The Reality of Ghadir Khumm Event - Al-Shia The Scientific and Cultural Website of Shia belief The Reality of Ghadir Khumm Event 2024-06-25 1327 Views Ghadir Khumm, Farewell Pilgrimage, Eid al-Ghadir The Event of Ghadir Khumm is one of the most important topics that Shia Muslims defend strongly. In accordance with the authentic traditions narrated by Islamic (Shia/Sunni) Scholars, The Prophet (PBUH&HP) on the way to Medina (in return back from Mecca) was ordered by Almighty Allah to introduce Imam Ali as the Imam appointed by Allah who people must obey him according to Allah command… The article aims to present a brief introduction to this important event and clarify where and when and how the event occurred. Contents The Farewell Pilgrimage The revelation of Qur’an Verse 5:67 The Sermon The tradition of the Two Weighty Things (Thaqalayn) Acknowledgement of Authority The revelation of Qur’an Verse 5:3 Oath of Allegiance Number of in Ghadir Khumm Allah Punished Enemy of Imam Ali (PBUH) The Farewell Pilgrimage Ten years after the migration (hijrah), the Messenger of Allah [peace and blessings be upon him and his Progeny] ordered to his close followers to call all the people in different places to join him in his last pilgrimage. On this pilgrimage, he taught them how to perform the pilgrimage in a correct and unified form. This was the first time that Muslims of this magnitude gathered in one place in the presence of their leader, the Messenger of Allah (PBUH&HP). On his way to Mecca, more than seventy thousand people followed the Prophet (PBUH&HP). On the fourth day of Dhu’l-Hijjah, more than one hundred thousand Muslims had entered Mecca. When the Prophet and Muslims performed and completed their pilgrimage (Hajjatul-Wida: the Prophet’s last Pilgrimage), their great leader the Messenger of Allah decided to come back toward Medina. On the way back, he and the crowd of people reached a place called Ghadir Khumm (which is close to today’s al-Juhfah) on the 18th of Dhu’l-Hijjah of the year 10 AH (10 March 632 CE). It was a place where people from different provinces used to greet each other before taking different routes to their homes. Almighty Allah commanded His Prophet to declare His important command. That Command was to declare the appointment of Imam Ali (PBUH) as the successor of the Prophet and the first Imam of All Muslims. The revelation of Qur’an Verse 5:67 In this place, the following verse of the Glorious Quran revealed: “O Apostle! Communicate that which has been sent down to you from your Lord, and if you do not, you will not have communicated His message, and Allah shall protect you from the people. Indeed Allah does not guide the faithless lot ” (5:67). The last sentence in the above verse indicates that the Prophet (PBUH&HP) was mindful of the reaction of his people in delivering that message but Allah informs him not to worry, for He will protect His Messenger from people’s reaction. The Sermon Upon receiving the verse, the Prophet (PBUH&HP) stopped in that place (the pond of Khumm) which was extremely hot. Then he sent for all people who have been ahead in the way, to come back and waited until all pilgrims who fell behind, arrived, and gathered. He ordered Salman Farsi to use rocks and camel toolings to make a pulpit (minbar) so that he could stand on it to make his announcement. It was around noontime in the first of the Fall, and due to the extreme heat in that valley, people were wrapping their robes around their feet and legs and were sitting around the pulpit, on the hot rocks. On this day the Messenger of Allah (PBUH&HP) spent approximately five hours in this place; three hours of which he was on the pulpit. He recited many verses from The Glorious Quran, and seventy-three times reminded and warned people of their deeds and future. Then he gave them a long speech. The following is a part of his speech which has been widely narrated by Sunni traditionists: The tradition of the Two