GHADEER-E-KHUM

(In short form)

WHERE THE RELIGION OF ISLAM WAS BROUGHT TO PERFECTION

Holy Prophet of Islam, Hazrat Mohammad^saw, a few months before being martyred, went to Mecca, with his companions, to perform the first and the last ‘Hajj’ during the last Islamic month (ZilHajj) in 10 Hijra (1410 AD). The Prophet^saw also sent a general invitation to all Muslims to take part in the pilgrimage ceremonies, in response to the invitation, more than 120,000 Muslim from different parts of the world rushed to Mecca so as to accompany the Prophet^saw  and learn the Hajj rituals. Upon completion of the Hajj, all caravans, set-off, to follow the Prophet^saw , who was heading towards Madina. The sound of the camel bells had filled the desert. The weather was hot and desert was scalding. Prior to reaching the major intersection called ‘Ghadeer-e-Khum’, from where various groups would take branch roads leading to their hometowns, Allah^swt 's angel of revelation descended and brought the Prophet^saw this message:

[Chapter 5, The Table, Verse No. 67]

At that very spot, the Prophet^saw dismounted to carry out the Divine command. He called to a group of Muslims and told them to tell all the caravans that had advanced to come back, and to tell those that hadn't yet arrived to hurry up. The men of the caravans pulled the bridles of their camels resulting in the sudden relieve from noise of ringing of the bells. One by one they asked, ‘Why must we stop? What has happened? Why must we stop in this vaporising heat? Why return?’ The riders were told that the Prophet^saw had commanded them to return and meet him at the side of the pool-called Ghadir. Those who were ahead returned and joined those who were left behind; as a result over 124,000 Hajji’s 2gathered at the pool of Ghadir on the 18th Zil-Hajjah, Prophet^saw asked Bilal to recite the Azan and added the words "Hayya Ala Khairil Amal" (hasten towards the best of deeds) to it. When the Azan was over the Prophet^saw led the noon prayers. Then, they were asked to build a stage of camel saddles and their own luggage. People were silent but anxious, waiting to hear the Prophet^saw’s message, and what it entails for them. Holy Prophet^saw ascended on to the pulpit and after an eloquent speech, he saw asked them in a loud and heavenly tone: O my nation! I am going to be recalled shortly and I must comply with my Divine Commandments. I will be questioned and so will you be. What will be your reply?" All of them answered: "We shall bear witness that you did convey to us the message of Allah^swt, and tried your best to guide us on the right path and always gave us good council. May Allah^swt bless you with the best reward." The Prophet^saw proceeded: "Why do you not bear witness that there is no God but Allah^swt and that Muhammad^saw is His slave and Messenger, and that Paradise and Hell fire are true, Death and Resurrection will meet you, the Day of Judgment will, doubtlessly, come and that Allah^swt will resurrect you from your graves!’ They said: ‘O Yes! We bear witness to all of these.’ Then Prophetsaw said: "O Allah! You may also witness." Then he said: 'O my followers! Allah^swt is my ‘Mawla’ (master) and I am mawla of the faithful and I have total authority and control over your lives. And this Alias is the ‘Mawla’ of all those to whom I am ‘Mawla’. O Allah! Love him who loves Alias and hate him who holds animosity against Alias." Prophetsaw further said: "O my people! I will precede you and you will also arrive at the pool of Kawthar, which is wider than the distance between Basra and San'a', and has as many goblets of silver as stars. When you shall reach me I shall interrogate you about your behaviour towards the two invaluable assets after my death: One is the Book of Allah (the most Mighty and the most Glorious) one end of which is in the hand of Allahsaw, the most Exalted. Grasp its other end tightly and do not go astray and never try to change or amend it. The second asset is my Progeny, who are my AhlulBayta.

Allah^swt the most Gracious and the most Omniscient has informed me that the two will not part from each other until they reach me at the pool. Then the Prophetsaw descended from the saddle pulpit, wiped the sweat from his forehead, took a deep breath, after reviewing the situation, he asked all around him ‘to go and take an oath of allegiance to my brother and my successor, and to congratulate him on his Divine appointment. He is `Imam' and Amir-ul-Muminin<sup>a.s</sup>. The Muslims came forward in groups and took the Divine hand of `Ali ibn Abi Talib^a.s and congratulated him for his position as "leader of the true believers" and called him `Amir u l-Momineen^as. Allahswt appointed Ali ibn Abi-Talib^as as the Prophet^saw‘s immediate successor and Divine Imam on the 18th of Zil-Hajjah at Ghadeer-e-Khum. Thus, Allah^swt’s Divine guidance would emanate from Imamate, after Prophet-hood, as an integral and eternal Divine source of guidance, which makes the religion of Islam perfect for all, until the Day of Judgment:

