Distinguished Scholars of Iran

Compiled by: Syed Ali Shahbaz

The contemporary Iranian author, researcher, and lecturer, Dr. Seyyed Javad Mostafavi
On May 9 in 1989 AD, the contemporary Iranian author, researcher, and lecturer, Dr. Seyyed Javad Mostafavi, passed away. He was an authority on Islamic sciences, and following the victory of the Islamic Revolution, served as chancellor of the University of Islamic sciences in holy Mashhad. He has left behind a large number of books, including “al-Kashefâ€‌ and “Miftah al-Wasa’elâ€‌.

The renowned Iranian scholar of Arabic literature, Abu Zachariah Yahya Ibn Ali Ibn Mohammed at-Tabrizi
On 28th of the Islamic month of Jamadi as-Sani in 502 AH, the renowned Iranian scholar of Arabic literature, Abu Zachariah Yahya Ibn Ali Ibn Mohammed at-Tabrizi, passed away. He is the author of several commentaries on divans of Arabic poets, like al “Mu'allaqat as-Sabaâ€‌, “al-Mufadhaliyaatâ€‌ and the “Hamasahâ€‌ of Abu Tammam.

The prominent Iranian Islamic scientist, Abu Rayhan Mohammad ibn Ahmad al-Berouni
On 2nd of the Islamic month of Rajab 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 years. 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.
He was born in Khwarezm, a region adjoining the Aral Sea and presently in Uzbekistan. Beiruni, who was a follower of the Prophet’s Ahl al-Bayt, has written about the spherical shape of the Earth and its revolving on its axis as it orbits round 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-Hindâ€‌.
Among his valuable compilations, mention could be made of “Kitab at-Tafhim li-Awa’il Sinaâ€کat at-Tanjimâ€‌ (The Book of Instruction in the Elements of the Art of Astronomy, and “Aasaar al-Baqiyah an-il-Qoroun al-Khaliyaâ€‌ (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'oudiâ€‌, an extensive encyclopedia on astronomy, geography, and engineering.

The Islamic-Iranian mathematician and astronomer, Abu'l-Wafa al-Bouzjani
On 3rd of the Islamic month of Rajab in 388 AH, the Islamic-Iranian mathematician and astronomer, Abu'l-Wafa Mohammad ibn Mohammad ibn Yahya al-Bouzjani, passed away in Baghdad at the age of 60 years. He was born in in Bouzhgan (now Torbat-e Jam) in Khorasan in northeastern Iran. At the age of 19, he moved to Baghdad and remained there for the next forty years.
He made important innovations in spherical trigonometry, and his work on arithmetic for businessmen contains the first instance of using negative numbers in an Islamic text. He was the first to build a wall quadrant to observe the sky. Bouzjani participated in an experiment to determine the difference in local time between his location in Baghdad and that of his famous contemporary, Abu Rayhan al-Berouni, who was living in Kath, Khwarezm, which is now part of the Central Asian Republic of Uzbekistan.
The result was very close to present-day calculations, showing a difference of approximately 1 hour between the two longitudes. The 3rd Lunar Inequality (the variation) was first discovered by Bouzjani, a fact admitted by the European scientist, Tycho Brahe, who often quotes this Iranian Islamic scientist's work. His "Kitab al-Majisti" (Almajest) covers numerous topics in the fields of plane and spherical trigonometry, planetary theory, and solutions to determine the direction of Qibla. The crater Abu'l-Wafa on the Moon is named after him. Bouzhaani wrote several books that have not survived, including “Tarikh-e Ilm al-Hesabâ€‌ (The History of Calculus).

Allamah Mohammad Qazvini
On May 26 in 1949 AD, the contemporary Iranian literary figure, researcher, and historian, Allamah Mohammad Qazvini, passed away. Among his services to culture and literature was to prepare photographs and copies of Persian manuscripts in European museums. He has left behind annotations on a number of books, including an introduction to the Shahnamah of Ferdowsi.
The Iranian mystical philosopher, Shahab od-Din Suhrawardi
On 5th of the Islamic month of Rajab in 587 AH, the Iranian mystical philosopher, Shahab od-Din Suhrawardi, was martyred in Aleppo, Syria, by the Kurdish ruler, Malik az-Zaher, the son of Salah od-Din Ayyoubi. Born in Suhraward, near the northwestern city of Zanjan, he went to Iraq and Syria to develop his knowledge.
During his short life of less than forty years he wrote valuable works that established him as founder of a new school of philosophy, called "Hikmat al-Ishraq" (Illuminationist Philosophy). He is thus known as "Shaikh-e Ishraq". His views angered his opponents, who had him arrested or charges of heresy and subsequently martyred. Suhrawardi has left behind some 50 works in Persian and Arabic.