Weighty Things (Thaqalayn) The Messenger of Allah (PBUH&HP) declared: “It seems the time approached when I shall be called away (by Allah) and I shall answer that call (to die and leave this world). I am leaving for you two precious things and if you adhere to them both, you will never go astray after me. They are the Book of Allah and my Progeny, that is my Ahlul-Bayt. The two shall never separate from each other until they come to me by the Pool (of Paradise).” Some Samples of Sunni references: Sonan Al-Termadhi, Vol.5, p,662-663 quoted by more than 30 people of the Prophet companions, Al-Mustadrak ala al-Sahihayn, Vol.3, P.109-110, 148, 533 Sunan ibn Majah, Vol.2, P. 432 Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Kitab al-Fada’il Sahaba, Vol.2, P.585, Tradition NO.990 Ibn Sa’d, Tabaqat Al-Kubra, Vol.2, P,194 Acknowledgement of Authority Then the Messenger of Allah continued: “Do I not have more right over the believers than what they have over themselves?” People cried and answered: “Yes, O’ Messenger of God”. Then he followed the key sentence denoting the clear designation of Imam Ali as the leader of the Muslim ummah (Nation). The Prophet (PBUH&HP) held up the hand of ‘Ali and said: “For whoever I am his Leader (Mawla), ‘Ali is his Leader (mawla)(From now on)”. [In some narrations the word used was Wali rather than mawla with the same implication] The Prophet (PBUH&HP) continued: “O’ God, love those who love him, and be hostile to those who are hostile to him.” Some of the Sunni& Shia references: Al-Ghadir, Vol.1, P.12, 151, 294, 322 Bihar al-Anwar, Vol.37, P.181-182 Isbāt al-Hudāt bin-Nou wa al-Mut, Vol.2, P.200-250 Sonan Al-Termadhi, Vol.12, P.175 Khasais of Amir Al Momenin, Vol.1, P.96 Al-Mustadrak ala al-Sahihayn, Vol.3, P.118 These were the key parts of the speech of the Prophet (PBUH&HP). There are also more detailed versions of this sermon which are recorded by many Sunni authorities. ‘Coronation’ of Imam ‘Ali [PBUH] under development The revelation of Qur’an Verse 5:3 Immediately after the Prophet (PBUH&HP) finished his speech, the following verse of the Qur’an was revealed: “…Today I have perfected your religion for you, and I have completed My blessing upon you, and I have approved Islam as your religion…” (5:3). The above verse clearly indicates that Islam without clearing up the matter of Imam Ali’s leadership after the Prophet (PBUH&HP) was not complete, and the completion of religion was due to the announcement of the Prophet’s immediate successor. Hassan Ibn-Thabit’s poetry Immediately after the Prophet’s speech, Hassan Ibn-Thabit, the Companion and poet of the Messenger of Allah (PBUH&HP), asked for his permission to compose a few verses of poetry about Imam ‘Ali (PBUH) for the audience. The Prophet (PBUH&HP) said: “Say with the blessings of Allah”. Hassan stood up and said: “O’ people of Quraysh. I follow with my words what preceded and witnessed by the Messenger of Allah (PBUH&HP). He then composed the following verses at the scene: He calls them, (on) the day of Ghadir, their Prophet In Khumm so hear (and heed) the Messenger’s call, He said: “Who is your guide and leader? (mawlakum wa waliyyukum)” They said, and there was no apparent blindness (clearly): “Your God, our guide, and you are our leader And you won’t find from among us, in this, any disobedient,” He said to him: “Stand up O’ Ali, for I am pleased to announce you Imam and guide after me (min ba’di imam (an) wahadiy (an), So whoever I was his leader (Mawla), then this is his leader (Mawla). So be to him supporters in truth and followers,” There he prayed: “Allah! Be a friend and guide to his follower And be, to the one who is Ali’s enemy, an enemy” Oath of Allegiance After his speech, the Messenger of Allah (PBUH&HP) asked everybody to give the oath of allegiance to ‘Ali (PBUH) and congratulate him. Among those who did so was ‘Umar b. al-Khattab, who said: “Well done Ibn-Abi Talib! Today you became the Leader (