans to understand the true nature of Islam. I feel good when I enter a mosque. I believe there is only one God.”
He is currently making a documentary focusing on Jinns or genie – a species of semi intelligent shadowy beings created of fire, unlike the human being whose essence is of clay.