A tradition referenced in Sahih Muslim1 which was narrated by “Tariq Ibn Shihab”: A group of Jews told the second caliph that: If the Jewish community had been revealed a verse like “This day have I perfected your religion for you and completed My favor unto you” and we knew the day in which the verse was descent, we would have considered that day as a great festival2.
Muslims consider every aspect in the life of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&HP) to be very significant. For not only the Prophet’s statements are away from any carnal desires and are related to the origin of Revelation according to the holy Quran3, but also, his actions show the true way of life. Throughout his life, specific events happened that were of great importance, of those one is known as the incident of Ghadir Khumm.
The incident of Ghadir consists of several aspects that give it a brighter value than the rest of the events. The references for the actual event, the large number companion present at the incident, number of narrators, and the Islamic scholars that reassured of the event itself, all prove Ghadir to be an exceptionally spectacular event in the whole history of Islam.
While looking at narrators of Hadith of Ghadir, we will see Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH&HP) progeny4 as the first narrators. Furthermore one hundred and ten companions (Sahabi) of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&HP) narrated5 this incident.
The interesting point is that all of these companions were present when the event took place, therefore, they have narrated the incident directly. Of the others who have narrated the Hadith of Ghadir, were 83 people from Tabe’in.
After Tabe’in, Sunni scholars from second up to the thirteenth century (which were 360(have narrated the Hadith; three of the Sunni Sahih authors (from the six6) and two of their jurisprudence Sunni leaders7 are amongst those.
The descent of two verses of the holy Quran – (5:67)8 and (5:3)9 about the event of Ghadir has increased its importance and has made it eternal. These two verses have been interpreted by famous Shia and Sunni commentators, for the event of Ghadir. Comparing the content and expression of these two verses with the other verses of the Holy Quran, we can conclude that the manner in which these two verses are presented are unique amongst if not all, but most of the other verses in the Holy Quran. While reciting the holy Quran, each Muslim might wonder deeply about these verses and ask himself these questions:
– What is this important matter that Allah (SWT) has promised to keep His Messenger safe upon preaching this message?
– What is this important matter that if preached, brings about the completion of the blessings upon the people, perfection of the religion?
– What is this important matter that if the messenger of Allah (PBUH&HP) did not preach this message, His 23 year mission of His prophet hood would become null and he would not have accomplished His mission?
Thus the day will be obviously, the day in which upon the revelation of this verse and the preaching of such an important message, will be a day to complete religion, please Allah, and hold as a very important event amongst Muslims.
According to what has been stated above, it can be concluded that in addition to the historians who as of their profession have a close attention to event of Ghadir, also the scholars of Hadith consider it as a considerable and important Hadith. For being a scholar of Hadith, one should specify the authenticity of Hadith and contemplate the concepts of it. Therefore Ghadir as a definite and frequent Hadith has been specially posed in different books of Hadith. After the revelation of two verses about this event which suggests a unique concept and has an outstanding expression among other verses, Ghadir has become the issue of many discussions in the interpretation books. Relying on the concepts of these verses and the great religious effects they convey, Mutikallemin (theologians) have especially considered this event. Even linguists have paid special attention to this important event while expressing the meaning of “Ghadir”, which refers to a location. During the 14 centuries, Islamic literature and Muslim poets have described this great event in their works and poems until present10.
All and all, Eid al-Ghadir is an exclusive day, which cannot be overlooked. In fact, according to an Islamic narration the day has been referred to as Eid al Akbar, the Greater Eid.”11 It is on this day that by the order of Allah, the Prophet is to announce the successorship of the Commander of Faithful, Amir al-Mu’menin, Imam Ali (PBUH), thereby completing his mission and completing the religion of Allah.
(The selection is an excerpt from the article named “The Event of Ghadir and its Importance” under the belief section – to read the article in full please click here)
The Roshd Website congratulates all Muslims, especially you dear friend upon the anniversary of the completion of religion and the announcement of succession of Amir al-Mu’minin (PBUH), the great Eid of Allah (SWT), the auspicious Eid Ghadir Khum.
Footnotes:
1One of the six most authentic narration books amongst which along with Sahih Bukhari are considered as the top two for Sunni scholars.
2Sahih Muslim, vol. 5, pg. 517 (book of al-Tafsir), narration #3.
3 “Nor does he speak out of desire. It is a revelations which has been revealed to him…” (Holy Quran, 53:3-4).
4They are Imam Ali (PBUH), Fatima Al-Zahra (PBUH), Imam Hassan (PBUH) and Imam Hussain (PBUH).
5Amongst the companions are people such as: 1-Abubakr ibn-Abighohafah 2-Omar ibn-Khattab 3-Othman ibn-Affan 4-Ayeshe bent-Abibakr 5-Salman Farsi 6-Abazar Ghafari 7-Ammar Yaser 8-Zobeir ibn-Avam 9-Abbas ibn-Abdolmuttaleb 10-Jaber ibn-Abdullah al-Ansari and more.
6These three are: Abu `Isa Muhammad ibn `Isa at-Tirmidhi in Sahih Tirmidhi, Ahmad Ibn Shu’aib al-Nasa’I in Sunan an-Nasa’I and AbÅ« Ê»AbdillÄÂÂÂh Muḥammad Ibn YazÄ«d Ibn MÄÂÂÂjah al-Rabʻī al-QazwÄ«nÄ« in Sunan Ibn MÄÂÂÂjah.
7the two scholars are AbÅ« Ê»AbdillÄÂÂÂh Ahmad Ibn Hanbal (leader of Hanbali’s) and AbÅ« Ê»AbdillÄÂÂÂh Muhammad Ibn ‘Idris Shafi’i (leader of Shafi’I’s)
8This day have I perfected your religion for you and completed My favor unto you, and have chosen for you as religion al-Islam (al-Maeda, 5:67)
9O Messenger! 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 (al-Maeda, 5:3)
10Allameh Amini has addressed Islamic poets whom have recited poems about the incident of Ghadir chronologically in his book “al-Ghadir” (vol. 2, pg. 53)
11Tahzib alAhkam, vol. 3, pg. 143