In the name of God Welcome to this week’s episode of the series Let’s Know Islam. Today, we point out a number of other facts in regard to the event of Ghadir-e Khum.

As a reminder, last week we spoke of the announcement of Velayat and Imamate of Ali (Peace be upon him), by the Prophet of Islam, Mohammad (Blessings of God upon him and his progeny). A number of points should be mentioned in regard to this landmark event.

As we said, in accordance to divine order, the Prophet of God was instructed to convey an important message to people.

The 67^th ayah of Surat Maidah states: “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 will protect you from the people; surely Allah will not guide the unbelieving people.”

Upon the divine revelation of this ayah, the Prophet of Islam, on returning from his farewell Hajj pilgrimage, on 18^th of the Islamic month of Zil-Hajjah in 10^th AH, introduced Ali as his successor to Muslims, in a location referred to as Ghadir-e Khum. The event of Ghadir-e Khum and the important mission that the Prophet of Islam appropriately carried out in that day was a landmark event in the history of Islam, and with the exception of a few prejudiced individuals; no fair historian can deny this event.

Last week we also pointed out that the event of Ghadir-e Khum and the appointment of Ali as the Prophet’s successor has been cited by more than 350 major Sunni Ulema and hadith scholars. Furthermore, large numbers of scientists and researchers have elaborated on this landmark event in their books and articles. Thus, no doubt is cast about the occurrence of this landmark event and the conveyance of the said message by the Prophet of Islam. However, there are differences of opinion in the interpretation and analysis of this message. This difference of opinion stems from the allegations of a few who claim that the goal of the Prophet of Islam from introducing Ali on the event of Ghadir-e Khum was solely to announce his amity and friendship toward Ali. Now the question that springs into mind is whether this was the actual goal of the Prophet, or the Prophet of Islam’s aim was to appoint Ali as the leader of Muslims after his demise?

If we contemplate on the 67^th ayah of Surat Maidah, we come to realize that the message which the Prophet has to announce is of paramount importance, such that if he doesn’t announce this message, he has not completely fulfilled his prophet hood. The tone of this ayah also shows that the Prophet of Islam is concerned over the announcement of this message. For this reason, God sympathizes with the Prophet and points out that Allah protects him from the people.

If one imagines that this event is only related to expression of kindness and amity toward Ali and the Prophet had been concerned over the announcement of his amity toward Ali, such a view is not acceptable by any means. This is because establishment of an amicable bond with Ali, similar to establishment of amicable bonds with other faithful Muslims, is a religious plan, which has been considered as an integral part of alphabet of Islamic fraternity as of the advent of Islam, and no one has been concerned about expressing it.

So, the Prophet of Islam must be concerned over public expression of another important topic. At that point in time, the Prophet intended to prepare people for hearing important news. Therefore, prior to the announcement of velayat of Ali, the Prophet said: “Don’t I have a greater claim on the faithful than they have on themselves?” Everyone agreed. The Prophet of Islam, via this referendum, was once again approved as the leader of Muslims.

The 6^th ayah of Surat Al-Ahzab notes: “The Prophet has a greater claim on the faithful than they have on themselves…”

After people once again confirmed the leadership of the Prophet, the Prophet of Islam immediately pointed out: “Ali is the leader of anyone who considers me as his leader.” This sentence points out that after the demise of the Prophet of Islam; Ali is the Prophet’s infallible successor.

In the analysis of the event of Ghadir-e Khum, if we pay attention to the remarks and practical measures of the Prophet of Islam on that day, the facts are further clarified. On that day and location, the Prophet gathers roughly 120,000 people at mid-day under the scorching heat, in order to convey an important message to them. The Prophet tells the crowd to wait for the arrival of those, who have been left behind.

Although reinforcement of an amicable bond with Ali is an important matter, there is no need for the Prophet of Islam to gather such a large crowd at the desert in an unexpected manner for announcement of his amity toward Ali, and to make all the necessary arrangements for this purpose. Furthermore, invitation of people to establish and reinforce an amicable bond with Ali is nothing new, because Holy Quran had previously invited people to maintain an amicable bond with the Prophet of Islam’s Infallible Household.

The 23^rd ayah of Surat Shura notes: “…Say: I do not ask of you any reward for this prophet hood but love for my near relatives…”

The Prophet, in the event of Ghadir-e Khum, delivers a detailed sermon on monotheism, prophet hood, Day of Resurrection, and other ideological topics, presenting discussions that people were generally familiar with. In fact, the new point in the Prophet’s remarks was that he informed people of his demise in the near future. After this announcement, the Prophet appointed Ali as his successor. The announcement of velayat of Ali after reference to Prophet’s demise in the near future means that the Prophet intended to fill the vacuum resulting from absence of leader in the community, after the Prophet’s demise. Otherwise, there was no need for arranging such a detailed and comprehensive plan for announcement of his amicable bond with Ali. This measure of the Prophet of Islam, in the waning months of his life aimed to clarify the fate of leadership of Islamic Ummah after the demise of the Prophet.

The other important point after the Ghadir-e Khum event and the appointment of Ali to Imamate was that Prophet urged people to congratulate this auspicious occasion to Ali. Therefore, large numbers of the Prophet’s disciples approached Ali after the completion of the Prophet’s sermon, congratulating Ali. Abu Bakr, Omar, Ottoman, Talhe, and Zobair were some of those, who congratulated Ali’s Imamate and caliphate.

The question which should be asked is whether Ali attained another important status and post on that day that would lead to all of those congratulations other than the Imamate of Islamic Ummah after the Prophet of Islam’s imminent demise? Hadn’t Ali been recognized as a Muslim, whom everyone should have been amicable towards; until that day? Had the Prophet urged people to congratulate Ali just for the sake of being kind to Ali? Swear of allegiance with Ali, and congratulating him was not necessary just for the sake of announcement of one’s amity toward Ali.

The famous Arab poet, Hassaan ibn Sabet, who was present in the convoy of Muslims, stated in his poetry: Prophet told Ali to stand up, while pointing out that he had chosen Ali for Imamate of Islamic Ummah after his demise.

The poems of Arab poets and literary figures of next centuries also point out that the remarks of the Prophet of Islam put emphasis on the Imamate of Ali after the Prophet’s era.

The renowned historian, theologian, and literary figure, Ibn Khallilcan, refers to 18^th of the Islamic month of Zil-Hajja as Eid al-Ghadir.

Hakem Neishaburi has cited the Prophet of Islam as saying that whoever complies with Ali has in fact complied with the Prophet, and whoever disobeys Ali has in fact disobeyed the Prophet.

Upon contemplation of the Prophet’s sermon without any prejudgment, the remarks of the Prophet on the event of Ghadir-e Khum obviously point out the Imamate and Velayat of Ali after the demise of the Prophet of Islam.

After the remarks of the Prophet of Islam in the event of Ghadir-e Khum, the 3^rd ayah of Surat Maidah was descended on the Prophet, which points out: “This day have I perfected for you your religion and completed my favor on you…”

From this ayah, one realizes that with the appointment of the Prophet’s successor, God completed sHis favor on people. Several reliable hadiths and books, attended by Shias and Sunnis, emphasize that this ayah was descended on the Prophet on the 18^th of the Islamic month of Zil-Hajja, on the day in which the Prophet appointed Ali as his infallible successor.

MR/EA