The Auspicious Feast of Ghadīr-e Khum
The 18th of Dhū al-Hijjah is to be celebrated in the Shi'ī world as the great anniversary of the declaration of Ghadīr-e-Khumm in which the Prophet announced the following about Imam Ali,
«مَنْ كُنْتُ مَوْلاهُ، فَهذا عَلِىٌّ مَوْلاهُ»
“Whomever's master (Mawlā) I am, this Ali is also his master.”
This event is so significant to the Muslims that no serious scholar of Islam can ignore it.
The story is that ten years after the Emigration (10 A.H. / 632 A.D.), the Messenger of Allah asked people in different places to join him in his last pilgrimage to Mecca. On this pilgrimage he taught them how to perform Hajj in a correct and unified form. This was the first time that Muslims with this magnitude gathered in one place in the presence of the Prophet. On his way to Mecca, more than seventy thousand people followed him and on the fourth day of Dhū al-Hijjah more than one hundred thousand Muslims had entered Mecca.
While returning from his last pilgrimage, when the Prophet and the crowd of people reached a place called Ghadīr-e-Khumm, the Prophet received the following command of Allah,
﴿یَا أَیُّهَا الرَّسُولُ بَلِّغْ مَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَیْکَ مِنْ رَبِّکَ وَ إِنْ لَمْ تَفْعَلْ فَمَا بَلَّغْتَ رِسَالَتَهُ وَ اللَّهُ یَعْصِمُکَ مِنَ النَّاسِ...﴾
“O the Messenger! Announce that which has been revealed to you from your Creator and Nurturer, and if you do not, then you have not conveyed His message. And Allah will protect you from the people…” (The Quran, 5:67)
In the verse, the Prophet is reminded of the extraordinary significance of the task that had been assigned to him, and he is guaranteed protection from any dangers that might result from proclaiming the message!
Ghadīr-e-Khumm was a place where people from different provinces used to greet each other before taking different routes for their homes. Therefore, the Prophet stopped at that place to convey the message to the pilgrims before they dispersed. 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. Then, a pulpit was set up by piling up camel saddles so he could make his announcement. The weather was very hot so, people were wrapping their robes around their feet and legs, and were sitting around the pulpit, on the hot rocks. Then the Prophet delivered his long sermon. He recited some verses from the Quran, and for several times reminded and warned people of their deeds and future.
At the end, when the Prophet made people enough prepared, took the hand of Ali, raised it and introduces him as the master of his Ummah after his demise. The assembled multitude had not begun to disperse when the agent of revelation revealed this verse to the Prophet,
﴿...اَليَومَ يَئِسَ الَّذينَ كَفَروُا مِن دينِكُم فَلاَ تَخْشَوهُم وَاخْشَونِ اَلْيوَمَ اَكَمْلَتُ لَكُم دينَكُم وَ اَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيكُم نِعمَتي وَ رضَيتُ لَكُمُ الاِسْلاَمَ ديناً...﴾
“…This day those who disbelieve have despaired of [defeating] your religion; so fear them not, but fear Me. This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islam as religion…”
The Prophet left the place where he was standing, while all around the sound of Takbīr (Allah is the Great) was to be heard as the pilgrims expressed their warm and enthusiastic feelings towards Ali. People came up to him in groups and congratulated him on his appointment as leader, addressing him as their master and the master of every believer, man and woman.
