Eid Al-Ghadeer
"Whoever I am his leader (Mawla), Ali is his leader (Mawla). O’ God, love those who love him, and be hostile to those who are hostile to him.”
These words were spoken on the 18th of Thul-Hija (the 12th and last month of the Islamic Calendar), on the grounds of Ghadeer. This statement forever immortalized the truth about Imam Ali’s succession. After the passing of 10 years since the migration to Medinah, Prophet Muhammed (peace be upon him & his progeny) went on his final Hajj pilgrimage alongside hundreds of thousands of his followers and companions. This holy pilgrimage came to an end on the 18th of Thul-Hija on the land of Ghadeer , whilst people were bidding each other farewell and others already on the path back home, chapter 5, verse 67 of the Holy Quran was revealed:
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يَا أَيُّهَا الرَّسُولُ بَلِّغْ مَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِنْ رَبِّكَ ۖ وَإِنْ لَمْ تَفْعَلْ فَمَا بَلَّغْتَ رِسَالَتَهُ ۚ وَاللَّهُ يَعْصِمُكَ مِنَ النَّاسِ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الْكَافِرِينَ
يَا أَيُّهَا الرَّسُولُ بَلِّغْ مَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِنْ رَبِّكَ ۖ وَإِنْ لَمْ تَفْعَلْ فَمَا بَلَّغْتَ رِسَالَتَهُ ۚ وَاللَّهُ يَعْصِمُكَ مِنَ النَّاسِ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الْكَافِرِينَ
"O' Messenger! convey what has been sent down to you from your Lord; and if you do not, then you have not conveyed His message (at all); and Allah will protect you from the (vice of) people, verily Allah does not guide the unbelieving ones. "
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his progeny) called for everyone to come back and regroup again in Ghadeer. He waited in the heat for every pilgrim to return and asked Salman to make a pulpit using rocks and camel tooling. In the duration of 3 hours, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his progeny) was standing on the pulpit surrounded by adoring eyes and attentive ears, listening to his recital of almost a hundred Quranic verses, reminding and warning them about the importance of their deeds and future 73 times. Lastly, he ended with a magnificent speech, ”It seems the time approached when I shall be called away (by Allah) and I shall answer that call. I am leaving for you two precious things and if you adhere both of them, you will never go astray after me. They are the Book of Allah and my progeny, that is my Ahlul-Bayt. The two shall never separate from each other until they come to me by the Pool (of Paradise).” The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his progeny) continued, "Do I not have more right over the believers than what they have over themselves?” People cried, "Yes, O’ Messenger of God.” Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his progeny) held up the hand of Imam Ali and said, "Whoever I am his leader (Mawla), Ali is his leader (Mawla). O’ God, love those who love him, and be hostile to those who are hostile to him.
Cementing Imam Ali’s succession and the completion of God’s holy message, was the revelation of chapter 5, verse 3 of the Holy Quran at the end of the speech:
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الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِي وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ الْإِسْلَامَ دِينًا ۚ
الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِي وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ الْإِسْلَامَ دِينًا ۚ
"Today I have perfected your religion and completed my bounty upon you, and I was satisfied that Islam be your religion.”
An oath of allegiance was made by command of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his progeny) with the willingness of the believers. Men shook hands with Imam Ali, and women placed their hands in the same bowl of water Imam Ali placed his. This act was a symbol of agreement and a promise to Imam Ali that after the passing of the beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his progeny), they will follow him as the rightful successor and protector of God’s message