The Iranian physician and lexicographer, Mirza Ali Akbar Khan Nafisi
On May 29 in 1924, the Iranian physician and lexicographer, Mirza Ali Akbar Khan Nafisi, titled “Nazem ol-Atibbaâ€‌, passed away in Tehran. He was a product of Tehran’s famous Dar al-Fonoun Academy. In addition to his services to medicine, he also served the cause of Persian language. His important work in this domain is the 5-volume lexicon “Farhang-e Nafisiâ€‌, which took him 25 years to compile.

The Iranian philologist of Arabic, Ibn Qutaybah ad-Dinawari
On 15th of the Islamic month of Rajab in 276 AH, the Iranian philologist of Arabic, Abu Mohammad Abdullah bin Muslim ibn Qutaybah ad-Dinawari, passed away in Baghdad. He was born in Kufa in Iraq, while his father was from the Khorasani city of Merv in what is now Turkmenistan. Having studied hadith and philology he became qazi or judge in Dinawar, near Hamedan in western Iran, and afterwards a teacher in Baghdad. He was the first representative of the eclectic school of Baghdad philologists that succeeded the schools of Kufa and Basra. He is regarded by Sunni Muslims as an authority on hadith. Among his works are "Gharib al-Qur'an" on its lexical issues, "al-Imama wa al-Siyasa" in which he has exposed the deviation of the caliphate from its goals, and "ash-She'r wa'sh-Shu'ara" on poetry and poets.

The Iranian historian, Abdi Beg Navidi Shirazi
On 9th of the Islamic month of Rajab in 921 AH, the Iranian historian, Abdi Beg Navidi Shirazi, was born in Shiraz. His main book is the history of the Safavid Dynasty, titled "Takmilat al-Akhbar", in which he has chronicled events from the emergence of the Safavids till 978 AH. Among his other works, is a versified book titled “Jam-e Jamshidâ€‌.

Contemporary Islamic thinker and scientist Dr. Mostafa Chamran
On June 20, 1981 AD, contemporary Islamic thinker, scientist, and Iranian defence minister, Dr. Mostafa Chamran, was martyred by the invading Ba'thist forces at the age of 49 years while directing operations at the warfronts in Khuzestan, southwest Iran. He studied electronic engineering and obtained a PhD in this field from the US, where he was active in the in the struggle against the British-installed and American Pahlavi regime.
He left his prestigious job as a senior research staff scientist at Bell Laboratories and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, to live in self-exile in Lebanon, where, while cooperating with the famous Iranian أ©migrأ© religious leader, Imam Musa Sadr, he helped the deprived Lebanese people set up the Amal or Hope Movement to confront the state terrorism of the illegal Zionist entity.
Following the victory of the Islamic Revolution in Iran in 1979, he returned to Iran and was in charge of organizing the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps. He was elected to the parliament in March 1980, and subsequently appointed defence minister. When the US imposed the 8-year war on Iran through Saddam, he was named Imam Khomeini's representative to the Supreme Defence Council. As an experienced general he was actively involved in defence operations at the warfronts. On his martyrdom, the Father of the Islamic Revolution, hailed him for his selfless efforts.

The Iranian statesman, Shams od-Din Juwaini
On 4th of the Islamic month of Sha’ban in 683 AH, the Iranian statesman, Shams od-Din Mohammad ibn Baha od-Din Mohammad ibn Mohammad Juwaini was martyred by the Mongol ruler, Arghun Khan on the alleged poisoning of his father Abaqa Khan, who actually died of excessive drinking.
A vizier and Sahib-Divan or Minister of Finance for 22 years under three Ilkhans – i.e. Hulagu, Abaqa and Ahmad Tekuder –both his grandfather Mohammad and his father Baha od-Din, had held the post of Sahib-Divan for Mohammad Jalal od-Din Khwarezmshah and Chingiz Khan's son Ogedei Khan respectively. Born in Juwain, near Naishapour in Khorasan, he was a skillful political and military leader, who is also known to have patronized arts and culture. His brother is the famous historian Ata ol-Molk Juwaini, the author of "Tarīkh-e Jahan-Gusha".

