♥♥♥The Glorious Day of Ghadeer-Khom♥♥♥ Heartiest congratulations to our all, from the depth of our hearts, on the occasion of a very great day that ensured continuation of divine guidance for human societies. Today is the 18 of Zil-Hijja, the day on which the Last and Greatest Messenger of God, Prophet Mohammad (SAWA), on the express commandment of the Almighty Creator, proclaimed Imam Ali (AS) his vicegerent, towards the end of his mission on Earth. The day is consequently celebrated as Eid Ghadeer-Khom in reference to the place on which this historically significant event occurred, exactly 1424 lunar years ago. Now we have an exclusive feature in this regard as follows: The event of Ghadeer did not spontaneously occur while the Prophet was returning to Medina after performing his Farewell Hajj pilgrimage. As a matter of fact, throughout his 23-year mission, right from the day known as the Invitation of Dhu’l-Ashira, when the Prophet made the first public announcement of his mission as the Last Messenger with the universal creed of Islam, the issue of succession to him figured as an important matter. He had declared on that day to the Arabs steeped in polytheism and fratricide that God is One and the person who will support him in his mission to spread Islam will be his vicegerent. But none of the stupefied Arabs accepted the words of the person whom they had known for years as Sadeq or Truthful and Amin and Trustworthy, except a young lad of ten years. And the Prophet, according to all books of hadith and history, including those of authoritative Sunni scholars, had said: O Ali: You are my legatee and caliph. In the next 23 years, at every turn, the Prophet’s cousin had risked his life and limb to stand steadfast as the firm defender of God’s Messenger and the Message of Islam. The Prophet for his part had said on many an occasion hinted to his companions about the prime position of Imam Ali (AS), saying: “Ali is from me and I am from Ali” , and “Ali’s relation to me is that of Aaron to Moses, except that there is no Prophet after me.” Thus, in view of these facts, the proclamation at Ghadeer on this day in 10 AH, before a huge gathering of 120,000 Muslims, was the formal declaration of Imam Ali (AS) as the vicegerent, on the commandment of God, following revelation of ayah 67 of Surah Ma’edah, which reads: O Messenger! Convey that which has been sent down to you from your Lord, and if you do not, you will not have conveyed His message, and Allah shall protect you from the people. Indeed Allah does not guide the faithless lot. The Prophet promptly halted the caravan at the Pond or Ghadeer in the wilderness of Khom near Juhfa, and called on all those, whether those who had gone ahead or those who had lagged behind to assemble at this place. Here on the 18 of Zilhijja at noon under the midday sun, he mounted a makeshift pulpit of camel saddles, and delivered a memorable sermon, in which he again emphasized the famous Hadith Thaqalayn, which he had said on several occasions, the last time, a week earlier on the 9 of Zilhijja at the Plain of Arafaat during the Hajj rituals, as part of his famous sermon from Jabal ar-Rahma or Mount Mercy. He said in explicit words: “I am leaving behind among you the Two Preciously Weighty Things; the Book of God (i.e. the holy Qur’an) and my progeny, the Ahl al- Bayt. Hold fast to them and you will not go astray, because the two will never part with each other, even when they return to me (on the Day of Resurrection) at the Fountain (of Kowthar).” In his sermon on the Day of Ghadeer, the Prophet then asked the huge gathering whether he is superior to the Muslims than their own selves. The reply was in the affirmative, and then he lifted Imam Ali (AS) and declared the phrase that has become immortal as the keys of Wilaya or divine guidance: “Man kunto Mowla fa haza Aliyun Mowla.” It means “For whomsoever I am Master, this Ali is his Master.” The Prophet also made it clear that so vital is the issue of God-oriented leadership of mankind that the Almighty will befriend those who are the friends of Ali, and is displeased with those who are his enemies. Then he asked the huge gathering of 120,000 Muslims to swear allegiance, and all did by acknowledging Imam Ali (AS) as his successor. Even women in this huge gathering paid their allegiance by dipping their hands in a basin of water, after the Imam had first dipped his hands. All these events are indicative of the importance of Wilaya in Islam as well as the rights of both men and women. Since Prophet Mohammad (SAWA) is the Seal of Messengers, Divine Providence made the necessary preparations to continue guidance after him through Imamate, with the formal declaration of the Wilaya or God-given absolute authority of Imam Ali (AS). For this reason, following the Prophet’s proclamation of his cousin and son-in-law as vicegerent, God Almighty sent Archangel Gabriel with another revelation, that is, ayah 3 of Surah Ma’edah, which says: “Today I have perfected your religion for you, and I have completed My blessing upon you, and I have approved Islam as your religion.” It is interesting to note that the glorious event of Ghadeer has been mentioned in the authoritative works of all scholars and historians, whether Sunni or Shi’ite Muslims. Exegetes of the holy Qur’an have explained it in their works. It has been eulogized by poets in every age and era, and recorded by the philologists of Arabic literature. Over 300 companions of the Prophet have testified to the occurrence of this event. This grand event of Ghadeer is a firm testimony to the prime position of Imam Ali (AS) after the Prophet as the most competent person in the sight of God. Among the messages of Ghadeer is emphasis on piety, honesty, and justice as the traits that the divinely-decreed leaders should possess. It inspires Muslims in subsequent to aspire for such qualities, and also to firmly oppose oppressive regimes who trample the rights of people. According to the Father of the Islamic Revolution, Imam Khomeini (RA), it is on the basis of Ghadeer that the relationship between the leader and people has been clarified, and according to which the government ought to fulfill its duties properly towards the society. The Late Imam, as a true servant of the Ahl al-Bayt also said that it was Imam Ali (AS) as the epitome of piety, justice, and valour, who established the model government of social justice in history. Hence, it is vital to keep alive in society the message and values of Ghadeer, which is undoubtedly the greatest ever Eid for Muslims, as the Prophet had said. It also means that it is incumbent on truly Islamic officials to study the government of justice of Imam Ali (AS) in order to better govern and cater to the needs of the people. Here it will not be out of context to cite a hadith mentioned by the famous Sunni exegete and historian, Abu Ja’far Tabari, who quotes Prophet Mohammad (SAWA) as saying: On the Day of Resurrection when God gathers all people, no one will be able cross the Sirat unless he believes in the Wilaya of Ali ibn Abi Taleb (AS).
Posted on: Thu, 24 Oct 2013 11:26:54 +0000
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