The world will be blackened when they leave it...

The world will be blackened when they leave it, and you will put on mourning dress for their misfortunes.”[^90] The Farewell Pilgrimage When the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) realized that he would soon depart life, he decided to hold a public meeting with Muslims and nominate the authorities and leaders who would lead them after him. For that very purpose, the Prophet (s.a.w.a.) performed his final Hajj (ritual pilgrimage), which was called the Farewell Pilgrimage.

He took from one place to another among Muslims so as to lead them to the courses of salvation and guide them to the leaders whom they should follow after him. He repeatedly said: أَيُّهَا النَّاسُإِنِّي تَرَكْتُ فِيكُمُ الثَّقَلَيْنِ: كِتَابَ اللَّهِ وَ عِتْرَتِيْ أَهْلَ بَيْتِيْ.

“O People, I have left among you the two precious things:the Book of Allah (s.w.t.) and my progeny my Household.”[^91] The Prophet (s.a.w.a.) then stopped near Well Zamzam and delivered a great speech in which he referred to all the fields that people need after him. Regarding the leadership of the Ummah, he (s.a.w.a.) declared openly: اِنِّيْ خَلَّفْتُ فِيْكُمْ مَا اِنْ تَمَسَّكْتُمْ بِهلَنْ تَضِلُّوْا بَعْدِيْ اَبَدًا: ك ِتَابَ اللهِ وَ عِتْرَتِيْ اَهْلَ بَيْتِيْ.

اَلَا هَلْ بَلَّغْتُ؟ “I am leaving among you that which will save you from deviation forever if you only adhere to: the Book of Allah (s.w.t.) and my progeny my Household.

Have I conveyed (to you this matter)?” In one voice, all the one hundred thousand attendants shouted: “Yes, you have.”[^92] After he had accomplished the ritual of his final Hajj, (s.a.w.a.) received from the heavens a missive instructing him to nominate Imam Ali (a.s.) as his successor and as a general authority for the Ummah.

The missive was Almighty Allah’s saying: يَا أَيُّهَا الرَّسُولُ بَلِّغْ مَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِنْ رَبِّكَ ۖ وَإِنْ لَمْ تَفْعَلْ فَمَا بَلَّغْتَ رِسَالَتَهٗ ۚ وَاللَّهُ يَعْصِمُكَ مِنَ النَّاسِ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الْكَافِرِيْنَ O Apostle!

Deliver what has been revealed to you from your Lord; and if you do it not, then you have not delivered His message, and Allah (s.w.t.) will protect you from the people; surely Allah (s.w.t.) will not guide the unbelieving people[^93] .[^94] Hence, he ordered the caravans of the pilgrims to gather in a place called ‘Ghadeer Khumm’. It was so hot that men had to put the edges of their cloaks under their feet so as to avoid the ground’s heat.

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