It Matters Whom We Love & Follow: A Reflection on the Hadith of Ghadir

Introduction

In memory of Allāmah ʿAbd al-Ḥusayn al-Amīnī – the distinguished Shi’a scholar, jurist, and manuscript expert, and author of the monumental encyclopaedia Al-Ghadīr, we revisit one of the most significant traditions of Islam: the Hadith of Ghadir.

Al-Ghadīr, composed in eleven volumes, presents a scholarly defence of the immediate Imamate of Imam ʿAlī (peace be upon him) after the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him and his family), through evidence found within Sunni sources.

پیامبر اسلام (ص): مَنْ كُنْتُ مَوْلاَهُ فَعَلِيٌّ مَوْلاَهُ (بحار الأنوار، ج ۳۷، ص ۱۰۹)

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH): “Whoever I am his master (mawlā), then ʿAlī is his master (mawlā).”

This hadith reminds us that love and loyalty find their true meaning only when directed toward the righteous – and that whom we love and follow shapes who we become.

Educational Messages of the Hadith for teens and youth

1. Know Your Imam

Study the life, words, and values of Imam ʿAlī (as) to understand what true faith mean.

Practical Challenge: Read one ḥadīth or sermon from Nahj al-Balāghah each week and reflect on how it applies to your daily life.

2. Walk the Talk

Love for Imam ʿAlī (as) is not only expressed in words but proven through action and moral behaviour.

Practical Challenge: Choose one of Imam ʿAlī’s virtues such as honesty, humility, or justice, and consciously practise it in school or online interactions for one week.

3. Self-Reflection and Growth

Regularly assess how close your character and actions are to Imam ʿAlī’s example.

Practical Challenge: Keep a short weekly journal of your behaviour and identify one area where you can improve to align better with his teachings.

4. Choose Friends Wisely

Surround yourself with companions who also value Imam Ali’s characters such as justice, honesty, and respect.

Practical Challenge: Observe your close friends’ influence on your choices and make an effort to spend more time with those who inspire goodness.

5. Stand for Justice

Imam ʿAlī (as) never remained silent in the face of injustice; young people must learn to speak up with wisdom.

Practical Challenge: When you witness unfairness at school or online, act respectfully but courageously to support what is right.

Educational Messages of the Hadith for parents

1. Create Learning Opportunities

Provide your children with access to stories, lectures, and materials about Imam ʿAlī (as).

Practical Challenge: Read one short story from his life together as a family each week and discuss its lesson.

2. Be Living Examples

Children learn most from example; let your actions reflect Imam ʿAlī’s compassion, justice, and humility.

Practical Challenge: Choose one household habit (such as patience, fairness, or truthfulness) and consciously model it for your children.

3. Foster Spiritual Connection

Encourage love for Ahl al-Bayt (as) not through obligation, but through heartfelt understanding and daily remembrance as the basis for better behaviours and faithful life.

Practical Challenge: End each day with a short family prayer or reflection inspired by Imam ʿAlī’s words.

Educational Messages of the Hadith for Imams, Preachers, and Religious Scholars

1. Present Practical Role Models

Highlight Imam ʿAlī (as) as a living example of how to embody Islamic values in everyday life.

Practical Challenge: Dedicate one sermon each month to a practical aspect of his life e.g., justice in governance, empathy in leadership.

2. Promote Authentic Sources

Emphasise the use of reliable, scholarly references in teaching Islam, as Allāmah Amīnī passionately advocated.

Practical Challenge: Introduce Al-Ghadīr and similar credible works to your audiences and encourage structured study circles.

3. Connect Morality with Modern Challenges

Relate Imam ʿAlī’s principles to current social and ethical issues, showing their timeless relevance.

Practical Challenge: Prepare sermons linking his guidance to topics like digital ethics, fairness at work, or environmental care.

4. Inspire Through Personal Conduct

The preacher’s behaviour is often more persuasive than his words. Let your actions mirror Imam ʿAlī’s humility and courage.

Practical Challenge: Choose one personal trait (such as patience or sincerity) to consciously cultivate and demonstrate in your community work.