Ghadir: The Greatest Turning Point in the Continuity of Islamic Guidance

Seyed Hashem Moosavi

Introduction

Among the celebrated Islamic festivals, three hold a special place: Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, and Eid al-Ghadir. Each of these occasions is deeply rooted in Islamic teachings and history, marked by significant events that have shaped the Muslim community’s identity. However, upon closer examination, Eid al-Ghadir stands out in both depth and impact. This article explores the reasons behind the superiority of Eid al-Ghadir over other Islamic celebrations and highlights the responsibilities of the Muslim ummah in relation to this momentous event.

• The Significance of the Event of Ghadir

1. The Official Declaration of the Prophet’s Successor

Undoubtedly, the most important factor that places Eid al-Ghadir at the pinnacle of Islamic festivities is the official proclamation of Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him) as the successor of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him and his family). This was not merely a recommendation to love and respect Ali; it was a public act of allegiance and the formal appointment of the Prophet’s heir and guardian for the Muslim nation.

At the time, Imam Ali was in the prime of his youth, yet he stood as a paragon of completeness and excellence. He had spent every stage of his life-from childhood to manhood-under the direct tutelage and guidance of the Prophet of Islam. He had become a man of unmatched virtues and divine gifts. The Prophet himself described him in these profound words: «إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى جَعَلَ لِأَخِي فَضَائِلَ لَا تُحْصَى‏ كَثْرَةً؛”Indeed, Allah the Exalted has granted my brother Ali virtues too numerous to be counted.^[1]”

In such a lofty spiritual and moral station, none but Ali was worthy to bear the mantle of leadership after the Messenger of God.

2. The Public Proclamation of Islam as the Complete and Eternal Faith

The event of Ghadir was marked by the revelation of a momentous verse from the Qur’an-verse 3 of Surah al-Ma’idah: «الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِي وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ الْإِسْلَامَ دِينًا؛ “This day I have perfected for you your religion, completed My favour upon you, and chosen Islam as your religion.”

This verse explicitly declares that with the appointment of Imam Ali (peace be upon him) as the guardian and leader of the Muslim community, the religion of Islam was perfected and the divine blessing fulfilled. Could there be any day more worthy of celebration than the one in which God Himself announces the completion of His religion?

Even if Eid al-Ghadir had no other merit, this single reason alone would suffice to prove its unparalleled greatness.

3. The Day of the Greatest Public Allegiance in Islamic History

At the plain of Ghadir Khumm, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family), under divine command, halted the thousands of pilgrims returning from his final Hajj and ordered them to remain in that desolate place for three days. There, he delivered a historic sermon and called upon the people to pledge their allegiance to Imam Ali (peace be upon him).

According to well-documented sources, over one hundred thousand Muslims-men and women from across the Islamic world-offered their hands in allegiance to Imam Ali.

Such a massive and direct pledge of loyalty is unmatched in the history of Islam. This act was not merely a personal endorsement of Imam Ali; it was a collective affirmation of the principle of Imamah and Wilayah-the spiritual and political guardianship-within the structure of the Muslim ummah.

4. The Day the Prophetic Mission Reached Completion

Verse 67 of Surah al-Ma’idah delivers a divine mandate with utmost urgency: «يَا أَيُّهَا الرَّسُولُ بَلِّغْ مَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِن رَّبِّكَ وَإِن لَّمْ تَفْعَلْ فَمَا بَلَّغْتَ رِسَالَتَهُ؛ “O Messenger! Convey what has been revealed to you from your Lord; and if you do not, then you have not conveyed His message.”

This verse was revealed just prior to the announcement of Imam Ali’s leadership at Ghadir. It is a stark and decisive declaration that unless the Prophet proclaimed this message-the appointment of his successor-his entire mission would be considered incomplete.

From this verse, it becomes clear that the issue of leadership after the Prophet was not a secondary or political matter. Rather, it was an intrinsic and foundational pillar of Islam itself. Therefore, any occasion that safeguards and secures such a fundamental element of the faith must undoubtedly be counted among the most significant days in Islamic history.

5. The Pinnacle of Islam’s Political System

Eid al-Adha revives the memory of Prophet Abraham’s (peace be upon him) sacrifice-a symbol of devotion and submission. Eid al-Fitr celebrates the spiritual achievement of a month-long journey of fasting and prayer. Yet neither of these blessed days is tied to a sweeping, history-defining event such as the formal appointment of a successor and guardian for the entire Muslim community.

While Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha primarily possess an individual and ritualistic nature, Eid al-Ghadir holds a profound collective, political, theological, and historical dimension.

If Islam is truly a comprehensive faith-not restricted to personal acts of worship-then the need for leadership, social organization, and the continuation of divine guidance after the Prophet is undeniable.

Within this framework, the event of Ghadir must be understood as the foundational declaration of the Imamate system. Ghadir demonstrates that Islam was not intended to end with the Prophet’s life; rather, through the guardianship of the Imams, it continues, safeguarded from deviation and distortion.

6. The Day the Disbelievers Despaired

Eid al-Ghadir was the day when the enemies of Islam lost all hope of its collapse. For they had long imagined that Islam was a movement entirely dependent on the person of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family), and that with his passing, the faith would wither away and society would revert to its pre-Islamic state.

This illusion had surfaced earlier during the Battle of Uhud, when the Prophet was wounded and rumors of his martyrdom spread across the battlefield. The false news emboldened the polytheists and caused disarray among the Muslims, some of whom fled the field in fear.

In response, God revealed a clarifying verse to awaken the believers: “Muhammad is no more than a Messenger. Messengers have passed away before him. If he dies or is slain, will you then turn back on your heels? He who turns back does no harm to God; but God will reward those who are grateful.” (Qur’an 3:144)

Likewise, on the day of Ghadir, the enemies of Islam were faced with a reality that shattered their dreams. They witnessed the Prophet, at the peak of his mission and in the presence of over a hundred thousand pilgrims, publicly and unequivocally appoint Imam Ali (peace be upon him) as his successor and the future leader of the Muslim ummah.

This bold and divinely sanctioned act erased any hopes the disbelievers held for Islam’s decline or the restoration of ignorance and idolatry.

In direct reference to this moment, the Qur’an proclaims: «الْيَوْمَ يَئِسَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مِن دِينِكُمْ فَلَا تَخْشَوْهُمْ وَاخْشَوْنِ؛ “Today, the disbelievers have despaired of your religion. So do not fear them-fear Me alone.” (Qur’an 5:3)

• The Duties of the Muslim Ummah Regarding the Event of Ghadir

1. Spreading the Message of Ghadir – A Perpetual Duty

In the Sermon of Ghadir, the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) identified the most important responsibility of the Muslim Ummah-after pledging allegiance to Imam Ali (peace be upon him) as the Commander of the Faithful-as the propagation of the message of Ghadir. He took from all present a solemn covenant and a weighty acknowledgment in this regard.

The Prophet asked the attendees to pledge as follows: «فقولوا باجمعکم…نحن نؤدی ذلک عنک الدانی و القاصی من اولادنا واهالینا ونشهد الله بذلک «وکفی بالله شهیدا» وانت علینا به شهید؛ “So all of you say together… ‘We will convey this message on your behalf to those near and far among our children and families, and we take God as our witness on this. And God suffices as a witness, and you too are a witness over us.’”^[2]

Elsewhere in the same sermon, the Prophet proclaimed: «معاشر الناس انی ادعها امامة و وارثة فی عقبی الی یوم القیامة و قد بلغت ما امرت بتبلیغه حجة علی کل حاضر و غائب و علی کل احد ممن شهد اولم یشهد، ولد اولم یولد فلیبلغ الحاضر الغائب و الوالد الولد الی یوم القیامة؛ “O people! I entrust the matter of leadership to my progeny as Imamate and inheritance until the Day of Resurrection. I have fulfilled the command I was ordered to convey, as a proof upon every present and absent, upon all those who are here and those yet unborn. So let those who are present deliver this message to the absent, and let fathers pass it on to their children-until the Day of Judgment.”^[3]

Imam al-Ridha (peace be upon him) also delivered a remarkable insight on this responsibility. He said: «مثل المؤمنین فی قبولهم ولاء امیرالمؤمنین علیه‌السّلام فی یوم غدیر خم کمثل الملائکة فی سجودهم لآدم و مثل من ابی ولایة امیرالمؤمنین علیه‌السّلام یوم الغدیر مثل ابلیس؛ “The example of the believers in accepting the guardianship of the Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him) on the Day of Ghadir is like that of the angels when they prostrated to Adam. And the one who rejected the authority of the Commander of the Faithful on the Day of Ghadir is like Iblis who defied and opposed all of mankind.”^[4]