The famous Iranian Islamic physician and chemist, Mohammad ibn Zakariyah Razi
On 5th of the Islamic month of Sha'ban in 313 AH, the famous Iranian Islamic physician and chemist, Mohammad ibn Zakariyah Razi, passed away at the age of 62 years. He was born in the city of Ray, and initially followed his father's profession of a goldsmith later turning to chemistry in addition to honing is skills in other sciences, such as medicine, geometry, logic, and philosophy.
He has compiled almost 250 works in different scientific fields, in both Arabic and Persian including “al-Hawi fi't-Tibbâ€‌, “al-Mansouriâ€‌, and “Sayrat al-Falsafiyahâ€‌. Known as Rhazes to Medieval Europe, for several years he served as director of the principal hospital of Baghdad before returning to his native Rayy, where he eventually died. In short, he isolated many chemical substances, produced many medications, described many laboratory apparatus, classified many diseases and discovered the cure of many.

The renowned vizier of the Seljuqid Dynasty, Ibn Ishaq Tousi
On 10th of the Islamic month of Ramadhan in 485 AH, the renowned vizier of the Seljuqid Dynasty, Abu Ali Hassan Ibn Ali Ibn Ishaq Tousi, known by his title Khwaja Nizam ul-Mulk, was assassinated near Nahavand en route from Isfahan to Baghdad at the age of 75. Born in the northeastern Iranian city of Tous, he initially served the Ghaznavid sultans as chief administrator of Khorasan Province. Four years later with the rise of the Seljuqs, he served as vizier during the reigns of Alp Arslan and Malik Shah I. In addition to his administrative duties, he established a number of schools of higher education in several cities, which were named after him as Nizamiyyah Schools and turned out to be models of universities that were established in Europe. Nizam ul-Mulk is also widely known for his voluminous treatise on kingship titled "Siyasat-Nama" or "Siyar al-Molouk"(The Book of Government). Although it is claimed that he was stabbed by a member of the Assassins (corruption of Hashshashin) sent by his former friend, Hassan-e Sabbah of Alamut, his son-in-law Muqatel bin Atiyyah, who was eyewitness to a polemical debate, says he was assassinated in the same year as Malik Shah I, after a debate between Sunni and Shi'ite scholars, which resulted in converting him and the Seljuq sultan to the school of the Prophet's Ahl al-Bayt.

The prominent astronomer-king of the Timurid dynasty, Mirza Mohammad Taraghay Ulugh Beg
On 9th of the Islamic month of Ramadhan in 853 AH, the prominent astronomer-king of the Timurid dynasty, Mirza Mohammad Taraghay Ulugh Beg, was killed by his own rebellious son, Abdul-Latif "Pidarkush", while on his way to Mecca for pilgrimage after being deposed. Born in Soltaniyeh near Zanjan in Iran, his father was Shahroukh, the son and successor of the fearsome Turkic conqueror, Amir Timur, while his mother was the cultured and religious Iranian lady, Gowharshad, the builder of the famous mosque adjacent to the shrine of Imam Reza (AS), in Mashhad. His seat of government was Samarqand where he built the great Ulugh Beg Observatory with the assistance of the famous Iranian astronomer, Ghiyasoddin Jamshid Kashani. He also built the Ulugh Beg Madrasahs in Samarqand and Bukhara, transforming the cities into cultural center of learning. He ruled Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, southern parts of Kazakhstan for almost half a century, and for a time being parts of Khorasan as well. Ulugh Beg determined the length of the sidereal year as 365.2570370, making it more accurate than Copernicus' estimate. He also determined the Earth's axial tilt as 23.52 degrees, which remained the most accurate measurement for hundreds of years. In mathematics, he wrote accurate trigonometric tables of sine and tangent values correct to at least eight decimal places. The crater, Ulugh Beg, on the Moon, is named after him.

The prominent Iranian literary figure and researcher, Mirza Abdul-Azim Khan Ghareeb
On 18th of the Islamic month of Ramadhan in 1296 AH, the prominent Iranian literary figure and researcher, Mirza Abdul-Azim Khan Ghareeb, was born in the northeastern Iranian city of Gorgan. Following the completion of preliminary studies, he conducted extensive research on grammar, logic, mathematics, and literature, and later lectured on literature. He has left behind numerous compilations for promotion of Persian language and literature, including the book: “Farsi Grammarâ€‌, and “Badayat al-Adab,â€‌ and “Fawa'ed al-Adabâ€‌, which includes the best works of renowned Iranian authors and poets, and their biographies. He has also corrected a number of classical Persian literature works, including the famous Iranian poet, Sa’di’s “Boostanâ€‌, and “Golestanâ€‌.