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(The sermon of Prophet Muhammad at Ghadir Khum)
The Worthy and Deserving Day of Ghadir
The Worthy and Deserving Day of Ghadir he Day of the Message and the Wilayat
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللٌّه : يَا مَعْشَرَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ لِيُبَلِّغَ الشَّاهِدُ الْغَائِبَ، أُوْصِي مَنْ آمَنَ بِي وَ صَدَّقَنِي بِوِلاَيَةِ عَلِيٍّ، أَلاَ إِنَّ وِلاَيَةِ عَلِيٍّ وِلاَيَتِي وَ وِلاَيَتِي وِلاَيَةُ رَبِّي، عَهْداً عَهَّدَهُ إِلـيَّ رَبِّي وَ أَمَرَنِي أَنْ أُبَلِغُّكُمُوهُ
The Messenger of Allah (blessings of Allah be upon him and his family) has said, “O’ assembly of Muslims – those who are present must convey the following to those who are not, “I advise the person who believes in me and has confirmed me (as being the final Prophet) to accept the Wilayat (mastership of Ali). Now surely the mastership of Ali is my mastership, and my mastership is the mastership of my Lord. This is a pledge from my Lord which He commanded me to convey to all of you.”
Biharul Anwar, Volume 37, Page 131, Hadith 35
The Day of Feeding Others
قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللٌّه: وَ إِنَّهُ الْيَوْمُ الَّذِي أَقَامَ رَسُولُ اللٌّهِ عَلِياًّلِلنَّاسِ عَلَماً وَ أَبَانَ فِيهِ فَضْلَهُ وَ وَصِيَّهُ فَصَامَ شُكْراً لِلٌّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ ذٌلِكَ الْيَوْمَ وَ أَنَّهُ لَيَوْمُ صِيَامٍ وَ إِطْعَامٍ وَ صِلَةِ الإِخْوَانِ وَ فِيهِ مَرْضَاةُ الرَّحْمٌنِ، وَ مَرْغَمَةُ الشَّيْطَانِ
Abu Abdillah [Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad as-Sadiq] (peace be upon him) has said, “…and surely this is the day when the Messenger of Allah (blessings of Allah be upon him and his family) appointed Ali (peace be upon him) as the flag for the people and made known his greatness and successor ship; and he fasted on this day as a sign of thanks to Allah, the Glorious and Noble. This day should be taken as one of fasting, feeding others, establishing ties with brothers (in faith), and on this day is the pleasure of the Most Merciful (al-Rahman) and the rubbing in the dust (humiliation) of the face of Shaitan.”
Wasail ash-Shia, Volume 7, Page 328, Hadith 12
The Day of Gifts
عَنْ أَمِيـرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ قَالَ: ...إِذَا تَلاَقَيْتُمْ فَتَصَافَحُوا بِالتَّسْلِيمِ وَ تَهَابُوا النِّعْمَةَ فِي هٌذَا الْيَوْمِ، وَ لِيُبَلِّغَ الْحَاضِرُ الْغَائِبَ، وَالشَّاهِدُ الْبَايِنَ، وَلِيَعِدُ الْغَنِيُّ الْفَقِيرَ وَالْقَوِىُّ عَلى الضَّعِيفَ أَمَرَنِي رَسُولُ اللٌّهِبِذٌلِكَ
It has been narrated from Amirul Mo’minin [Ali ibn Abi Talib] (peace be upon him) that he said, “…when you meet each other (on the Day of Eid Ghadir), shake hands with one another with greetings (of peace) and exchange gifts on this day and let those who are present convey this to those who are not, and let the rich person give something to the poor, and the powerful one to the weak, as the Messenger of Allah (blessings of Allah be upon him and his family) commanded me to (also) do this.”
Wasail ash-Shia, Volume 7, Page 327
The Day of Protection
عَنْ أَمِيـرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ قَالَ: ... فَكَيْفَ بِمَنْ تَكَفَّلَ عَدَداً مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ الْمُؤْمِنَاتِ وَأَنَا ضَمِينُهُ عَلـى اللٌّهِ تَعَالـى الأَمَانَ مِنَ الْكُفْرِ وَالْفَقْرِ.
It has been narrated form Amirul Mominin [Ali ibn Abi Talib] (peace be upon him) that he said, “…how shall the state of that person be who has taken the responsibility upon himself for a number of the believing men and believing women (on the Day of Ghadir) since I personally have guaranteed that person protection from disbelief and poverty, in the presence of Allah, the Most High.”
