27^th November 2024 – 3^rd December 2024

29 November (27 Jamadi 1)

Demise of Hadhrat Abdul Muttalib

Abdul Muttalib ibn Hashim ibn Abd Manaf (127–45 BH), was a prominent leader of Mecca and the Quraysh tribe, as well as the grandfather of the Prophet of Islam (peace be upon him and his family). Renowned for his wisdom, he was admired for his exceptional spiritual qualities, and the people followed his guidance. His generosity was legendary, and he was celebrated for his eloquence. Historical accounts describe him as one of the sages of Quraysh, and he was known as someone whose prayers were always answered.

Abdul Muttalib was a follower of the religion of Abraham and never worshipped idols. He was a monotheist, devoted solely to the worship of the One God. One of the key reasons for affirming the monotheism of Abdul Muttalib and other ancestors of the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) is that God would not grant the honor of carrying the pure light of the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) to those polluted by idolatry or impurity.

In this regard, Imam Ali (peace be upon him) stated, “By God! My father Abu Talib, my grandfather Abdul Muttalib, and my forefathers Hashim and Abd Manaf never worshipped idols.”

Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family) also said, “Abdul Muttalib and Abu Talib passed away affirming ‘There is no god but Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah,’ and following the faith of Abraham.”

Abdul Muttalib firmly believed in the Hereafter and the accountability of deeds. He is reported to have said, “Beyond this world lies another realm where the righteous will be rewarded for their good deeds, and the wrongdoers will face punishment for their evil actions.”

These accounts reinforce Abdul Muttalib’s unwavering faith and his adherence to the principles of monotheism.

He passed away when the Prophet was eight years old and was buried in the Al-Hajun cemetery.

29 November (27 Jamadi 1)

Sheikh Mofid Commemoration Day

Muhammad bin Muhammad bin Nu’man, known as Sheikh Mufid ( 336 AH or 338 AH – 413 AH ), was a theologian and jurist of the Imamia in the fourth and fifth lunar centuries. It has been said that Shaykh Mufid, by compiling the science of principles of jurisprudence, presented a new method in jurisprudence, which was a middle way against the two methods of extreme rationalism and relying on traditions without regard to reason. Sheikh Saduq, Ibn Junaid Askafi, and Ibn Qolwiyeh were the most famous teachers of Sheikh Mofid. Sheikh Tusi, Seyyed Morteza, Seyyed Razi, and Najashi are also among his famous students. Al-Muqna’a in the science of jurisprudence, Awal Al-Maqalat in the knowledge of Kalam, and Al-Irshad in the biography of Shia imams are considered the most famous works of Sheikh Mofid. Studied the Quran and elementary sciences from his father. Then, he went to Baghdad to continue his education with his father and benefited from prominent Shia and Sunni scholars, theologians, and jurists. Sheikh Mofid learned theology from Husayn bin Ali Basri, known as Jual, one of the great Mu’tazila teachers, and Abu Yasir, a disciple of a theologian named Abul Jaish Balkhi. At the suggestion of Abu Yaser, he also participated in the lecture of Ali Ibn Isa Romani, a famous Mu’tazili scholar. From the age of about 40 years old, he became the head of the Shiites in jurisprudence, theology, and hadith, and used to debate with the scholars of other religions in defense of the Shiite beliefs.

Sheikh Mufid died on the second or third month of Ramadan in 413 AH. Sheikh Tusi has described the crowd of people from all religions to pray and cry at his death as unprecedented. He was buried in his house for several years and then he was moved to the tombs of Quraysh, near the grave of Imam Javad (a.s.) in Kazimain Shrine.

30 November

Martyrdom anniversary of Ayatollah Seyed Hassan Modares and Majlis day

30 November: We remember the martyrdom of Ayatollah Seyyed Hassan Modarres in 1937. A courageous cleric and political leader, he stood steadfast against colonial influence and authoritarian rule, leaving a lasting legacy of integrity and resistance.

