Muslims consider every aspect in the life of Prophet Muhammad\n(PBUH&HP) to be very significant. For not only the Prophet’s statements are\naway from any carnal desires and is related to the origin of Revelation\naccording to the holy Quran2, but also, His actions show the true way of life3.\nThroughout his life, specific events happened that were of great importance, of\nthose one is known as Ghadir, held in a location called Ghadir Khumm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The event of Ghadir\nconsists of several aspects that give it a brighter value than the rest of the\nevents. The references for the actual event,\nthe large number of narrators, and the Islamic scholars that witnessed and\nreassured of the event all prove Ghadir to be one of the very few events in\nIslam to have such strong base in belief. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
While looking at narrators of Hadith of Ghadir, we will see\nProphet Muhammad’s (PBUH&HP) progeny as the first narrators. They are Imam Ali (PBUH), Fatima Al-Zahra\n(PBUH), Imam Hassan (PBUH) and Imam Hussain (PBUH). Furthermore one hundred and\nten companions (Sahabi)4 of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&HP) narrated this\nsaying, such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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 11-Umme Salame 12-Abdollah ibn-Omar ibn-Khattab 13-Abouhorayre 14-Zeid ibn-Argham<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The interesting point is that all of these companions were\npresent when the event took place, therefore, they have narrated the saying\ndirectly. Of the others who have narrated the Hadith of Ghadir, were 83 people\nfrom Tabe’in5. Some of them are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1-Asbagh ibn-Nobate 2- Salim ibn-Abdollah ibn-Omar\nibn-Khattab 3- Sa’eed ibn-Jobeir 4- Soleim ibn-Gheis 5- Omar ibn-Abdolaziz (the\nUmayyad caliph) .<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After Tabe’in, Sunni scholars from second up to the\nthirteenth century (which were 360( have narrated the Hadith; three of the\nSunni Sahih authors (from the six6)and two of their jurisprudence leaders7 are\namongst those8. The precise number of Shia scholars who have narrated this\nsaying is not known, however, some of the most popular ones are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1-Sheikh Kulayni\n2-Sheikh Sadooq 3-Sheikh Mufid, and 4- Sayyed Mortada 9.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hence, among Sunni scholars and their focus on the\nauthenticity of the narration shows that a great number of scholars observe it\nas a “Hassan” Hadith10, 11, while some Sunni scholars believe the\nnarration as a “Sahih”12 saying, 13 and some other think of it as a Mutawatir14 (Frequent)\nsaying15. All of Shia scholars believe the saying of Ghadir is a Mutawatir\nnarration.16, 17<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consequently, one of\nthe most important historical events of Islam among all Muslims as a definite\nphenomenon is indeed the event of Ghadir Khumm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The descent of two\nverses of the holy Quran – (6:67)18 and (6:3)19 about the event of Ghadir has\nincreased its importance and has made it eternal. These two verses have been\ninterpreted by famous Shia and Sunni commentators, for the event of Ghadir.20,\n21 Comparing the content and expression of these two verses with the other\nverses of the Holy Quran, we can conclude that the manner in which these two\nverses are presented are unique amongst if not all, but most of the other\nverses in the Holy Quran. While reciting\nthe holy Quran, each Muslim might wonder deeply about these verses and ask\nhimself these questions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
– What is this important matter that Allah (SWT) has\npromised to keep His Messenger safe upon preaching this message?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
– What is this important matter that if preached, brings\nabout the completion of the blessings upon the people, perfection of the\nreligion?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
– What is this important matter that if the messenger of\nAllah (PBUH&HP) did not preach this message, His 23 year mission of His\nprophet hood would become null and he would not have accomplished His mission? Thus the day will be obviously; the day in\nwhich upon the revelation of this verse and the preaching of such an important\nmessage, will be a day to complete religion, please Allah, and hold as a very\nimportant event amongst Muslims.22<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to what has been stated above, it can be concluded\nthat in addition to the historians who as of their profession have a close\nattention to event of Ghadir23, also the scholars of Hadith consider it as a\nconsiderable and important Hadith.24 For being a scholar of Hadith, one should\nspecify the authenticity of Hadith and contemplate the concepts of it.\nTherefore Ghadir as a definite and frequent Hadith has been specially posed in\ndifferent books of Hadith. After the revelation of two verses about this event\nwhich suggests a unique concept and has an outstanding expression among other\nverses, Ghadir has become the issue of many discussions in the interpretation\nbooks25. Relying on the concepts of\nthese verses and the great religious effects they convey, Mutikallemin\n(theologians) have especially considered this event 26. Even linguists have\npaid special attention to this important event while expressing the meaning of\n“Ghadir”, which refers to a location27. During the 14 centuries,\nIslamic literature and Muslim poets have described this great event in their\nworks and poems until present.28<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thus far the importance of the event of Ghadir has been\nstated in this article. In the next\nsection of this article we would like to study this great Islamic event and\nthis era of the Prophet’s (PBUH&HP) life to briefly investigate the various\naspects of Ghadir. First we will give an\noverview of what has happened on the day of Ghadir accepted amongst majority of\nMuslims, then a content of the narration of Ghadir in details, and finally show\nthe results of this great event that should be considered by all Muslims. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Event of Ghadir<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the year 10 A.H, the great Prophet (PBUH&HP) was\nordered by the Almighty Allah to make a pilgrimage to Mecca to perform Hajj.\nThus it was necessary to inform all the people of this pilgrimage29, even some\nmessengers were sent to different regions to inform the people. The messengers sent by the Prophet\n(PBUH&HP) told people that it is the last pilgrimage of the Prophet\n(PBUH&HP), and it is a very important journey. They added that anyone who\ncan afford to come should accompany the Prophet (PBUH&HP) in this\njourney. Though the great Prophet\n(PBUH&HP) had in the former years performed the rituals of Umra Mofrade\nwith the accompaniment of some of His companions30, this time according to\ndivine will, He decided to perform and teach people the rituals of Hajj for the\nfirst and last time. When people became\naware of this journey, a large crowd gathered in Medina to accompany the\nProphet (PBUH&HP) in performing Hajj. Historians and scholars name this\njourney as Hajjah al-Wida31, Hajjah al-Islam, Hajjah al-Balagh32, Hajjah\nal-Kamal, and Hajjah al-Tamam33.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On Saturday the 24th or 25th of Zi al-Qa’deh, the great\nProphet (PBUH&HP) left Medina for Mecca to perform the rituals of Hajj. The\nProphet’s family (Ahl al-Bayt) (PBUT), most emigrants (Mohajir) and Helpers (Ansar)\nall accompanied the Prophet (PBUH&HP) on this pilgrimage. Records show that\n70,000 to 120,000, or even more left medina to go to Mecca for Hajj34. Others\njoined the Prophet (PBUH&HP) from various cities and even residents of\nMecca were waiting for the Prophet’s (PBUH&HP) arrival. Before the Prophet’s (PBUH&HP) decision\nto perform Hajj, he had sent Imam Ali (PBUH) to Yemen to propagate Islam and\nteach the divine teachings of Islam. When Imam Ali (PBUH) became aware of the\nnecessity for accompanying the Muslims in Hajj, he left Yemen with a group of\npeople to join the Prophet (PBUH&HP) just in time for the start of the\nrituals.35<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The messenger of Allah (PBUH&HP) started the rituals of\nHajj in a mosque named Shajareh. Though\nprior to this trip, the Prophet (PBUH&HP) had explained the practices of\nHajj literally, now was the opportunity to teach the rituals in action. Also in\ndifferent stages the Prophet (PBUH&HP) preached people and informed them of\nthe other divine orders.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once the rituals for Hajj were all performed, the Prophet\n(PBUH&HP) along with a large number of companions left Mecca. On the way to\nMedina they reached a region known as Ghadir Khumm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ghadir is a watershed and Khumm means pool36. Ghadir Khumm is\nthe name of a pond that forms because of rain. \nGhadir is 3-4 kilometers away from Johfeh and Johfeh is 64 kilometers\naway from Mecca. Johfeh is a center in which people of Egypt, Medina, Iraq and\nDamascus begin the path toward their own cities37. Ghadir Khumm was a place for pilgrims to rest\na short while with the trees and water, but the weather was extremely hot and\nthey wouldn’t stay long.38<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On Thursday, 18th of Zi al-Hajjah (10 March 632), the Prophet\n(PBUH&HP) arrived at Ghadir Khumm. Before the inhabitants of Damascus,\nIraq, and Egypt were separated from the caravan, Gabriel descended this verse\nupon the Prophet (PBUH&HP): “O Messenger! Deliver what bas been\nrevealed to you from your Lord; and if you do it not, then you have not\ndelivered His message, and Allah will protect you from the people”.39This\nverse commanded the Prophet (PBUH&HP) to preach what had previously\nrevealed regarding Ali (PBUH). The Prophet (PBUH&HP) commanded the caravan\nto stop at that location and for those who have gone ahead to return to Ghadir\nKhumm, while those who had not reached the Prophet (PBUH&HP) to move faster\ntowards Ghadir Khumm40. Then He ordered for some of His followers to prepare a\nspace below some of the old trees and remove the thorns and rough stones from\nthat place. At noon, the Prophet (PBUH&HP) performed the prayer with a\ngreat population of Muslims at that area in the terrible hot weather41,\n42. The burning hot weather forced\npeople to place part of their garment on their heads and some under their feet\nto protect it from the burning stones on the ground.43 They also put a piece of cloth on the\nbranches of the old trees to make a barrier for the Prophet (PBUH&HP)\nagainst the hot sunshine. When the prayer was finished, there was a pulpit\nprepared from the camel saddles, in which the Prophet (PBUH&HP) ascended to give his famous\nsermon. To make sure all the people\nheard what the prophet said, some of the followers repeated the Prophet’s\n(PBUH&HP) sermon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A part of the sermon is stated below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n“Thanks and praise is exclusively for Allah and we seek help from Him,\nhave faith in Him, and seek protection to Him from our desires and wrong\ndoings. The Lord in which if misleads\npeople, no one will be able to lead, and whom if leads, no one can mislead. I profess that other than God, no other is\nworshipped and Muhammad is the slave and the messenger of Him. O People, the\nmerciful and the aware Lord informed me that I too will be called (toward\nAllah) and I will respond (His invitation) 44. \nI will be responsible and you too will be responsible. So what would you\nsay (regarding my invitation and responsibility)?