Wasail ash-Shia, Volume 7, Page 327
The Day of Thanks and Happiness
قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللٌّهِ ... هُوَ يَوْمُ عِبَادَةٍ وَ صَلٌوةٍ وَ شُكْرٍ لِلٌّهِ وَ حَمْدٍ لَهُ، وَ سُرُورٍ لِمَا مَنَّ اللٌّهُ بِهِ عَلَيْكُمْ مِنْ وِّلاَيَتِنَا،وَ إِنِّي أُحِبُّ لَكُمْ أَنْ تَصُومُوهُ
Abu Abdillah [Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad as-Sadiq] (peace be upon him) has said: “…this is the day (18th of Dhul Hijjah) of worship and prayers and thanks to Allah and His praise, and is a day of happiness due to the obligation which Allah has laid upon all of you in regards to our (the Ahlul Bait’s) Wilayat, and surely I love to see you fast on this day.”
Wasail ash-Shia, Volume 7, Page 328, Hadith 13
The Day of Doing Good to Others
عَنِ الصَّادِق:وَ لَدِرْهَمٌ فِيهِ بِأَلْفِ دِرْهَمٍ لإِخْوَانِكَ الْعَارِفِينَ، فَأَفْضِلْ عَلى إِخْوَانِكَ فِي هٌذَا الْيَوْمِ َوَ سَرَّ فِيهِ كُلَّ مُؤْمِنٍ وَ مُؤْمِنَةٍ.
It has been narrated from as-Sadiq [Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad] (peace be upon him) that he said, “…giving one dirham to a brother in faith and who has cognizance (of the greatness and importance of the day of Ghadir) is equal to giving 1,000 dirham (at any other time). Therefore on this day, give to your brothers and make all of the believing men and believing women happy and delighted.”
Misbahul Mutahajjid, Page 737
The Day of Joy and Happiness
قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللٌّهِ : أَنَّهُ يَوْمُ عِيْدٍ وَ فَرْحٍ وَ سُرُورٍ وَ يَوْمُ صَوْمٍ شُكْراً لِلٌّهِ تَعَالـى.
Abu Abdillah [Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad as-Sadiq] (peace be upon him) has said: “Surely this day [18th of Dhul Hijjah] is a day of festivity, joy and happiness and it is a day of fasting as a sign of thanks to Allah, the Most High.”
Wasail ash-Shia, Volume 7, Page 326, Hadith 10
The Day of Congratulations and Felicitations
قَالَ عَلِىّ:عَوِّدُوا رَحِمَكُمُ اللٌّهُ بَعْدَ انْقِضَاءِ مَجْمَعِكُمْ بِالتَّوَسُّعَةِ عَلى عِيَالِكُمْ، وَالْبِرِّ بِإِخْوَانِكُمْ وَالشُّكْرِ لِلٌّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ عَلى مَا مَنَحَكُمْ، وَاجْتَمِعُوا يَجْمَعُ اللٌّهُ شَمْلِكُمْ، وَ تَبَارُوا يَصِلُ اللٌّهُ أُلْفَتَكُمْ، وَ تَهَانُؤا نِعْمَةَ اللٌّهِ كَمَا هَنَّأَ كُمُ اللٌّهُ بِالثَّوَابِ فِيهِ عَلى أَضْعَافِ الأَعْيَادِ قَبْلَهُ وَ بَعْدَهُ إِلاَّ فِي مِثْلِهِ...
Imam Ali (peace be upon him) said: “When your assembly adjourns, may Allah have mercy on you, then show generosity towards your dependants, kindness to your brethren, and gratitude to Allah for what He has bestowed upon you. Come together that Allah may unite you, do good to one another that Allah may increase your mutual love; and congratulate one another for Allah’s favour as He has given you the good tidings of a reward many times greater than previous or future Eids, except an Eid like it [when Eid falls on a Friday].”