The eminent Iranian astronomer and mathematician, Ghiyaseddin Jamshid Kashani
On 19th of the Islamic month of Ramadhan in 832 AH, the eminent Iranian astronomer and mathematician, Ghiyaseddin Jamshid Kashani, died under suspicious circumstances in Samarqand at the age of around 50 years. He was born in Kashan and went to Samarqand at the invitation of the Timurid scientist-ruler, Ologh Beg, to set up the famous observatory. He produced a Zij entitled the “Khaqani Zijâ€‌, which was based on Khwaja Naseereddin Tusi's “Zij-e Ilkhaniâ€‌. He also produced tables on transformations between coordinate systems on the celestial sphere, such as the transformation from the ecliptic coordinate system to the equatorial coordinate system. He wrote the book “Sullam as-Samaâ€‌ on the resolution of difficulties met by predecessors in the determination of distances and sizes of heavenly bodies such as the Earth, the Moon, the Sun and the Stars. He also invented a mechanical planetary computer which he called the Plate of Zones, which could graphically solve a number of planetary problems, including the prediction of the true positions in longitude of the Sun and Moon, and the planets in terms of elliptical orbits; the latitudes of the Sun, Moon, and planets; and the ecliptic of the Sun. In one of his numerical approximations of "P" (pronounced pie), he correctly computed 2 P to 9 sexagesimal digits. This approximation of 2 P is equivalent to 16 decimal places of accuracy. This was far more accurate than the estimates earlier given in Greek mathematics of 3 decimal places by Archimedes, Chinese mathematics of 7 decimal places by Zu Chongzhi and Indian mathematics of 11 decimal places by Madhava of Sangamagrama. The accuracy of Jamshid Kashani's estimate was not surpassed until Ludolph van Ceulen computed 20 decimal places of "P" nearly 200 years later.

The prominent Iranian-Islamic astronomer, philosopher and hadith scholar, Abu Ma'shar
On 28th of the Islamic month of Ramadhan in 272 AH, the prominent Iranian-Islamic astronomer, philosopher and hadith scholar, Ja'far ibn Mohammad al-Balkhi, popularly known as Abu Ma'shar, passed away in Waset, Iraq at the ripe old age of 102 years. Born in Khorasan in the city of Balkh, presently in Afghanistan, he flourished at the Abbasid court in Baghdad as the greatest astronomer of the era and subsequent centuries. He wrote a number of practical manuals on astrology that profoundly influenced Muslim intellectual history and through Latin translations, that of Western Europe and Byzantium. He was well versed in Persian, Arabic, Greek and Sanskrit languages, and according to the famous Persian poet of the subcontinent, he came to Benares in India to study astronomy. Abu Ma'shar, whose name was Latinized by medieval Europe as Albumasar, Albusar, or Albuxar, wrote several books including "Kitab al-Mudkhal al-Kabir ila Ilm Ahkaam an-Nujjum", "Kitāb al‐Milal wa’l-Duwal" and "Kitāb Taḥawil Sini al‐Mawālīd ("Book of the revolutions of the years of nativities"). These and other works were translated into Latin and Greek and had profound effect on western philosophers and scientists such as Albert, Roger Bacon, Pierre d'Ailly, and Pico Della Mirandola.

Prominent Iranian painter, Mohammad Ghaffari, titled “Kamal ol-Molkâ€‌
On August 17, 1940 AD, the prominent Iranian painter, Mohammad Ghaffari, titled “Kamal ol-Molkâ€‌ (Wonder of the State), passed away in exile in the northeastern Iranian city of Nayshapour. He was a product of Tehran’s Dar ul-Fonoun School and on entering the court of the Qajarid King, Naser od-Din Shah, created valuable works of art. He painted 170 masterpieces in this era. He later traveled to Europe to acquire further knowledge in the field of painting and upon return to Iran groomed numerous students. He was exiled to a village in the vicinity of Nayshapour by the British-installed Pahlavi potentate, Reza Khan, whose portrait he refused to paint. This renowned painter was laid to rest in the garden of the mausoleum of the acclaimed Iranian poet, Fareed od-Din Attar Nayshapouri.

