If there was one event which definitely proves the status of Ahlul Bayt (as) and the Wilayat and leadership of Imam Ali (as) after the Prophet (saw) it would be Ghadir Khum. This event is one of the most well known and most referenced in both Sunni and Shi‘i sources. It is an event in which every Muslim should be familiar with because of its importance to Islam and the Messenger of Allah (swt).
Ten years after the Migration (hijrah), the Holy Prophet ordered his close companions to call upon all the people to join him on his last pilgrimage to Hajj. This is when he taught the Ummah how to perform the pilgrimage in the correct way. On the way to Mecca, the Prophet had with him more than 70,000 people. By the fourth day of travel, over 100,000 people were with the prophet. The date of this event was the 18th of Dhu’l-Hijjah of the year 10 AH. After completing his last pilgrimage (Hajjatul-Wada’), the Holy Prophet was heading toward Medina with all of the people with him. On the way there, the Prophet and the crowd reached an area called Ghadir Khum. It was in this place that the following Qur‘an verse revealed:
“O Apostle! Deliver what has been sent down to you from your Lord; and if you don’t do it, you have not delivered His message (at all); and Allah (swt) will protect you from the people …” (Holy Qur’an 5:67)After receiving the verse, the Holy Prophet (saw) ordered his companion Salman to build a minbar for him out of rocks and camel toolings. The Holy Prophet spent a couple of hours on some of his last sermons. One very well-known hadith was mentioned at Ghadir Khum as well as other occasions including At `Arafat, Mosque of Madinah, and the Prophet’s Chamber During His Last Illness. The hadith is known as “Tradition of the Two Weighty Things” (Hadith al-Thaqalayn).
The Messenger of Allah (saw) declared:
“It seems the time approached when I shall be called away (by Allah (swt) and I shall answer that call. I am leaving for you two precious things and if you adhere to them both,you will never go astray after me. They are the Book of Allah (swt) and my Progeny, that is my Ahlul Bayt. The two shall never separate from each other until they come to me by the Pool (of Paradise).”
Then the Messenger of Allah (swt) continued:
“Do I not have more right over the believers than what they have over themselves?”
People cried and answered:”Yes, O’ Messenger of God.
“Then followed the key sentence denoting the clear designation of ‘Ali as the leader of the Muslim ummah.
The Prophet (saw) held up the hand of ‘Ali and said:
“For whoever I am his Leader (mawla), ‘Ali is his Leader (mawla).
“The Prophet (saw) continued:”O’ God, love those who love him, and be hostile to those who are hostile to him.”
Immediately after the Prophet (saw) finished his speech, the following verse of the Qur’an wasrevealed:
“Today I have perfected your religion and completed my favour upon you, and I was satisfied that Islam be your religion.” (Holy Qur’an 5:3)
Read more, including sources to these hadeeths at www.scribd.com/doc/100116706/Shia-Islam-Misunderstood
For the Iraqi national team players previously involved in the mourning of Imam Hussein, grandson of the Prophet Muhammad Arbaeen anniversary
Imam Ali (s) says,
“A faithful one is truthful in the worldly life, with an insightful heart. He keeps to the (moral) limits. He is a vessel of knowledge, with perfect thinking. He is generous, good-hearted, patient, and openhanded. He spends liberally. He is charitable, honey-tongued, and smiling. He ponders much, sleeps little, and laughs little. He is with good manners, free from greediness, and away from fancy. He is ascetic in this life. He looks forward to the afterlife. He likes guests. He is merciful to the orphans. He is kind to the young. He has regard for the old. He helps the needy, visits the sick, and escorts the dead. He respects the holiness of the Qur’an, prays to the Lord, cries for sins, enjoins right, forbids wrong, eats little, drinks little, moves with politeness, speaks with advice, and preaches kindly. He does not fear any except Allah and expects no one save Him. He is busy in thanking and praising Allah. He is neither negligent nor is he proud. He is not proud of the properties of the worldly life. He is busy thinking of his own defects away from the defects of others. Prayer is the delight of his eyes. Fasting is his job and occupation. Truthfulness is his habit. Gratefulness is his ship. Reason is his captain. Piety is his food. The worldly life is his prison. Patience is his home. The night and day are his capital. Paradise is his abode. The Qur’an is his speech. Muhammad is his intercessor and Allah the Almighty is his entertainer.”
- Jami‘ al-Akhbar, p.215.