With the announcement of Mola Alias ‘Wilat’, as a compulsory part of Islamic beliefs, devout companions of Prophetsaw (i.e., Abu Zarr Ghafarira and Salmanra), started reciting ‘Ali un Wali in both Azan and Aqamah, few hypocrites objected to their Azan and complaint to Rasool Allah^swt, but Prophet^saw ratified ‘Ali un Wali Allah’, as an obligatory part, and reminded them that the essence of Allah^swt’ message, which was announced in Ghadeer-e-Khum meant that Ali’s ‘Wilat’ is compulsory and should be immediately pronounced when Allah’s ‘Toheed’ and my ‘Resalat’ are declared. The era of Divine Imams^a.s (12 in total) started after the ‘Shahadat’ of Prophet^saw, under the leadership of Imam Ali ibn Abi-Talib^as with the obligation of three verdicts as: ‘La Ai La Ha Illallah, Mohammad ar Rasool Allah Ali un Wali-ullah’:

In addition to the above, a renowned tradition of Imam Jaffar-e-Saqiq^as:

“Whenever you recite ‘La Ai La Ha Illallah’ and ‘Mohammad ar Rasool Allah^as’ then you must immediately say ‘Ali Ameer Ul Momineen’ an absolutely clear and undeniable proof that we should all recite Ali un Wali ullah, with the intention of compulsory part, not only in Kalma, Aazaan and Aqamah, but also in Namaz (Tashahud). Every year, we celebrate the completion of ‘Islam’ on Eid-e-Gadeer, which was the last, and the most important ‘Naimat’10 of Allah^swt to the followers of Prophet Mohammad^saw, without which Rasool Allah^saw‘s all life’s services to Allah^swt‘s would not be accepted-whole Islam would be redundant-the rest of the beliefs and practices would have no meanings. We, Shian-e-Alias endorse ‘Alias’ as the first Imam^as (assisted by 11 Divine Imams^as) and the leader of Momineen and momenat-as ‘Qulay Aman’- as reflected through our beliefs, words and practices.

The significance of the declaration of Prophet^saw‘s successor at Ghadeer-e-Khum was as per Allah^swt’s Divine Principle to ensure the ‘Presence and Guidance’ of His ‘Representative’ either as a Prophet or Imam, in presence or in occultation’s, to guide and educate His creatures. As Hazrat Adam^swt was asked to appointed his son ‘Anooshas’ as his successor. Hazrat Anooshas appointed his son ‘Qainanas’, Hazrat Qainanas appointed his son ‘Mablailas’, Hazrat Mablailas appointed his son ‘Yadpayardas’. Hazrat Yadpayardas appointed his son ‘Khunokh or Idrisas’ as his heir, Hazrat Idrisas appointed ‘Mutawashaqas’, his son as his vicegerent, Hazrat Mutawashak^as appointed his son ‘Lunakas’, Hazrat Lunakas appointed his son ‘Noahas’, Hazrat Noahas appointed his son ‘Saamas’. Similarly, Hazrat Ibrahimas appointed his two sons ‘Ishaqas’ and ‘Ismailas’, Hazrat Ismailas appointed his son ‘Qaidar’as and Hazrat Ishaqas appointed his son ‘Yakubas’, Hazrat Yakubas appointed his son ‘Yusufas’, Hazrat Yusufas appointed his son ‘Yahudaas’, Hazrat Ayubas appointed ‘Homilas’, ‘Homilas’ appointed his son ‘Abadan^as’, Hazrat ‘Moosaas’ appointed his brother ‘Haroonas’ because he had no son and when Haroon died before Hazrat Moosa was asked to appoint ‘Yoosha Bin Noonas’. Hazrat Yooshaas appointed ‘Kalibas’, Hazrat Kalibas appointed his son ‘Yoosa Kosas’. Hazrat Illyasas appointed ‘Alyasaeas’. Hazrat Yasaeas appointed his son ‘Zul Kifleas’. Hazrat Shayaas appointed ‘Yashiaas’. Hazrat Dawood^as appointed his son ‘Suleman^as’, Hazrat ‘Issaas’ appointed ‘Shamoon^as’. And Prophet Mohammed^saw was asked to declare his brother and his son-in-law Hazrat Ali ibn Ibe Talib^as as his successor and also told the names of Imam Alias’s successors (form the bloodline of Ali^as & Syeda^sa). However, with all the clear Quranic Verses and traditions of Rasool Allah^saw, the greed for capturing the wealth and power, the greed to be called the Caliph of the Prophetsaw, taking the revenge for those who were killed by Alias, arranging huge cavalries and the lust for conquering cities overpowered them and made them selfish and turned them towards their old conditions-their pre Islamic Kufr.