Eid al-Ghadir: Difference between revisions

''''Eid al-Ghadir''' (Arabic: "عید الغدیر") is among important feasts and happy holidays of [[Shi'a]] held on [[Dhu l-Hijja 18]]; when according to reports, [[the  Prophet (s)|the noble 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) [[Hajjat al-wida']] ([[Hajj]] of the farewell), in 10 AH in a place called [[Ghadir Khumm]].

In [[Shi'a]] [[hadith]]s, the anniversary has been called "Eid Allah al-Akbar",<ref>Al-Hurr al-'Amili, ''[[Wasa'il al-Shi'a]]'', vol.8, p.82</ref> [[Eid]] of [[Ahl al-Bayt (a)]] of the Prophet (s)<ref>[[Sayyid b. Tawus]], ''[[Iqbal al-a'mal]]'', p.464</ref> and "Ashraf al-a'yad".<ref>[[Al-Kulayni]], ''[[Al-Kafi]]'', vol.1, p.203</ref> Shi'a celebrate this day around the world with various customs.

The [[Prophet (s)]] began his journey from [[Medina]] toward [[Mecca]] for [[hajj]] on 24th or 25th of Dhu l-Qa'da 10 AH accompanied with thousands of people.<ref>[[Al-Tabarsi]], ''[[Al-Ihtijaj]]'', vol.1, p.56; [[Al-Mufid]], ''[[Al-Irshad]]'', p.91; Al-Halabi, ''[[Al-Sirat al-Halabiyya]]'', vol.3, p.308</ref> 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 Khumm]] on Thursday, [[Dhu l-Hijja 18]] 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 [[hadith]]s, 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; and I have wilaya over them more than they have over themselves. So anyone, I am his wali, 'Ali (a) is his wali."

::"the day of Ghadir Khumm is the best [[eid]] of my [[umma]] (people, community) 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, people will be guided by him 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."<ref>[[Al-Saduq]], ''[[Al-Amali]]'', p.125</ref>

In his book, [[Mas'udi]] (d. 346/957) wrote that children and followers of [[Imam 'Ali (a)]] venerated this day.<ref>Al-Mas'udi, ''Al-Tanbih wa l-ishraf'', p.221</ref> In a hadith, [[Kulayni]] (d. 328/940) has narrated Shi'a's celebration of this day.<ref>[[Al-Kulayni]], ''[[Al-Kafi]]'', vol.4, p.149</ref> Therefore, it is clear that celebration of Eid Ghadir has been common in the 3rd and 4th centuries AH.