AQEEDAH – Islamic Beliefs

Al-Ghadeer Eid: what is it?

Barzakh: between Death and D.o.J.

Eternity: is it limited?

Can you explain Imamiah

Muslims or not Muslims?

Ummi Prophet - does it mean that Prophet Muhammad (S) was illiterate?

Question: Eid al-Ghadeer

I have recently converted to Islam and I have a simple question. Please, could you please explain to me what is Eid al-Ghadeer?

Answer

Towards the end of his life Rasulollah (meaning the Messenger of Allah - Muhammad) (peace be upon him - PBUH) was ordered by Allah Almighty to publicly and ‘officially' appoint Imam Ali as his successor and to seek the Muslims allegiance for Ali (PBUH).

The ‘Ayah' or verse that instructs Rasulollah to do so is

O Apostle! Proclaim (the Message) which has been sent to you from your Lord. If you did not, you would not have fulfilled and proclaimed His Mission . And Allah will defend you from men (who mean mischief). The Holy Qur'an 5:67.

This noble Ayah came down on Rasulollah during his return from the hajj, on the 18^th Day of the month of Dhul-Hajjah, year 10 AH, i.e. only 70 days before his death. Many tens of thousands of Muslims have been on Hajj with Rasulollah that year. When the ayah was revealed upon Rasulollah (peace be upon him) he ordered those Muslims who were ahead of him to come back and waited for those were behind him to arrive at the area he was standing. Rasulollah and the tens of thousands of Muslims assembled in an area called Ghadeer Khum. It was at that area when Rasulollah conveyed the Message to the Muslims and said in his speech:

"Whomever I was his master, Ali is his master too. He is my Caliph (and successor) upon you after me.”

“O Lord support whoever supports Ali and oppose whoever opposes him."

Rasulollah (peace be upon him) then ordered all the Muslims to make Bay'ah or give allegiance to Imam Ali and address Ali as Ameer-ul-Mu'meneen which means Commander of the Faithful.

The title Ameer-ul-Mu'meneen was exclusively granted to Ali by Rasulollah on instructions from Allah Almighty.

All male Muslims made Bay'ah with Ali as Ameer-ul-Mu'meneen by shaking hands with him and congratulating him on this great honour, including Abu Bakr and Omar. Abu Bakr and Omar are famous for their well-known address to Imam Ali on this occasion when each of them said to Ameer-ul-Mu'meneen, Ali (PBUH):

“BAKHIN, BAKHIN, (Bravo, Well done) for you have become my Commander, and the Commander of every Muslim and Muslimah”.

The female Muslims were also ordered by Rasulollah (peace be upon him) to give this Bay'ah but instead of shaking hands with Ameer-ul-Mu'meneen, which would have been haram, each of the Muslim ladies immersed her hand in large vessel filled with water, into which Imam Ali had also dipped his hand on the other side of the vessel. This Bay'ah is an obligation, which the Muslim remains obliged to honour as long as s/he lives. "But stop them, for they must be asked.” The Holy Qur'an 37:24.

After the death of Rasulollah (peace be upon him), some Muslims did not observe or adhere to the Bay'ah that they had given to Ameer-ul-Mu'meneen and some did. Those who did adhere to the Bay'ah became known as the Shi'a, or Ja'fary, or Raafedhi . . .

Back to categories

Back to question list