These emphatic declarations reveal that Ghadir is not merely a historical event-it is the eternal message of Islam. Believers are warned not to neglect it and are encouraged to uphold and publicize it, regardless of criticism or opposition. Just as the Almighty commanded His Messenger not to fear the pressure of the dissenters when announcing his successor, we too must draw courage from divine reassurance. As the Qur’an states: «وَاللَّهُ يَعْصِمُكَ مِنَ النَّاسِ؛ “And Allah will protect you from the people.” (Qur’an 5:67)

Today, we are the inheritors of this message. It is as if God is directly addressing us-commanding us to proclaim the truth of Ghadir and assuring us that He is our Protector, no matter who disapproves or opposes it.

2. Responding to the Doubts of Opponents

The event of Ghadir stands as one of the most significant and well-documented historical proofs affirming the principle of Wilayah and Imamah in Islam. Yet from the very beginning, it has been subject to distortion, suppression, denial, or calculated silence. Why? Because Ghadir clearly delineates the boundary between the divinely guided path and the road of deviation.

Thus, one of the core responsibilities of the followers of Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them) is to engage in reasoned, scholarly, and articulate defence of Ghadir, and to offer well-founded responses to the doubts and misconceptions that surround it.

This is not merely a historical or promotional task. Rather, it is a form of safeguarding the principle of Imamah, renewing our covenant with the Prophet and his family, and striving to keep the lamp of divine guidance burning within the Muslim Ummah.

Why Responding to Ghadir-Related Doubts Matters

1. Ghadir is not merely a historical event:

Some attempt to relegate Ghadir to the past, treating it as a historical episode of no contemporary relevance. But Ghadir is fundamentally a theological, Qur’anic, and community-defining reality. Defending Ghadir means defending the divinely appointed Imamah, not merely commemorating a past memory.

2. Ghadir has been subject to suppression and distortion:

Given its immense significance, it is deeply telling that such a monumental event has been ignored or misrepresented by parts of the historical record. This makes it the moral and intellectual duty of believers to rediscover, clarify, and reveal the truth of Ghadir for new generations.

3. The modern onslaught of theological doubts:

In today’s media-driven world, many young Muslims encounter carefully crafted doubts and misleading arguments targeting the event of Ghadir. These include:

• “The word ‘Mawla’ in ‘Man kuntu Mawlahu fa hādhā ‘Alīyun Mawlahu’ simply means ‘friend’ or ‘beloved’; the Prophet was only encouraging affection for Ali.”
• “If Ghadir were that important, why did many Companions not act upon it?”
• “Why didn’t the Prophet write anything explicit about Ali’s succession in his will?”
• “Ghadir was just a response to some complaints about Ali’s governance in Yemen.”
• “The Hadith of Ghadir does not necessarily imply immediate succession or political leadership.”

Addressing these doubts requires knowledge, study, and the active engagement of believers in conversations of truth and clarity.

Conclusion: Ghadir, the Eternal Turning Point

Ghadir is not just a commemoration of a day in history-it is the defining moment for the continuity of divine guidance in Islam. On this day, not only was Ali ibn Abi Talib appointed, but the principle of Imamah and Wilayah-the pillars of religion’s preservation-was firmly established.

Ghadir is the manifestation of both religion and governance, spirituality and justice, converging in one divine event.

On this blessed day:

• The religion was perfected,
• The divine blessing was completed,
• The prophetic mission was fulfilled,
• And the guidance of the Ummah after the Prophet was clearly defined.

Given such grandeur, it is no wonder that Ghadir has been described in narration as: «یومُ غدیرِ خمٍّ أفضلُ أعیادِ أُمّتی» “Yawm Ghadīr Khumm is the greatest of my nation’s festivals.”^[5]

Let it be celebrated, honoured, and defended as the holiest day in the calendar of the followers of Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family).

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[1] . Kashf Al-Ghumma fi Ma’rifat Al A’imma, Vol 1, page 112

[2] . Bahrani, Sheikh Abdullah, ‘Awalim Al ‘Uloom, Vol. 2, page. 192

[3] . Bahrani, Sheikh Abdullah, ‘Awalim Al ‘Uloom, Vol. 2, page. 187

[4] . Ibn Tawoos, Ali Ibn Musa, Al-Iqbal, Vol. 2, page. 262

[5] . Al-Amali – Sheikh Al-Sadooq – page 188