The renowned Iranian statesman, scientist, and geographer, Abu Abdullah bin Jeyhani
On 7th of the Islamic month of Shawwal in 311 AH, the renowned Iranian statesman, scientist, and geographer, Abu Abdullah Mohammad bin Ahmad bin Jeyhani, passed away in Bukhara, where he served as vizier of the Iranian Samanid Dynasty. It was due to his political acumen and farsighted policies that the Samanid realm was consolidated in Central Asia and Khorasan (including present-day Afghanistan), following the murder of Ahmad ibn Ismail, the second ruler and the ascension of the latter's 8-year old, Nasr ibn Ahmad. Poets and historians have eulogized him for his policies that included clemency towards his fallen foes. His son and grandson also served as viziers. His lasting fame is indebted to the valuable works he wrote, the most important of which is in the domain of geography, titled “al-Masaalek wa’l-Mamalekâ€‌. He was said to be of Shi'ite Muslim inclinations, but the fact of the matter is that he effectively checked the activities of Ismaili Shi'ite missionaries affiliated to the Fatemid caliphate of North Africa, toward which many prominent Khorasanis and Central Asians were inclined.

The prominent Iranian Islamic scholar, Mirza-e Rafi'a
On 7th of the Islamic month of Shawwal in 1080 AH, the prominent Iranian Islamic scholar, Seyyed Rafi od-Din Mohammad ibn Seyyed Haidar, known popularly as Mirza-e Rafi'a, passed away. He was the teacher of the famous Safavid era scholar, Allamah Mohammad Baqer Majlisi, and among his works is the book titled “Hamla-e Haidariâ€‌.

The famous calligrapher, Ibn Muqlah Shirazi
On 10th of the Islamic month of Shawwal in 328 AH, the famous calligrapher, Abu Ali Mohammad Ibn Ali Ibn Muqlah Shirazi, was torturously executed by the usurper Abbasid regime in his hometown Baghdad at the age of 59 years. He is regarded as inventor of the "thuluth" script, the first cursive style of Arabic Ibn Muqlah was also a government official. By age 22 he was a scribe as well as holding two other important jobs. He was the vizier three times under different Abbasid caliphs in Baghdad. He also suffered imprisonment three times, and once while in prison his enemies amputated his right hand to prevent him from writing. Upon release, this great master calligrapher used his left hand to break new grounds in calligraphy. After years of fighting for causes he believed in, he was publicly disgraced and imprisoned and four years later was tortured to death in prison with his tongue and remaining left hand chopped off. Along with Ibn al-Bawwab and Yaqut al-Musta'simi, he is considered the founder of the new style of calligraphy. Among his valuable books, mention can be made of “Risalah fi Ilm al-Khat wa'l-Qalamâ€‌.

The famous Iranian lexicographer of Arabic, Al-Firuzabadi
On 20th of the Islamic month of Shawwal in 817 AH, the famous Iranian lexicographer of Arabic, Abu Taher Majd od-Din Mohammad ibn Yaqoub al-Firuzabadi, passed away at the age of 87 in Zabid, Yemen, where he was appointed the Chief Qazi and had married the daughter of the Sultan. Born in Kazeroun and educated in Shiraz, Waset, Baghdad and Damascus, he lived for ten years in Bayt al-Moqaddas, Palestine.
He then travelled to Egypt, before settling in Mecca, where he lived for over a quarter century, while spending some years in Delhi, India. He returned to his native Shiraz via Baghdad, when he was around 60 years of age, and was warmly received by the Turkic conqueror, Amir Timur. He then left for Ta'izz in Yemen where he spent the last years of his life. He was a polymath in hadith, exegesis of the Holy Qur'an, history, and Arabic grammar and literature; and a follower of the Shafe’i school of jurisprudence.
He wrote more than 40 books, the best known of which was his 60-volume dictionary, now believed to be lost. His most important surviving work, "al-Qamous al-Mohit" served as the basis of dictionaries by other Arabic lexicographers, and later for European dictionaries of Arabic. Among his other books, mention could be made of "Safar as-Sa'adah", and "Tanwir al-Meqyas".

