Islam & Day of Al-Ghadeer
By: Hussein Al-Rumaithi
Couple of days ago Shia Muslims
around the word celebrated the most important holiday in their calendar, which
marks the anniversary of Imam Ali’s appointment by God, as Prophet Mohammad’s
successor and Caliph of Muslims. However, this specific day in Islamic Calendar
defines the entire Shia doctrine toward the topic of Imamate and succession,
which must be conducted by God and according to Shia traditional and
theological sources the events of Al-Ghadeer form the divine principles for
Imam Ali’s appointment. Therefore, this day and its events have altered,
denied, wrongfully explained, marginalized and misinterpreted by Sunni scholars
throughout history. However, dissecting the contextual facts leading to the
incident and the details surrounding this day will reveal one of the most
horrendous crimes against humanity and Islam in history by marginalizing this
day and its importance.
Ghadeer Khom
The holiday of Al-Ghadeer is named
after the place, which the events of Al-Ghadeer took place at, as this place is
an intersection, where Muslims returning from Mecca (Haj) deviate and choose
their path toward their cities and nations. During the early days of Islam,
when Muslims returned from Haj, Ghadeer Khom was the place, where people from
Medina headed to their city and people from Egypt and other places headed to
their home lands as well. Therefore, this specific land was very well
known to Muslims and people of Arabia during that time.
Verse of Announcement
The events leading to the
appointment of Imam Ali as Prophet Mohammad’s successor started by the
revelation of this verse upon Prophet Mohammad, which is the 67th verse of
Chapter 5: “O’ Messenger, announce that which has been revealed to you from
your lord, and if you do not, then you have not conveyed his message. And Allah
will protect you from the people”. This verse clearly indicates that the
message, which the Prophet had been ordered to announce held great importance,
as God stated that not announcing this message will equal not conveying
and finishing the prophecy and message of Allah. Therefore, according to
historic sources prophet Mohammad stopped at Ghadeer Khom and ordered that all
caravans, which had passed Ghadeer Khom to return and wait for other caravans
to arrive at Ghadeer Khom.
Ghadeer Sermon
According to Islamic historic
sources the number of people present at that day succeeded 120,000 people,
which also adds to the importance of this day and the message, which Prophet
Mohammad was about to announce. During the hot weather of Arabia desert,
Prophet Mohammad gathered all Muslims and ordered a rostrum to be made from the
camel saddles, and he prayed the noon prayer and delivered a sermon, which is
known as Al-Ghadeer sermon. During this sermon Prophet Mohammad recited many
verses from the Quran, which reminded the Muslims and warned them about their
deeds and future. In addition, the main part of the sermon is the following:
“who is above Muslims and their selves and wealth? People replied: Allah and
his messenger are above Muslims, their selves and wealth. The Prophet Mohammad
continued and said: Whomever I am his master, Ali is his master. O’ Allah be
with whoever is with Ali, hostile to whoever is hostile to Ali, and support
whoever supports Ali, and disheartens whoever disheartens Ali.
Once the sermon was finished,
Prophet Mohammad and Imam Ali say in a tent and Imam Ali received oath of
allegiance from all Muslims (Men & Women), as everyone, who attended that
event entered and saluted Imam Ali as commander of the faithful and successor
of the Prophet. Leading companions and Muslims such as Jabir Ibn Abdulla, Salma
the Persian, Omar Ibn Al-Khattab, Abu Bakr, Othman and others were among the
first to give allegiance to Imam Ali, and salute him as commander of the
faithful.
After Prophet Mohammad finished his
sermon, another important verse was revealed to him, which indicated that the
announcement of that message was equivalent to finishing and sealing the
religion. The 3rd verse of chapter 5 in the Quran, which was revealed to
Prophet Mohammad after the Ghadeer sermon states: “This day I have perfected
your religion for you, and completed my favor upon you and have chosen for you
Islam as your religion. Therefore, it was obvious since Prophet Mohammad had
indicated that he was performing his last pilgrimage that year, along with all
the mentioned phrases and sentences, appointment of Imam Ali was done by Allah
as one of the final commands.
Narrators and Sources of Al-Ghadeer
event
The events, sermon and details of
Al-Ghadeer and what had happened during that day, are among the events and
details that are unanimously narrated by thousands of companions and followers,
including the holy household of Prophet Mohammad. The list narrators and
sources of this event is as following:
- Ahlul Bayt (Holy household of
Prophet Mohammad), Imam Ali, Lady Fatima Al-Zahra, Imam Al-Hassan, Imam
Al-Hussein.
- 110 leading and prominent
companions such as, Jabir Ibn Abdullah Al-Ansari, Salman the Persian, Abu
Dhar Al-Ghifari, Ammar Ibn Yasir, Zubir Ibn Al-Awwam, Omar Ibn Al-Khattab,
Othman Ibn Affan, Abu Huraira, Ayesha (wife of Prophet Mohammad) and many
other companions.
- 83 Followers, or what are known
as (Tabe’un) in Islamic history and chain of narrators. Salim Ibn
Abdallah, Omar II and Tawus Ibn Kaysan are among most famous followers,
who have narrated the events of Al-Ghadeer.
- 360 Sunni scholars have also
narrated the events, sermon and details of Al-Ghadeer in their books and
traditional sources. The founder of Shafi’I school in Sunni Islam and the
founder of Hanbali School are among the leading Sunni scholars narrating
the event of Al-Ghadeer. Other scholars like Al-Nasa’I, Ibn Al-Maghazili,
Al-Shahristani and Ahmad Ibn Abdallah are other prominent scholars, who
have narrated this event in their sources and books.
- Prominent Shia scholars like
Al-Kulayni, Sharif Al-Murtadha, Sharif Al-Radhi, Shaykh Al-Mufid, Ibn
Babawiy and others among the leading narrators of this event in their
sources and books.
The event of Al-Ghadeer and its
narrations are considered as continuous incurrent hadith among all Shia
scholars and many Sunni scholars, which adds to the legitimacy and importance
of this day and its details. Therefore, the current marginalization, alteration
and misinterpretation of this event and its narrations can be considered as the
leading reason behind the division, which has struck the Islamic nation.
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