How was it possible for them to bear with the declaration of `Ali (a.

How was it possible for them to bear with the declaration of `Ali (a.s) as the Prophet’s Successor! The Prophet (a.s) was fully aware of this tendency in some persons. He was reading from their faces their inner feelings concerning `Ali (a.s) and their actions strengthened his conviction about their thinking and knew that they would bring about all sorts of impediments in the matter of the succession.

He wished that there should be a positive Command from Allah in this regard and He fulfilled his wish thus: يَا أَيُّهَا الرَّسُولُ بَلِّغْ مَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِنْ رَبِّكَ وَإِنْ لَمْ تَفْعَلْ فَمَا بَلَّغْتَ رِسَالَتَهُ وَاللَّهُ يَعْصِمُكَ مِنْ النَّاسِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الْكَافِرِينَ. “O Messenger!

Deliver what bas been revealed to you from your Lord; and if you do it not, then you have not delivered His message, and Allah will protect you from the people; surely Allah will not guide the unbelieving people. (5:67)” `Allamah al-Shawkani writes: “Abū-Sa`id al-Khidri says that the verse was revealed in Ghadir Khumm concerning `Ali ibn Abi-Talib (a.s)”[1] After receiving this implicit Command, there was no scope for any delay in communicating the contents to the Ummah.

The Prophet (a.s) dismounted from his camel and others too followed suit. On the shouting of the slogan of hayya `ala khayr al-`amal (Come to the Best of Deed) those who were going ahead turned back and the stragglers hurriedly came forward. They all gathered in that desert wilderness. It was midday and the winds were scorching hot. Barring some thorny Acacia bushes there was no greenery around.

The took off their cloaks, tied them round their limbs, and sat down intently listening on the burning sands. The Prophet (a.s) asked his men to improvise a pulpit by stacking saddles of the camels one over another between two Acacia bushes. He then ascended the pulpit. Zayd ibn Arqam says: “The Prophet of Islam (a.s) stood at the dried lake, Ghadir Khumm, which lies between Makkah and al-Madinah, and after Praising Allah and sermonizing the gathering, said,’ O People!

I am a mortal human being and the time is not far when the Messenger will come from Allah and I shall have to abide by [1] Fath al-Qadīr, Vol 3, Page 57 the Call! I am leaving behind with you two weighty things; one is the Book of Allah which has radiance and Guidance. Keep holding it firmly!’ He stressed on the need of the people holding fast to the Book of Allah.

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