Ghadir, the most important Islamic Eid

18:26 - 2022/06/22

Ghadir is one of the greatest and most important Islamic Eids. On this day, the Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H.) appointed Imam Ali (P.B.U.H.) as his successor. Some believe that Ghadir is the Eid of only Shias (not of other Muslims), while this point of view is totally incorrect, due to many historical and narrative reasons and documents. For instance, the first person who introduced this day as an Eid was the Holy Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H.). Additionally, there are some narrations from the infallible Imams (P.B.U.them.) which prove that Ghadir is the most important Eid for all Muslims. Furthermore, some Sunni scholars have admitted that Ghadir is an Eid for all Muslims.

Ghadir, the most important Islamic Eid

Among all Islamic Eids, Ghadir has been the most important Eids of Muslims in the past.

Ghadir Eid is one of the Eids (celebrations) that the Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H.) and the infallible Imams (P.B.U.them) have specified and stated some deeds for that day. Some believe that Ghadir is the Eid of Shias and there is no evidence for it. Narrative and historical sources show that Ghadir Eid has not been the Eid of Shias or made by them, but the Eid of all Muslims in the past.

Some believe that Ghadir Eid is not an Eid and there is no evidence for it from the Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H.) and his companions, and Ghadir Eid is a doctrine that is common among Shias and has no historical or narrative documents.

Ghadir, the most important Islamic Eid

In response to this doubt, we say:

1- Ghadir Eid, like Fitr Eid and Ghorban Eid (Adha Eid), is one of the Islamic Eids, but it is one of the greatest Eids, and the first person who introduced this day as an Islamic Eid was the Prophet of Islam (P.B.U.H.) himself. The Holy Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H.), after appointing Ali-ibn-Abi Talib (P.B.U.H.) as his successor on the day of Ghadir, announced this Eid on the same day and held its ceremony, and sat in his tabernacle and with great happiness and joy welcomed the congratulations-speakers and said to them: "Congratulate me ... congratulate me, because God has assigned me to prophethood (Nabuwwat) and my family to Imamate." In another narration, it is narrated that the Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H.) said: “The day of Ghadir-e-Khum is the best Eid of my Ummah (nation), and it is the day that God Almighty commanded me to commemorate that day by appointing Ali-ibn-Abi Talib (P.B.U.H.) as the leader by whom my Ummah will be guided after me. It is the day when God perfected the religion on that day and completed the blessings, and chose Islam as a religion for the people.” [1] In this Hadith (narration), the Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H.), firstly: has declared Ghadir Day as an immortal Islamic Eid in line with other Islamic Eids; secondly: has considered Ghadir Eid absolutely as the best Islamic Eid.

2- After the demise of the Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H.), Amir-ul-mo’menin (Imam Ali) (P.B.U.H.) himself considered Ghadir Day as an Islamic Eid and delivered a long sermon in the year when Ghadir Day coincided with Jum’ah (Friday), and in the sermon, he said:” On this great day, God has gathered for you, the group of believers, two great Eids, which are consistent with each other, in order to complete His beneficence to you and to make you informed and aware of the way of guidance. Then Imam Ali (P.B.U.H.) invited the people to perform the ceremony of Eid and said: "May God have mercy on you, after the end of your gathering, return to the development (to get convenience) for your family (woman and children) and goodness with (religious) brothers and thanks to the divine blessings ... do beneficence to each other so that God may keep your love, friendship and sincerity, and give each other gifts as God has made your reward you on this day several times more than the past Eids or the future Eids, except in cases like this.[2]

3- There are also some narrations from the infallible Imams (P.B.U.them) that when some companions asked about the greatest Eid of Muslims, not only the Eid of Shias, they mentioned Ghadir as the most important Eid of Muslims. As Furat-ibne-Ahnaf says: Do Muslims have an Eid higher than Fitr Eid and Adha Eid and the day of Jum’ah (Friday) and the day of Arafa? The Imam said: "Yes! The highest, greatest and most honorable Eid is the days when God perfected the religion on that day, and revealed this verse to His Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H.): الْیوْمَ أَکمَلْتُ لَکمْ دینَکمْ وَ أَتْمَمْتُ عَلَیکمْ نِعْمَتی وَ رَضیتُ لَکمُ الْإِسْلامَ دیناً”[3]. [4] In another narration, Abd-ul-Rahman-ibne-Salim quotes from his father that he asked Imam Sadiq (P.B.U.H.): Do Muslims have any other Eids apart from the day of Jum’ah (Friday), Adha Eid and Fitr Eid? Imam Sadiq (P.B.U.H) said: Yes. The greater Eid! … and that is the day when the Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H) appointed Amir-al-mo’menin (P.B.U.H.) as caliphate and said: Whoever I am his Mola (master), Ali (P.B.U.H.) is his Mola (master).” [5]

4-Contrary to the fact that it is claimed that Ghadir Eid is attributed to Shia, it should be said that Ghadir Eid is not only dedicated to the Shia faith but also it has been the Eid for all Muslims, as Abu Raihan-e-Biruni, who was a Sunni, says:

“The day of Ghadir is one of the days that people of Islam have considered as one of the Eids.”. [6]

To sum up, it is concluded that Ghadir Eid has been one of the great Eids of Muslims throughout all of the history of Islam. The Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H.) and the infallible Imams (P.B.U.H.) have also expressed and specified some actions to commemorate such a day.

References:

[1]- al-Ghadir, Vol. 1, P. 283 [It’s original book in Arabic word]. ...یوم غدیر خم افضل أعیاد أمتی 

[2]- Mesbah-ul-Mutahajjed wa Selah-ul-Mota’abbed, vol. 2, p. 754 [It’s original book in Arabic word]. ...إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى جَمَعَ لَكُمْ مَعْشَرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فِي هَذَا الْيَوْمِ عِيدَيْنِ عَظِيمَيْنِ كَبِيرَيْن

[3]- the Holy Quran, Chapter Ma’edah, Verse 3.

[4]- al-Ghadir, vol. 1, p. 285 [It’s original book in Arabic word]

[5]- al-Moraje’at, p. 197 [It’s original book in Arabic word]

[6]- Biruni, Abu-Raihan, al-Athar-ul-Baghiyah, p. 334 [It’s original book in Arabic word]

Tags: 

Plain text

  • Allowed HTML tags: <a> <em> <strong> <span> <blockquote> <ul> <ol> <li> <dl> <dt> <dd> <br> <hr> <h1> <h2> <h3> <h4> <h5> <h6> <i> <b> <img> <del> <center> <p> <color> <dd> <style> <font> <u> <quote> <strike> <caption>
  • Web page addresses and e-mail addresses turn into links automatically.
  • Lines and paragraphs break automatically.
7 + 5 =
Solve this simple math problem and enter the result. E.g. for 1+3, enter 4.