Renowned Iranian Islamic theologian and philosopher, ibn Yusuf al-Ameri
On 27th of the Islamic month of Shawwal in 381 AH, the renowned Iranian Islamic theologian and philosopher, Abu'l-Hassan Mohammad ibn Yusuf al-Ameri, passed away in his hometown Nishapur in the northeastern province of Khorasan. He believed that Islam was the perfection of all religions, and the revealed truths of Islam were thus superior to the conclusions of philosophy, however logical, although the two did not contradict each other.
He also believed that the Greeks, who produced such philosophers as Socrates, Plato and Aristotle, did not have a final say because as a society they lacked a prominent prophet, who ought to have a final say in all forms and matters. Ameri lived in a half century period between two other Iranian Islamic geniuses, Abu Nasr al-Farabi and Abu Ali Husain ibn Sina.
He first studied under Abu Zayd al-Balkhi in Khorasan, before moving to Rayy near modern Tehran and then to Baghdad, where he met noted intellectuals such as Abu Hayyan at-Towhidi and the Iranian historian, Abu Ali Ahmad ibn Mohammad Ibn Miskawayh. After several years he returned to Iran and took up residence in Bukhara, where he had access to the royal library of the Iranian Samanid Dynasty.
His works include: "al-E'laam be Manaqeb al-Islam" (An Exposition on the Merits of Islam), and "Inqadh al-Bashar min aj-Jahr wa'l-Qadar" (Deliverance of Mankind from the Problem of Predestination and Free Will).

The renowned Iranian Islamic historian and exegete of the holy Qur’an, Mohammad bin Jarir Tabari
On 26th of the Islamic month of Shawwal in 310 AH, the renowned Iranian Islamic historian and exegete of the holy Qur’an, Mohammad bin Jarir Tabari, passed away in Baghdad at the age of 86. Born in Amol in Tabaristan (present day Mazandaran) near the Caspian Sea, he left his hometown for Rayy at the age of 12 to study. Here he remained for five years studying under Islam and history and was introduced to pre-Islamic history as well.
He then went to the Abbasid capital, Baghdad, for further study and in the late twenties took up travel, visiting Basra, Kufa and Waset to meet scholars, and later going to Syria, Palestine and Egypt. After staying for three years in Egypt he returned to Baghdad, performing the Hajj pilgrimage on the way. He never married and never took a government job or a judicial position. He retained close ties with his hometown, Amol, where he had estates, and the last time he visited it was in 290 AH at the age 66.
He was a follower of the Shafei School, but later in life came up with a jurisprudential school of his own called "Jariri" after him, which did not survive. Tabari’s monumental work is titled “Tarikh ar-Rusol wa’l-Muloukâ€‌ (History of Prophets and Kings). It is a universal history from the time of creation to around 302 AH, and is renowned for its detail and accuracy concerning Muslim history, as well as the history of pre-Islamic Iran, Rome, Greece, Egypt and other places.
His exegesis of the holy Qur’an is titled “Jame’ al-Bayanâ€‌. He also wrote a two-volume book titled “al-Wilayahâ€‌ in which he has collected various sources of the historical event of Ghadeer-Khom, where on 18th Zilhijja, 10 AH, Prophet Mohammad (SAWA) while returning from his farewell Hajj pilgrimage, was commanded by God Almighty to proclaim Imam Ali ibn Abi Taleb (AS) as vicegerent.

The hadith scholar and author, Ahmad Heravi
On 25th of the Islamic month of Shawwal in 536 AH, the hadith scholar and author, Ahmad Heravi, passed away. He was one of the prominent lecturers at the Nezamiyyah Academy in the Khorasani city of Balkh, which is in present day Afghanistan. His most renowned student was Rashid od-Din Watwaat, the prominent Iranian literary figure. He also lectured for a while in Baghdad while returning from the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca.

The Iranian Arabic literary figure, lexicographer, and theologian, Zujaji an-Nahawandi
On 2nd of the Islamic month of Ramadhan in 340 AH, the Iranian Arabic literary figure, lexicographer, and theologian, Abdur-Rahman ibn Ishaq az-Zujaji an-Nahawandi, passed away in Damascus. He was a student of the famed philologist Ibn Durayd, and among his valuable compilations, mention can be made of “Kitab al-Izzahâ€‌, and “al-Jamalâ€‌. In his other work, “al-Amaliâ€‌, he has recorded the statements and maxims of the Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali (AS).

The Iranian grammarian, poet, and author, Ibn Muwaheb Khorasani
On 4th of the Islamic month of Ramadan in 576 AH, the Baghdadi grammarian, poet, and author, Mohammad Ibn Mohammad Ibn Muwaheb, famous as Ibn Khorasani, because of his origin in northeastern Iran, passed away at the age of 82. Among his works, mention could be made of a voluminous diwan of Arabic poetry.