Biharul Anwar, Volume 97, Page 117
A Day of Greeting and Disavowal
رَوَى الْحَسَنُ بْنُ رَاشِدٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللٌّهِقَالَ: قُلْتُ: جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ، لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ عِيْدٌ غَيْرُ الْعِيْدَيْنِ؟ قَالَ: نَعَمْ، يَا حَسَنَ! أَعْظَمُهُمَا وَ أَشْرَفُهُمَا. قَالَ: قُلْتُ لَهُ: وَ أَيُّ يَوْمٍ هُوَ؟ قَالَ: يَوْمٌ نُصِبَ أَمِيـرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فِيهِ عَلَماً لِلنَّاسِ. قُلْتُ لَهُ: جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ وَمَا يَنْبَغِي لَنَا أَنْ نَصْنَعَ فِيهِ؟ قَالَ: تَصُومُهُ يَا حَسَنَ وَ تَكْثُرُ الصَّلوٌةَ عَلى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِهِ فِيهِ وَ تَتَبَرَّأَ إلـى اللٌّهِ، مِمَنْ ظَلَمَهُمْ، فَإِنّ الأَنْبِيَآءَ كَانَتْ تَأْمُرُ الأَوْصِيَآءَ بَالْيَومِ الَّذِي كَانَ يُقَامُ فِيهِ الْوَصِيُّ أَنْ يُّـتَّخَذَ عِيْداً
It has been narrated from Hasan ibn Rashid from Abi Abdillah [Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad as-Sadiq] (peace be upon him) that he said, “May I be sacrificed for you! Do the Muslims have a festivity other than the two Eid celebrations?” The Imam (peace be upon him) replied, “Yes O’ Hasan! (There is one) greater than these two and much worthier than them.” The companion replied, “And what day is that?” The Imam said, “The day upon which Amirul Mominin [Ali ibn Abi Talib] (peace be upon him) was appointed as the flag (of guidance) for the people.” The companion then asked, “May I be sacrificed for you! And what should we do (on this day)?” The Imam replied, “You should fast on it, O’ Hasan, and recite many prayers upon Muhammad and his family and disavow yourself towards Allah from all of those who oppressed them; surely the Prophets (of the past) also commanded their successors to consider the day of their appointment a day of celebration and Eid.”
Misbahul Mutahajjid, Page 680
The Eid of the Successors
عَنْ أَبْي عَبْدِ اللٌّهِ قَالَ: ... تَذْكُرُونَ اللٌّهَ عَزَّ ذِكْرُهُ فِيهِ بِالصِّيَامِ وَالْعِبَادَةِ وَالذِّكْرِ لِمُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، فَإِنَّ رَسُولَ اللٌّهِأَوْصى أَمْيرَالْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَنْ يَتَّخِذَ ذٌلِكَ الْيَوْمَ عِيْداً، وَ كَذٌلِكَ كَانَتِ الأَنْبِيَاءُ تَفْعَلُ، كَانُوا يُوصُونَ أَوْصِـيَائَهُمْ بِذٌلِكَ فَيَتَّخِذُونَهُ عِيْداً
It has been narrated from Abi Abdillah [Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad as-Sadiq] (peace be upon him) that he said, “…(on the day of Eid Ghadir) you should remember Allah, the Noble, on this day through fasting and worship and through remembering Muhammad and the family of Muhammad since surely the Messenger of Allah (blessings of Allah be upon him and his family) had advised Amirul Mominin to take this day as a day of Eid, and this is the same thing which the (previous) Prophets also did; they too advised their successors who took this day as a day of Eid.”
