Eid al-Ghadir: Difference between revisions

Eid Ghadir is among important feasts and happy holidays of Shia held on 18th Dhu al-Hijjah; when according to reports, the noble Prophet (s) appointed Ali b. Abi Talib (a) as hos caliph and Imam after himself following an order from God. That event happened in the Prophet’s (s) Hajjat al-Wida’ (haj of the farewell), 10 AH in a place called Ghadir Khum.

In Shia hadiths, the anniversary has been called "Eid Allah al-Akbar", Eid of Ahl al-Bayt (a) of the Prophet (s) and Ashraf al-A’yad.

The Prophet (s) began his journey from Medina toward Mecca for hajj on 24th or 25th of Dhu al-Qi’dah 10 AH accompanied with thousands of people. Since that hajj was the last hajj of the Prophet (s), it was later called Hajjat al-Wida’. When hajj rituals finished and the Prophet (s) left Mecca toward Medina, they arrived at Ghadir Khum on Thursday, 18th Dhu al-Hijjah and before people of Sham, Egypt and Iraq leave, Gabriel revealed the verse of Tabligh to the Prophet (s) and delivered him the order of God for appointment of Ali (a) as Wali (guardian) and Wasi (successor) after the Prophet (s) and announcing it to people.

According to hadiths, the Prophet (s) gathered people in Ghadir Khum, 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; and 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 his book, Mas’udi (d. 346 AH) wrote that children and followers of Imam Ali (a) venerated this day. In a hadith, Kulayni (d. 329 AH) has narrated Shi’a’s celebration of this day. Therefore, it is clear that celebration Eid Ghadir has been common in the 3rd and 4th centuries AH.

Such a celebration has been common among Muslims in the following years and centuries, so that accepting allegiance with Musta’la b. Mustansir (one of the rulers of Egypt) was done on the day of Eid Ghadir 487 AH.

In recent centuries, celebrating this day has been considered among the signs of Shi’a.

In Egypt, Fatimid caliphs made the Eid of Ghadir official and in Iran, it has been among official eids since 907 AH, when Shah Isma’il Safavi came to throne.

In Najaf, a great celebration is held every year in the courtyard of Imam Ali’s (a) holy shrine and noblemen and scholars of Shia and ambassadors of Islamic countries attend there and great speeches and odes are recited. In Yemen, Zaidi Shia celebrate the day of Ghadir and illuminate and decorate their streets.

* Reciting Du’a Nudba