Martyr Ayatollah Seyed Hasan Modarres, originally named Seyed Hasan Qomshehi Esfahani, was born in 1287 AH. At the age of 6, he began studying Arabic and Persian literature in Qomsheh, continuing for 10 years. At 16, he moved to Isfahan, where he spent nearly 13 years studying religious sciences under esteemed scholars such as Mirza Jahangir Khan Qashqaei and Abdul Ali Harandi Nahawi. After the tobacco embargo, he traveled to holy cities, joining Mirza Shirazi in Samarra. In Najaf Ashraf, he studied under great scholars like Akhund Khorasani and Seyyed Kazem Tabatabai Yazdi.

Following the Constitutional Revolution, with the inclusion of the principle of jurist oversight in the Constitution, Modarres and 20 other jurists were introduced to parliament by Najaf’s grand religious authorities. The Second National Consultative Assembly elected him as one of the top five jurists. As a Tehran representative from the third to sixth parliamentary terms, Ayatollah Modarres stood out for his courage, advocacy for freedom, and unwavering commitment to faith-based politics. His legacy, nearly 90 years later, remains a beacon of justice in Iranian history.

During Reza Khan’s sham Seventh National Assembly elections, Modarres was excluded in a blatant act where even his own vote was disregarded. In December 1928, he was exiled to Kashmar. After nine years of captivity, on December 1, 1937, the 27th day of Ramadan, while fasting and just before Maghrib, Modarres was martyred by Reza Khan’s agents. They strangled him with his turban, ending the life of a man who epitomized resilience and integrity.

1^st December

Mirza Kuchak Khan, a revolutionary leader who fought for justice and national sovereignty,

Mirza Younes, widely known as Mirza Kuchak Khan Jangali, was a prominent leader of the Constitutional Movement and the Jangali Uprising. He rose up in response to the internal instability following the Constitutional Revolution and the foreign interventions in Iran by Tsarist Russia and Britain.

In an effort to combat these crises, he declared a republic in Rasht. However, internal conflicts within the Rasht government, the agreement between Russian and British forces, and the increasing power of Iran’s central government led to his defeat. While fleeing into the mountains, Mirza Kuchak Khan was caught in a snowstorm and succumbed to the cold in 1921 (1300 SH).

He is remembered as a symbol of resistance against foreign interference and a defender of Iranian independence.

Activities

• Established the Clerical Society.
• Resisted Russian Tsarist colonialism.
• Fought against British colonialism.
• Led the Islamic Union Council.
• Declared the Republic in Rasht.

After about seven years of struggle, battle, and evasion with a few of his companions, Mirza Kuchak Khan headed toward Khalkhal to gather forces. However, he was trapped by snowstorms and eventually lost his life. His death, on Monday, Azar 11, 1300 SH (December 2, 1921), marked the end of the Jangali movement.

His body was buried in Gilvan with respectful care by Agha Seyyed Nasrallah Gilvani. Later, the body was taken by the followers of Salar Shoja, the brother of Sardar Moqtader Talashi. One of them decapitated Mirza Kuchak Khan’s head, and it was sent to Tehran as a symbol of the end of his era. The head was presented to Sardar Sepah (Reza Khan). Eventually, his head was buried in an unmarked grave in the Hasanabad cemetery in Tehran, and later, the grave’s location was identified by the Jangali movement’s supporters.

03^rd Dec

International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) is a UN day that is celebrated every year.

The day is about promoting the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities at every level of society and development and to raise awareness of the situation of persons with disabilities in all aspects of political, social, economic, and cultural life. WHO joins the UN in observing this day each year, reinforcing the importance of securing the rights of people with disabilities, so they can participate fully, equally and effectively in society with others, and face no barriers in all aspects of their lives.

At its headquarters in Geneva, WHO organizes an annual IDPD event to educate the public, raise awareness, advocate for political will and resources, and celebrate WHO’s achievements. In 2022, the WHO launched the Global Report on Health Equity for Persons with Disabilities. This report sets forth the approaches and actions that countries can take to address the health inequities that persons with disabilities experience.