Wasail ash-Shia, Volume 7, Page 327, Hadith 1
The Day of Dedication and Prayers
عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللٌّه قَالَ: وَالْعَمَلُ فِيهِ يَعْدِلُ ثَمَانِينَ شَهْراً، وَ يَنْبَغِي أَنْ يُّكَـثِّرَ فِيهِ ذِكْرَ اللٌّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ، وَالصَّلَوٌةَ عَلى النَّبِيِّوَيُوَسِّعَ الرَّجُلُ فِيهِ عَلى عَيَالِهِ
It has been narrated from Abi Abdillah [Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad as-Sadiq] (peace be upon him) that he said, “The worth of (good) actions performed on this day (18th of Dhul Hijjah) is equivalent to 80 months (of good deeds) and one is advised to frequently remember Allah, the Noble and Grand, and send prayers upon the Prophet (blessings of Allah be upon him and his family) and that a man be generous to his family (by presenting them with gifts).”
Wasail ash-Shia, Volume 7, Page 325, Hadith 6
The Day of Seeing the Leader
عَنْ مَوْلاَنَا أَبِي الْحَسَنِ عَلِيَّ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍقَالَ لأََبِي إِسْحَاقٍ: وَ يَوْمُ الْغَدِيرِ فِيهِ أَقَامَ النَّبِيُّأَخَاهُ عَلِيًّا عَلَمًا لِلنَّاسِ وَ إِمَامًا مِنْ بَعْدِهِ. [قَالَ] قُلْتُ: صَدَّقْتَ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ، لِذٌلِكَ قَصَدْتُ، أَشْهَدُ أَنَّكَ حُجَّةَ اللٌّهِ عَلى خَلْقِهِ
It has been narrated from our master, Abul Hasan Ali ibn Muhammad [al-Hadi] (peace be upon him) that he said to Abi Ishaq: “The Day of Ghadir is the day when the Prophet (blessings of Allah be upon him and his family) appointed his brother Ali as the flag (of guidance) for the people and the Imam after him.” Abu Ishaq said, “You have spoken the truth, may I be sacrificed for you. It is for this reason (alone) that I came to see you. I bear witness that truly you are the proof of Allah over all of His creations.”
Wasail ash-Shia, Volume 7, Page 324, Hadith 3
The Day of Praising Allah
عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ مُوْسى الرِّضَا:مَنْ زَارَ فِيهِ مُؤْمِناً أَدْخَلَ اللٌّهُ قَبْرَهُ سَبْعِينَ نُوراً وَ وُسِّعَ فِي قَبْرِهِ وَ يَزُورُ قَبْرَهُ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ سَبْعُونَ أَلْفَ مَلَكٍ وَيُبَشِّرُونَهُ بِالْجَنَّةِ
Imam Ali ibn Musa al-Ridha (peace be upon him) has said, “Allah will grant a person who visits a true believer on it (the Day of Eidul Ghadir) seventy types of Divine Light in his grave and will expand his grave. Every day, 70,000 Angels will visit him in the grave and they will grant him the glad tidings of Paradise.”
Iqbal al-Amal, Page 778
The Day of Visiting and Doing Good
قَالَ الصَّادِق:ُيَنْبَغِي لَكُمْ أَنْ تَتَقَرَّبُوا إِلـى اللٌّهِ تَعَالـى بِالْبِرِّ وَالصَّوْمِ وَالصَّلوٌةِ وَ صِلَةِ الْرَحْمِ وَ صِلَةِ الإِخْوَانِ، فَاِنَّ الأَنْبِيَآءَ عَلَيْهِمُ السَّلاَمُ كَانُوا إِذَا أَقَامُوا أَوْصِيَآءَهُمْ فَعَلُوا ذٌلِكَ وَ أَمَرُوا بِهِ
Imam as-Sadiq [Jafar ibn Muhammad] (peace be upon him) has said, “It is advisable for you (on the day of Ghadir) to become close to Allah, the Most High, through good deeds, fasting, prayers, establishing (and maintaining) family ties and establishing ties between (your) brothers. The Prophets (peace be upon all of them) did the same thing when they appointed their successors, and also advised them to act similarly.”
