Reflections on the memorable event of Ghadir Khum

Yesterday on the 18th of Zi’l-Hijjah we in Iran and all over the world celebrated the 1430th lunar anniversary of the historic determination of the leadership of mankind by God Almighty through express revelation of His commandment to His Last and Greatest Messenger, Prophet Mohammad (Blessings of God upon him and his progeny).

The holy Qur’an has confirmed as “Perfection of Faith” the Prophet’s proclamation of Imam Ali ibn Abi Taleb (PBUH) as his Vicegerent and the divinely-designated leader after him.

The following is a feature in this regard titled: “Reflections on the memorable event of Ghadir Khum.”

Ten years after the migration or hijrah of the Prophet of Islam from his hometown Mecca to the city of Yathreb, which became known as Medinat-an-Nabi or the Prophet’s City, the Messenger of Mercy called on Muslims from different parts of Arabia to join him in his last of Farewell Hajj Pilgrimage to God Almighty’s Symbolic House, the sacred Ka’ba in Mecca, after Abraham’s edifice of monotheism had been cleansed of the filth of idols two years before. The purpose of this pilgrimage was to teach Muslims how to perform the pilgrimage in a correct and unified form.

This was first time that the Muslims with this magnitude gathered in one place in the presence of their Leader. On his way to Mecca, more than seventy thousand people followed Prophet. On the fourth day of Zi’'l-Hijjah more than one hundred thousand Muslims had entered Mecca.

After performing his last Hajj pilgrimage, known is Islamic history as Hajjat ul-Weda, the Prophet departed for Medina, and soon reached the pond or Ghadir of Khum, which is close to Juhfah. It was a place from where the routes of the different areas of Arabia parted, and it was here that Archangel Gabriel descended with the expressed commandment, as mentioned in ayah 67 of Surah al-Ma’edah:

“O Prophet! Convey 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.”

The last part of this ayah indicates that the Prophet was apprehensive of the reaction of certain people in delivering that message God had entrusted to him, but as is clear, the Almighty informs him not to worry, for he will be protected from the mischief-mongers.

Upon receiving this divine commandment, the Prophet stopped in that extremely hot weather. Then he ordered that all those who had gone ahead should come back and waited for the arrival of those who lagged behind. The Prophet of instructed his Iranian companion, Salman Farsi, to use rocks and camel saddles to set up a minbar or pulpit, so he could make a public announcement. It was around noon time and due to the extreme heat in that place, people were wrapping their robes around their feet and legs while sitting on the sun-scorched ground.

On this day the Messenger of Allah spent approximately five hours in this place; three hours of which he was on the pulpit. He recited nearly one hundred ayahs of the holy Qur’an, and for seventy three times reminded and warned people of their deeds and future, during his lengthy sermon.

The following is a part of his speech which has been widely narrated by the compilers of Hadith, both Shi’a and Sunni Muslims:

“The time has come for me to return my Lord. I am leaving behind among you the Thaqalayn (Two Precious or Weighty Things); the Book of God (Qur’an) and my progeny the Ahl al-Bayt. Hold fast to them if you do not want to go astray, for the two never part with each other, even till they return to me at the Fountain (of Kowthar on Resurrection Day).”

Then the Messenger of Mercy said: "Do I not have more right over the believers than what they have over themselves?" 

The people answered with one voice: "Yes, O' Messenger of God."

Then followed the key sentence denoting the clear designation of Imam Ali as the Leader after him. The Prophet held up the hand of his dear cousin and son-in-law, and proclaimed: “Man kunto Mowla fa hadha Aliyun Mowla” (For whomsoever I am Master, this Ali is his Master).

Immediately after the Prophet finished his speech, Archangel Gabriel descended with ayah 3 of Surah al-Mae’dah:

“Today I have perfected your religion for you, and I have completed My blessing upon you, and I have approved Islam as your religion.”      

This ayah clearly indicates that without clarifying the vital issue of leadership after Prophet, Islam was not complete, since perfection of faith required following the leader designated by God – and not selected, elected, or nominated by the people. Immediately after the Prophet's speech, as the huge gathering took turns to give oath of allegiance to Imam Ali (AS) the poet Hassaan bin Thabit, with the permission of the Prophet recited an eloquent poem in praise of Imam Ali (AS), which he composed extempore.

Hassaan stood up and recited:

    He calls them, (on) the day of Ghadir, their Prophet

    In Khum 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

    The Imam and guide after me,

    So for whomever I am Leader (mawla), then this is his Leader (mawla)

    So be to him supporters in truth,"

The Prophet ordered the huge gathering of nearly 120,000 Hajj pilgrims to convey this important message to people in their hometown and anyone they meet on the way. When the Prophet reached Medina and the people came to know about this vital proclamation on the plain of Ghadir-Khum on the 18^th of Zi’l-Hijjah there were some mischievous persons who began to raise doubts.

When a certain Hareth Ibn Nu'man al-Fahri (or Nadhr Ibn Harith according to another tradition) came to know of this even, he rode his camel and came to Medina to confront the Messenger of Allah with the rude words: "You asked us to testify that there is no deity but Allah and that you are the Messenger of Allah. We obeyed you. You instructed us to perform the ritual prayers five times a day and we obeyed. You ordered us to observe fasts during the month of Ramadhan and we obeyed. Then you commanded us to perform pilgrimage to the House of God in Mecca, and we obeyed. It seems, you are not satisfied with all this and now you have raised your cousin by your hand and imposed him upon us as our master by saying `Ali is the mawla of whomever I am mawla.'

Is this commandment from Allah or from you?"

The Prophet said: "By Allah, beside Whom there is no god, this is from Allah, the Mighty and the Glorious."

On hearing this Hareth turned back and proceeded towards his camel saying: "O Allah! If what Muhammad said is correct then strike us with a stone from the sky and subject us to severe pain and torture."

Before Hareth could reach his mount, a stone fell on his head from the sky, penetrated his body and passed out through his lower part, leaving him dead on the spot. As confirmed by even Sunni Muslim chroniclers of Hadith, it was on this occasion that Allah, the exalted, caused to descend the following three ayahs of Surah Ma’arij:

“An asker asked for a punishment bound to befall; from Allah, Lord of the lofty stations; which none can avert from the faithless.”

This is a permanent proof of the significance of the event of Ghadir and the fate of those who deny the leadership of Imam Ali (AS).

AS/ME