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Those present answered, “We witness that you\ncommunicated your prophet hood, worked hard, and warned us. We wish that Allah\nwill give good reward to you.”45<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The prophet said, “Do you not witness that there is no\nworthy of worship but Allah, and Muhammad (PBUH&HP) is His servant and\nMessenger? (And do you not witness that)\nthe heaven and hell of Allah is true, death is true, the day of Judgment will\narrive without doubt, and (that) Allah will raise those who are in the graves?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The audience said, “Yes, O Messenger of Allah, we\nwitness.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Prophet (PBUH&HP) then continued and asked the\npeople, “Do you hear my speech?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The audience replied, “Yes, O Messenger of Allah”46.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then the Prophet (PBUH&HP) said: “I will attend the\nPond (of Kawthar) before you and you will meet me beside there. The width of this pool is from Bosra (a city\nnear Damascus) to San’a (a city in Yemen). Within, there are silver cups as\nmuch as the stars in the sky. So see how\nyou will treat Thaqalain (Two weighty things) after me.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At that time, someone said:” O, Prophet! What do you\nmean by Thaqalain?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&HP) said:” The greater weight\nis the Book of Allah (holy Quran). A part of it is in the hand of Allah and the\nother part is in your hands. If you hold\non to it (and use its guidance) you will not deviate. The other weight and smaller is my progeny.\nThe All-Aware Subtle Allah informed me that these two weights will not separate\nuntil they meet me by the Pond of Kawthar, 47 and I wished this from Allah. So\ndon’t exceed from these two for you will perish and do not fall behind from these\ntwo for you will perish.”48<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&HP) raised Imam Ali’s (PBUH)\nhands so that all people could see him beside Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&HP)\n49. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&HP) asked the people: “O People, Aren’t I\nprior and superior to you than yourselves?”50, 51<\/p>\n\n\n\n
People replied :”Yes, O Messenger of Allah!” 52<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&HP) continued:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“O People! Surely\nAllah is my Master, and I am the Master of all believers.”53<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then he said:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“He of whom I am the\nMaster (Mawla), of him Ali is the Master (Mawla)”.54<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He repeated this sentence 3 times55.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then he said:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“O God! be the friend\nof him who is his friend and be enemy of him who is<\/p>\n\n\n\n
enemy to him.56Help those who help him.Forsake those who\nforsake him57″.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then the Prophet (PBUH&HP) addressed the people:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
” O people! Tell this\nmessage to those who are not present.”58<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before the crowd scattered, Gabriel descended again and\nrevealed this verse:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Today I have\nperfected your religion and completed my bounty upon<\/p>\n\n\n\n
you, and I was satisfied that Islam be your religion.”59<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&HP) then said:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Allah is the great,\nupon the accomplishment of the religion, completion of<\/p>\n\n\n\n
the blessings,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
and satisfaction with my prophet hood and Ali’s (PBUH)\nwilayat.”60<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After that, people congratulated Imam Ali (PBUH). Abubakr and\nUmar were of those who congratulated him before the other companions. Umar\nrepeatedly told Imam Ali (PBUH): “Well done Ibn Abitaleb. You have become\nMaster of me and every believing man and woman.”61<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then, Hassan Ibn Thabit, the famous poet, asked permission\nfrom Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&HP) to say a poem about what he had heard from\nHim about Imam Ali (PBUH). Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&HP) said: “Say with\nthe blessings of Allah!” Hassan addressed the magnates of Quraish:\n“You, the magnates of Quraish! Listen to my speech, certified by Prophet\nMuhammad (PBUH&HP)”, then said:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“On the day of Ghadir, their Prophet announced loudly\nin Ghadir which is in Khumm, to which I wish all people had been there and seen\nhim saying that: “Aren’t I your master?” People answered him without glossing over:\n“Allah and you are our master.” And if you had been there, you\ncouldn’t have found anyone disagreeing. Then He told Ali (PBUH): “Stand\nup; for I found you worthy of being the people’s Imam and guide after myself\n(by the command of Allah).”62, 63<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What has been stated in this section was a brief narration of\nGhadir. The number references give more information on its Sunni and Shia\ncommentators. In the following section, we will have a detailed study of the\nGhadir narration.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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 is related to the origin of Revelation according to the holy Quran2, but also, His actions show the true way of life3. Throughout his life, specific events […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28246],"tags":[17745,17891,17893,17892,17762,17890,17889],"class_list":["post-3829","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-beliefs","tag-beliefs","tag-ghadir","tag-imam-hassan","tag-imam-hussain","tag-imamate","tag-life","tag-the-event-of-ghadir-and-its-importance"],"yoast_head":"\n