Misbahul Mutahajjid, Page 736
Salat in Masjid al-Ghadir
عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللٌّهِقَالَ: إِنَّهُ تُسْتَحَبُّ الصَّلوٌةُ فِي مَسْجِدِ الْغَدِيرِ لأَنَّ النَّبِيَّأَقَامَ فِيهِ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَوَ هُوَ مَوْضِعٌ أَظْهَرَ اللٌّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فِيهِ الْحَقَّ
It has been narrated from Abi Abdillah Imam [Jafar ibn Muhammad as-Sadiq] (peace be upon him) that: “Surely it is recommended to pray inside Masjid al-Ghadir since verily the Prophet (blessings of Allah be upon him and his family) introduced the Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him) [as the Imam] to the people here and this is the spot in which Allah, the Noble and Grand, made known The Truth.”
Wasail ash-Shia, Volume 3, Page 549
Salat on the Day of Ghadir
عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللٌّهِقَالَ: وَ مَنْ صَلَّى فِيهِ رَكْعَتَينِ أَيَّ وَقْتٍ َشَآءَ وَ أَفْضَلُهُ قُرْبَ الزَّوَالِ وَ هِيَ السَّاعَةُ الَّتِي أُقِيمَ فِيهَا أَمِيـرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ بِغَدِيرِ خُمٍّ عَلَماً لِلنَّاسِ وَ ... كَانَ كَمَنْ حَضَرَ ذٌلِكَ الْيَوْمَ...
It has been narrated from Abi Abdillah [Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad as-Sadiq] (peace be upon him) that: “A person who performs a two Rakat Salat any time he wishes (during the Day of 18th of Dhul Hijjah), though it is best that this (Salat) be performed as close to the time of Zawwal (mid-day when the sun begins its decline; this is when the time for Salatul Zuhr beings) as possible because this is the time at which Amirul Mominin (peace be upon him) was appointed at Ghadir Khumm as the flag of the people and … (the reward for this Salat) is as if the person had been present on the Day (of Ghadir Khumm)…”
Wasail ash-Shia, Volume 5, Page 225, Hadith 2
Fasting on the Day of Ghadir
قَالَ الصَّادِقُ:صِيَامُ يَوْمِ غَدِيرِ خُمٍّ يَعْدِلُ صِيَامُ عُمْرِ الدُّنْيَا لَوْ عَاشَ إِنْسَانٌ ثُمَّ صَامَ مَا عُمِرَتِ الدُّنْيَا لَكَانَ لَهُ ثَوَابَ ذٌلِكَ
It has been narrated from as-Sadiq [Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad] (peace be upon him) that: “Fasting on the Day of Ghadir is equivalent to fasting the time span of the (existence of the) entire world – meaning that if a person were to live a life of the entire existence of the world and were to fast this whole time, the reward for this fasting would be equivalent to fasting (this one day of Ghadir).”
Wasail ash-Shia, Volume 7, Page 324, Hadith 4
The Day of Congratulations and Smiling
عَنِ الرِّضَاقَالَ: ... وَ هُوَ يَوْمُ الْتَهْنِئَةِ يُهَنِّئُ بَعْضُكُمْ بَعْضاً، فَإِذَا لقى الْمُؤْمِنُ أَخَاهُ يَقُولُ: أَلْحَمْدُ لِلٌّهِ الَّذِي جَعَلَنَا مِنَ الْمُتَمَسِّكِينَ بِوِلاَيَةِ أَمِيـرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ الأَئِمَّةِوَ هُوَ يَوْمُ التَبَسُّمِ فِي وُجُوهِ النَّاسِ مِنْ أَهْلِ الإِيْمَانِ...
It has been narrated from al-Ridha [Ali ibn Musa] (peace be upon him) that: “…and this is a day of congratulations and felicitations in which you should greet and congratulate one another. When a believer meets another, one should say, ‘All praise belongs to Allah who has made us amongst those who hold firm to the Wilayat of the Commander of the Faithful and the immah (prayers be upon all of them); and this is a day of smiling at other people and those of true faith.”
Source: https://shiastudy.ir/en/
