among them impatience and fear.

among them impatience and fear. The Qur’an was revealed to him twice during that year; so, he felt the inevitable death[^1], and then he began announcing his death and his leaving the world. Due to this news the hearts were cracked; the bitterest kinds of ordeals and misfortunes prevailed the Muslims. The Farewell Pilgrimage The Prophet (a.s) spared no effort to guide the Muslims to the right path.

When he (a.s) came to know about his departure to the Abode of Immortality, he thought that he had to complete his sacred message and to put a sound plan that would guarantee, after him, his community happiness and success. For this reason he (a.s) made his last pilgrimage, better known as the Farewell Pilgrimage, in the year 10 A. H. He spread among those who went to the Sacred House of Allah (the Kaaba) that his meeting with them would be the last time.

He said to them: “I do not know; perhaps, I will never meet you at this standing place after this year!” Then he went around the masses and made them know that which would guarantee their happiness and success, saying: “O People! I am leaving with you the Two Weighty Things-that is the Book of Allah and my family, my household.”[^2] He compared his pure family to the Book. He regarded clinging to them as salvation against afflictions and deviation.

If the community had followed his words and cleaved to them, inclinations and misfortunes would not have befallen them, abasement and disgrace would not have afflicted them, and they would not disagreed. The nation would not have branched into sects and parties; every sect rejoicing in what they had with them.[^3] The Declaration at Ghadir Khum After the Prophet (a.s) had finished the rituals of the hajj, he headed for Medina.

When his procession reached Ghadir Khum, Gabriel came down and ordered him to halt at the desert and to appoint Imam Ali as a successor after him and as an authority over his community. The Command of the Heaven had an affair of great importance. The Revelation came down to him carrying this verse: O Apostle, make known what has been revealed to you from your Lord. If you do not do it, you will not have made known His message.

Allah will protect you from the people.[^4] The Prophet became confused due to this [^1] Al-Khasa’is al-Kubra, vol. 2, p. 368. [^2] Al-Turmidhi, Saheeh, vol. 2, p. 308. [^3] Qur’an, 30, 32. [^4] Ibid., 5, 67. This verse was revealed on the Day of al-Ghadir. This has been warning and this threat.