The famous literary figure, Abu Bakr Mohammad Ibn Abbas Khwarezmi
On 15th of the Islamic month of Ramadhan in 383 AH, the famous literary figure, Abu Bakr Mohammad Ibn Abbas Khwarezmi, passed away in the northeastern Iranian city of Nayshapour. He had a strong memory and was highly talented in memorization of Arabic poems and history. He had inclinations towards the household of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA) and has highlighted in his works the tyranny of the caliphs including the Omayyads and the Abbasids. One of his famous works is “ar-Rasa’elâ€‌, which is a masterpiece of Arabic literature. He was the maternal nephew (sister’s son) of the famous Abu Ja’far Mohammad bin Rustom Tabari.

The Islamic scholar, Abu Ja'far Ahmad ibn Ali Baihaqi
On 24th of the Islamic month of Jamadi as-Sani in 544 AH, the Islamic scholar, Abu Ja'far Ahmad ibn Ali Baihaqi, passed away. He was from Baihaq which later became known as Sabzevar in Khorasan, northeastern Iran, and was popularly known as "Bu Ja'farak". He was an authority on grammar, lexicography and Qur'anic sciences. He has left behind a large number of compilations, including "Taj al-Masader" and "al-Muhit fi Lughat-al-Qur'an".

Abu Hatem Sahl ibn Mohammad Sijistani
On 21st of the Islamic month of Rajab in 248 AH, Abu Hatem Sahl ibn Mohammad Sijistani, passed away. He was an expert in Qur’anic sciences, hadith, literary techniques and poetry. He was also involved in social affairs. Among his valuable compilations, mention can be made of “Akhlaq al-Insanâ€‌, and “E’raab al-Qur’anâ€‌.

The prominent Iranian astronomer, Al-Katebi
On 8th of the Islamic month of Ramadhan in 675 AH, the prominent Iranian astronomer, Najm od-Din Ali Dabiraan al-Katebi, passed away. He was part of the scientific team assembled by Iranian-Islamic genius, Khwaja Nasir od-Din Tousi, at the famous observatory of Maragha, and wrote numerous books on various topics, including “Jame’ ad-Daqayeqâ€‌.

The Iranian historian Ata-Malik Jowaini
On 4th of the Islamic month of Zil-Qa’dah in 681 AH, the Iranian historian Ata-Malik Jowaini, passed away at the age of 58 in Azarbaijan. He belonged to a prominent scholarly and political family of Jowain in Khorasan that were followers of the Prophet’s Ahl al-Bayt. His brother, father, and grandfather held important posts in the Ilkhanid Empire of Iran-Iraq.
He too became an important official and twice visited the main Mongol capital of Karakorum in Central Asia. He accompanied Hulagu Khan during the sack of Baghdad and the next year was appointed governor of Baghdad, Lower Mesopotamia, and Khuzestan. His famous history is titled “Tarikh-e Jahan-Gushaâ€‌.
It was translated into English by John Andrew Boyle under the title: “The History of the World-Conquerorâ€‌ and the 2nd edition published in 1997. It should be noted that his brother, Shams od-Din Mohammad, who had been Sahib-e Divan (Finance Minister) and vizier for 22 years under three Ilkhans – Hulagu, Abaqa and Ahmad Tekuder, was martyred by the next ruler, Arghun Khan, on the alleged poisoning of his father Abaqa Khan, who actually died of excessive drinking. Ata-Malik's father, Baha od-Din, and grandfather Mohammad had held the post of Sahib-Divan for Mohammad Jalal od-Din Khwarezmshah and later for Chingiz Khan's son Ogedei Khan respectively

The Iranian theologian and mathematician, Abu'l-Hassan Sohravardi
On 6th of the Islamic month of Zil-Qa'dah in 533 AH, the Iranian theologian and mathematician, Abu'l-Hassan Sohravardi, passed away. He was a polymath in sciences and was a student of the Iranian Sunni Muslim philosopher, Mohammad Ghazali. His famous book on Algebra is titled "Usoul al-Jabr wa'l-Muqabelah".

The Iranian literary figure and poet, Mohammad Yousefzadeh Hamedani
On September 24, in 1942, the Iranian literary figure and poet, Mohammad Yousefzadeh Hamedani passed away. He was a polymath in logic, Islamic philosophy, and literature, especially Persian poems. In addition to literary activities, he was active in the Constitutionalist Movement, but when this Movement deviated from its goals with the infiltrated of colonialist agents, he stepped aside from politics and devoted himself to social and literary activities. He has left behind his Diwan of poetry.

