Event of Ghadir: Difference between revisions

'''The Event of Ghadir'''(واقعه غدیر), according to Shi'a beliefs, is among the most important events of Islamic history, in which on his return from Hajjat al-Wida' [Hajj of Farewell], the Prophet (s) introduced Imam Ali (a) as his vicegerent and people's guardian after himself at a place called Ghadir Khum, where everyone including greatest Companions promised allegiance to Imam Ali (a).

The Prophet (s) moved from Medina to Mecca on 24th or 25th of Dhu al-Qi'dah 10 AH accompanied by thousands of people (some even mentioned this number more up to 120 thousand people). This hajj of the Prophet (s) was also called Hajjat al-Wida', Hajjat al-Islam and Hajjat al-Balagh. In that month, Imam Ali (a) was in Yemen for preaching Islam and when he was informed about the Prophet's (s) hajj, he (a) also moved towards Mecca together with some people and joined the Prophet (s) before rituals began. When rituals of hajj finished, the Prophet (s) left Mecca for Medina together with other Muslims.

  Muslims arrived at Ghadir Khum on Thursday 18th of Dhu al-Hijjah, but before the people of Levant, Egypt and Iraq leave for their own countries, Gabriel revealed the verse of Propagation to the Prophet (s) when God ordered the Prophet (s) to introduce Ali (a) as his vicegerent and guardian to people.

Then, the Prophet (s) raised Ali's (a) hand so that people could see him and then said, "O people! Am I not more deserved to your guardianship then you yourselves?" and people answered, "yes, O Prophet (s)!" Then, the Prophet (s) said, "God is my guardian and I am the guardian of the believers and I am more deserved for your guardianship than you for yourselves. Therefore, anyone whose guardian is me, then Ali (a) is his guardian." The Prophet (s) repeated this sentence three times and said, "O God! Befriend and be the guardian of whom befriends Ali (a) and considers me his guardian and be the enemy of those who is his enemy. Help anyone who helps him and leave anyone who abandons him." Then, he (s) addressed people and said, "Those who are here ought to deliver this message to those who are absent."

=== Congratulating Imam Ali (a) ===

Then, people congratulated Imam Ali (a) including Abu Bakr and 'Umar who repeatedly said, "Happy for you O son of Abu Talib (a)! You are my Wali (guardian) and the Wali of every believing man and woman."

The Prophet (s) ordered that a tent was erected for Ali (a) and ordered people to go to him group by group and salute him as the Commander of the Faithful (a); and all people, even the wives of Prophet (s) and other women followed this order."

The narration of Ghadir has been mentioned in both Shi'a and Sunni sources and some parts of the Prophet's (s) speech are more frequently quoted such as "anyone whose guardian is me, then Ali (a) is his guardian." The Companions and many of the Followers have reported the event.

Ahlul Bayt (a), i.e. Imam Ali (a), Lady Fatima (s), Imam Hasan (a) and Imam Husayn (a)

Then a number of 110 Companions of the Prophet (s) can be seen including, 'Umar b. al-Khattab, 'Uthman b. 'Affan, 'Ayisha bint Abi Bakr, Salman the Persian, Abu Dhar al-Ghaffari, Zubayr b. 'Awam, Jabir b. Abd Allah Ansari, Abbas b. Abd al-Muttalib, Abu Hurayra, etc. who were all present in Ghadir Khum and narrated the event directly.

Also, the event has been reported by 83 of the Followers including, Asbagh b. Nubata and 'Umar b. Abd al-Aziz, the Umayyad caliph.

Then, it also can be seen reported by 360 Sunni scholars of 2nd to 4th century AH including, the leader of Shafi'ites, Hanbalites, Ahmad b. Shu'ayb Nasa'i, Ibn Mughazili, Ahmad b. Abd Allah and Ahmad b. Abd Rabbih.

# Verses 1 and 2 of Chapter Ma'arij which reads, "An asker asked for a punishment bound to befall (1) —which none can avert from the faithless" referring to the event that after the Prophet (s) announced the guardianship of Ali (a), a man whose name was Nu'man b. Harith Fihri came to the Prophet (s) and complained that, "You ordered us to acknowledge Unity of God, your mission, performing Jihad, hajj, fasting, prayer and giving Zakat and we accepted. But, you were not pleased with this much until you appointed this young man as our Wali. Is this appointment your own decision or from God?!" When the Prophet (s) answered him that it has been God's order, the man asked God disdainfully that if this order is from God, a stone fells on his head from the sky. Then, a stone fell from the sky on his head and he dropped dead and this verse was then revealed.

Imam Ali (a) said, "O Muslims, Immigrants and the Helpers! Did not you hear that the Prophet (s) said this and that on the day of Ghadir Khum?" Everyone said, "yes!"

Lady Fatima (s) said, "It is as if you do not know what the Prophet (s) said on the day of Ghadit Khum! I swear to God, the Prophet (s) appointed and upheld the position of Wilayah and Imamate for Ali (a) to avoid your greed to take it."

Imam Hasan (a) said, "Muslims saw the Prophet (s) and heard him when he (s) took my father's hand on the day of Ghadir, when he (s) addressed them, 'anyone whose guardian is me, then Ali (a) is his guardian.'"

Imam Husayn (a) said, "The Prophet (s) raised Ali (a) through all good manners and when strengthened Ali's (a) soul, appointed him for imamate and on the day of Ghadir said, 'anyone whose guardian is me, then Ali (a) is his guardian.'"

Imam Ali (a) – Hassan b. Thabit – Qys Ansari – Amr b. 'Ās – Muhammad Humayri

Sharif Radi – Sayyid Murtada – Mahyar Daylami – Abu Ali Basir –Abu al-Ali Mu'arri – Ibn Jubar Misri

Abu al-Hasan Fanjkurdi – Akhtab Khwarazmi – Qadi b. Qadus – Abu al-Mugharat Malik Salih – Qutb al-Din Rawandi – Abu al-Ma'ali al-Qadi Jalis

Ibn Dawud al-Hilli – Jamal al-Din Kha'i – Sariji Awali – Safi al-Din al-Halli – Shaybani Shafi'i – Shams al-Din Maliki