After performing the last Hajj, the Noble
Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) was returning on way to Madinah when the Ayah 67
of Surah al-Ma’idah was revealed saying, “O Messenger, proclaim what is
revealed to you from your Lord. If you did not do so, it will be as though you
have not conveyed His Message. Allah protects you from men. He does not guide
the unbelieving people.” The tone of the Wahey was very stern. The
Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) directed to congregate the Muslims saying, “Hayya
Ala Khairul Amal” meaning “Hasten to the best act” and asked to call
back the forward ones and wait for the people coming behind them. The
place was Ghadeer Khumm, it was a thorny area which was cleaned and a pulpit
(minbur) of the seats of camels was hurriedly erected.
Guidance is a constant need of humanity which
requires a guide. Did he (s.a.w.a.s.) think and provided a possible guide to
the Muslims after his demise? There are three possibilities; he did not provide
a guide, he left it to the Muslims to appoint one, and he did provide.
Allah graced the Muslims with Islam and the
Glorious Qur’an; it is unthinkable that He (s.w.t.) did not provide a guide
through His Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.). It should be noted that there were
hypocrites in Madinah! In fact, he (s.a.w.a.s.) asked for paper and pen on the
deathbed to write about future guidance.
The other alternative was Shura for which he
(s.a.w.a.s.) never prepared the people. In fact, it was neglected by the first
caliph and he nominated the second caliph. Even the second caliph admitted that
it was a ‘slip’. The second caliph appointed a 6-member committee with a
strange directive to kill those who disagreed with the majority which is not
supported by either the Glorious Qur'an or the Sunnah of the great Messenger
(s.a.w.a.s.)
The last alternative was the appointment by
Allah (s.w.t.) as directed by His Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.). When Ayah 214 of Surah
Shu’ara was revealed saying, “Warn your close relatives.”, a “Dawat” or
feast was arranged by Hazrat Abu Talib (a.s.). It is known
as “Dawat-al-Zul'asheerah”. After the feast, the Noble Messenger
(s.a.w.a.s) inquired as to who will assist him in his mission, Imam Ali, who
was 11 or 13 years of age, stood up and offered his services three times but no
one else responded. The Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) said, “whoever will
assist me will be my brother, my successor and my caliph among you.”
Going back to Ghadeer Khumm, when all Hujjaj totaling more than 120,000 assembled in the burning heat of
the desert , the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s) gave a detailed and long sermon (3
hours long) about Islam ,his efforts and the virtues of Imam Ali (a.s.). In
that sermon, he narrated 110 virtues of Imam Ali (a.s.) which is also the
number of the name “Ali” according to the science of Abjad (An
Occult science of numbers; Ain 70+Laam 30+ Ye 10). Then, he
(s.a.w.a.s.) asked the mammoth crowd, “Do I not have more right over the
believers than they have over themselves?” Everyone cried, “Yes, O Messenger of
God.” At that moment he (s.a.w.a.s) raised Imam Ali (a.s.) and said, “Whoever’s
I am Mawla, Ali is also his Mawla.” Ayah 3 of Surah al-Ma’idah was revealed
saying, “…. Today, the unbelievers have lost hope about your religion. Do not
be afraid of them but have fear of me. On this day I have perfected your
religion, completed My favors to you, and have chosen Islam as your religion.”
The Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) ordered
every Muslim to pay allegiance to Imam Ali (a.s.) and the Muslims responded.
This event of Ghadeer is reported in numerous
Shi’a and Sunni books. Some of them interpreted the word “Mawla” as
friend. Allah was threatening His beloved Prophet that if he did not proclaim
this message, it will be construed as he did not convey His entire message, and
that Allah will protect him from people. Was that only to say that Imam Ali was
their friend? In the hot desert, people were sweating, and he (s.a.w.a.s.)
delivered a long comprehensive sermon just to say that Imam Ali (a.s.) was the
friend of the Muslims. Was Imam Ali not friendly to everyone, rich and poor?
Similarly, Ayah 67 of Surah al-Ma’idah says,”
proclaim what is revealed to you.” Normally, the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.)
would narrate the Wahey immediately when received. It appears that this
Wahey was received earlier but he (s.a.w.a.s.) was reluctant fearing the
backlash from the hypocrites and the non-believers. That is the reason Allah
guaranteed His Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) protection from men.
The auspicious occasion of Eid-e-Ghadeer was
the confirmation of his Wilayat on “Dawat-al-Zulasheerah” as mentioned
above. Wilayat of Imam Ali (a.s.) was also affirmed in Hadees-e-Qudsi”
(The words of Allah (s.w.t.) addressed to His Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) which is
not the Glorious Qur’an). It says:
“The Wilayat (loving and following) of Ali
ibn Abi Talib is My fortress, and one who enters My fortress is safe from My
Wrath.” (Al-Sadouq, Oyoon Akhbar al-Rida volume 1 page 146)
Sources: The Glorious Qur’an,
Tafsir-e-Namoona by Ayatollah Nasir Makarem Shirazi, Shi’ism, Imamate and
Wilayat by Sayyid Muhammad Rizvi, al-islam.org/ghadeer/incident.htm
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