The Iranian Islamic astronomer, mathematician, and historian of science, as-Saghani al-Asturlabi
On 8th of the Islamic month of Zil-Qa’dah in 379 AH, the Iranian Islamic astronomer, mathematician, and historian of science, Abu Hamed Ahmad Ibn Mohammed as-Saghani al-Asturlabi, passed away in Baghdad, where he lived most of his life. He was from the town of Saghan in Khorasan near the city of Merv, which is presently in Turkmenistan. As is evident from his last surname â€کal-Asturlabi’, he was the maker of astrolabes and invented many other instruments, while working in Sharaf od-Dowla's observatory. He worked on the trisection of the angle. He wrote some of the earliest comments on the history of science. These included comparison between the "ancients" that is, the Babylonians, Egyptians, Persians, Greeks and Indians, and the "modern scholars", that is, the Muslim scientists of his time.

The eminent scholar, Qotb od-Din Razi
On 12th of the Islamic month of Zil-Qa'dah in 776 AH, the eminent scholar, Abu Ja'far Mohammad Ibn Mohammad Buwayhi, popularly known as Qotb od-Din Razi, passed away in Damascus, Syria. Born in Varamin near Rayy in Iran, he was a student of the famous Allamah Hilli, and in turn was among the teachers of Shaikh Jamal od-Din, the First Martyr (Shaheed Awwal). Among his works mention could be made of "al-Muhkamaat", which is the author's judgment on a comparative study of the philosophical views of Khwaja Naseer od-Din Tousi and Fakhr od-Din Razi, A Commentary (Sharh) on the "Shamsiyya" of Kateb Qazwini, "Sharh Matale’ al-Anwaar", and an Annotation (Hashiyya) on the "Qawa'ed al-Al-Ahkaam" of Allamah Hilli.

The prominent Iranian poet, Adib Naishapouri
On 12th of the Islamic month of Zil-Qa'dah in 1344 AH, the prominent Iranian poet, Adib Naishapouri, passed away at the age of 63. He went blind in childhood due to smallpox, but continued to learn sciences enthusiastically and after honing his skills in Arabic literature and other common sciences of his era, he started to lecture these courses. Gradually, he turned into a skilled poet. His Diwan consists of both Persian and Arabic poems.

The Iranian historian, Ghiyas od-Din Mohammad Khwandamir
On September 18, 1528 AD, the Iranian historian, Ghiyas od-Din Mohammad Khwandamir, arrived from his hometown Herat in Khorasan at the court of India’s First Mughal Emperor, Zaheer od-Din Mohammad Babur, in Agra. He was the grandson of the famous historian Mir-Khwand, and completed volumes 7th and 8th of his grandfather’s monumental universal history “Rawzat as-Safaâ€‌ (Garden of Purity).
Years earlier in his native Herat Khwandamir had authored his own valuable historical work “Habeeb as-Siyarâ€‌ in several volumes on the instructions of the famous Timurid minister and scholar Ali-Shir Navaei. He died in India and during the reign of the 2nd Mughal Emperor, Humayun Shah, wrote another valuable Persian work titled “Qanoun-e Humayuniâ€‌ on rules and ovservances.

The prominent Iranian historian, Mir-Khwand
On 1st of the Islamic month of Zil-Qa’dah in 903 AH, the prominent Iranian historian, Seyyed Mohammad Ibn Khwandshah Ibn Maḥmoud, popularly known as Mir-Khwand, passed away in the Khorasani city of Herat (presently in Afghanistan) at the age of 67.
He was born in Balkh and belonged to a noble family of Bukhara (presently in Uzbekistan) that traced its descent from Prophet Mohammad (SAWA). He lived most of his life in Herat at the Timurid court of Sultan Hussain Bayqarah, and authored the famous universal history “Rawzat as-Safaâ€‌ (Garden of Purity).
He was a friend of the scholarly minister, Ali Shir Navaei. Mir-Khwand’s maternal grandson (daughter’s son) was the equally famous Persian historian, Ghiyas od-Din Khwandamir, the author of “Habeeb as-Siyarâ€‌ and “Qanoun-e Humayuniâ€‌, who also flourished at the court of Herat, and moved to India in the waning years of his life to the court of another branch of the Timurids, the famous Mughals, founded by Zaheer od-Din Babur.