Eid al-Ghadir: Difference between revisions

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'''Eid al-Ghadīr''' (Arabic:عید الغدیر) is among important feasts and happy holidays of [[Shi'a]] held on [[Dhu l-Hijja 18]]; when according to reports, 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']] (the Farewell Hajj), in [[10]]/632 in a place called [[Ghadir Khumm]].

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

==The Event of Ghadir==

The [[Prophet (s)]] began his journey from [[Medina]] toward [[Mecca]] for [[hajj]] on [[Dhu l-Qa'da 24]] or [[Dhu l-Qa'da 25|25]]  of  [[10]]/632 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 [[Dhu l-Hijja 18]] and In this place, [[Gabriel]] [[revelation|revealed]] the [[verse of Tabligh]] to the Prophet (s) and delivered him the order of [[God]] for appointment of [[Ali (a)]] as [[wilaya|Wali]] and [[khilafa|Wasi]] (successor) after the Prophet (s) and announcing it to people.

== Eid al-Ghadir in Hadiths ==

::"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, 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>

::"the day of Ghadir Khumm is the grand eid of God. God has not sent any [[Prophethood|prophet]] unless he has celebrated this eid, and has glorified it. And its name in the heavens is the day of covenant and on the earth is the day of solemn covenant and public presence."<ref>[[Al-Hurr al-'Amili]], ''[[Wasa'il al-Shi'a]]'', vol.5, p.224</ref>

In another hadith from Imam al-Sadiq (a), he regarded Eid al-Ghadir the greatest and most glorious eid of Muslims, in every hour of which, they need to thank God; and that people [[fast]] the day to show their gratitude and that fasting the day equals 60 years of worship."<ref>[[Al-Hurr al-'Amili]], ''[[Wasa'il al-Shi'a]]'', vol.10, p.443</ref>

::"the Day of Ghadir is more popular among the dwellers of heavens than among the people of the earth… If people knew the value of this day, undoubtedly [[angel]]s would shake hands with them ten times a day."<ref>[[Al-Tusi]], ''[[Tahdhib al-ahkam]]'', vol.6, p.24</ref>

== History of Eid al-Ghadir and its Celebration ==

Muslims, especially Shi'a consider the day of Ghadir as one of the greatest eids since the early Islam and this day was famous among them as Eid al-Ghadir.<ref>[[Al-Biruni]], ''[[Al-Athar al-baqiya]]'', p.95</ref>

In his book, [[Mas'udi]] (d. [[346]]/957-958) 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, [[al-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 al-Ghadir has been common in the 3rd/9th and 4th/10th centuries.

Earlier, [[Fayyad b. Muhammad b. 'Umar al-Tusi]] narrated a tradition which suggested that [[Imam al-Rida (a)]] celebrated the day of Ghadir.<ref>[[Al-Majlisi]], ''[[Bihar al-anwar]]'', vol.95, p.322</ref> Since Imam al-Rida (a) was living at the end of the second/ early 9th century , it becomes clear that the celebrating of the day of Ghadir goes back early centuries of Islam.

== Recommended Practices of Eid al-Ghadir ==

* Saying the following happy praises when meeting other believers: "اَلحمدُ لِلهِ الّذی جَعَلَنا مِنَ المُتَمَسّکینَ بِولایةِ اَمیرِالمؤمنینَ و الائمةِ المَعصومینَ علیهم السلام" ["Praise belongs to [[Allah]], who made us among the adherers to the [[wilaya]] of the [[Imam Ali (a)|Master of the Faithful (a)]] and the [[Infallible]] [[Imams]] (a)"]

* Giving food to believers<ref>[[Al-Qummi]], ''[[Mafatih al-jinan]]'', under the title of "Practices of [[Dhu l-Hijja 18]]"</ref>

* [http://khetabeghadir.com/Home-Page/English/lang/En.aspx KhetabeGhadir].

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* The [[Qur'an]]

* Ibn. Khalkan, ''Wafayat al-a'yan'', edited by Ihsan 'Abbasi, Dar al-thaqafa, [[Beirut]].

* [[Ibn Tawus]], ''[[Iqbal al-a'mal]]'', Dar al-kutub al-Islamiyya, Tehran, 1367 SH.

* [[Abu Rayhan al-Biruni]], ''Al-Athar al-baqiya'', Ibn Sina, Tehran.

* Tha'alibi, ''Thimar al-qulub'', edited by Ibrahim Salih, Dar al-basha'ir, [[Damascus]].

* [[Al-Hurr al-'Amili]], ''[[Wasa'il al-Shi'a]]'', Al al-Bayt Institute, Qom.

* Al-Halabi, ''Al-Sirat al-halabiyya'', Dar al-ma'rifa, Beirut.

* Al-Khatib al-Baghdadi, ''Tarikh Baghdad'', edited by Mustafa 'Abd al-Qadir, Dar al-kutub al-'ilmiyya, Beirut.

* Rayshahri, Muhammad, ''[[Mawsu'at al-Imam 'Ali b. Abi Talib]]'', Dar al-hadith, [[Qom]].

* [[Al-Saduq]], ''[[Al-Amali]]'', edited by Bi'that Institute, Bi'that Institute, Qom.

* [[Al-Saduq]], ''[[Al-Khisal]]'', edited by 'Ali Akbar Ghaffari, Jami'i-yi mudarrisin, Qom.

* [[Al-Tabarsi]], ''[[Al-Ihtijaj]]'', Murtada, [[Mashhad]].

* [[Al-Tusi]], ''[[Tahdhib al-ahkam]]'', Sayyid Hasan Musawi Khirsan, Dar al-kutub al-Islamiyya, Tehran.

* [[Al-Hurr al-'Amili]], ''[[Wasa'il al-Shi'a]]''.

* [[Al-Qummi]], Al-Shaykh 'Abbas, ''[[Mafatih al-jinan]].

* [[Al-Kulayni]], Muhammad b. Ta'qub, ''[[Al-Kafi]]'', Dar al-kutub al-Islamiyya, Tehran.

* [[Al-Majlisi]], Muhammad Baqir, ''[[Bihar al-anwar]]'', Al-Wafa' Institute, Beirut.

* Mas'udi, 'Ali b. al-Husayn, ''Al-Tanbih wa l-Ishraf'', Dar al-sawi, [[Cairo]], 1357 AH.

* [[Al-Mufid]], ''[[Al-Irshad]]'', Al al-bayt Institute, Qom.

[[Category:Excellences of Ahl al-Bayt (a)]]