wikishia:Featured articles/2023/27

Eid al-Ghadīr is among important feasts and happy holidays of Shi'a held on Dhu l-Hijja 18 at the time when, according to reports, the Prophet (s) appointed Ali b. Abi Talib (a) as his caliph and the Imam after himself following an order from God. That event happened in the Prophet's (s) Farewell Hajj (Hajjat al-Wida'), in 10/632 in a place called Ghadir Khumm.

In Shi'a hadiths, the anniversary has been called "Eid Allah al-Akbar" (the greatest Eid of God), Eid of Ahl al-Bayt (a) and "Ashraf al-A'yad" (Most Honorable Eid). Shi'a celebrate this day around the world with various customs.

The Prophet (s) began his journey from Medina toward Mecca for hajj on Dhu l-Qa'da 24 or 25 of 10/632 accompanied with thousands of people. Since that hajj was the last hajj of the Prophet (s), it was later called "Farewell Hajj". When hajj rituals finished and the Prophet (s) left Mecca toward Medina, they arrived at Ghadir Khumm, on Dhu l-Hijja 18 and In this place, Gabriel revealed the verse of Tabligh to the Prophet (s) and delivered him the order of God for appointment of Ali (a) as Wali and Wasi (successor) after the Prophet (s) and announcing it to people.

According to hadiths, the Prophet (s) gathered people in Ghadir Khumm, raised Ali's (a) hand so that everyone sees and asked, "O people! Do I not have wilaya (guardianship) over you more than you have over yourself?" People answered, "Yes, O Prophet (s)!" Then, the Prophet (s) said:

God is my wali (guardian), and I am wali of the believers; I have wilaya over them more than they have over themselves. So anyone I am his wali, Ali (a) is his wali.

Then, the Prophet (s) repeated it three times and said, "O God! Befriend and be the wali of anyone who loves Ali (a) and considers him as his wali; be the enemy of anyone who is his enemy; and assist anyone who assists him and abandon anyone who abandons him."

He (s) then told people, Those who are present, convey this message to those who are absent.

In Sunni references, there is a hadith saying that, "anyone who fasts Dhu l-Hijja 18, God regards the rewards of 6 months fasting for him" and that "this day is Eid Ghadir Khumm."

The Prophet (s) said:

"The day of Ghadir Khumm is the best Eid of my umma (people), and that is the day God the Almighty ordered to appoint my brother Ali b. Abi Talib (a) as the standard-bearer of my umma; so that, he will guide people after I pass away, and that is the day God perfected the religion and completed blessings upon my umma and chose Islam as their religion."

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Other featured articles: Imamate – Imam Ja'far b. Muhammad al-Sadiq (a) – Hadith al-Manzila