Chapter 5 — Crowning Ali the Leader and the
Prophet's Successor
1. When: the Farewell Pilgrimage
The Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) pointed that that pilgrimage would be the last. Hence, the Muslims all over the world readied themselves to join him for acquiring the rewards of that ritual pilgrimage and the honors of the Prophet's companionship and farewell. The number of the Muslims attained 90000 individuals. Some related that it was 114000, 120000 or more. The most authenticated matter was that such a number had actually accompanied the Prophet in Ghadeer Khum.
96
2. Where: Ghadeer Khum
HutheifehbnUseid AlGhefari spoke: “After he had accomplished the rites of the Farewell Pilgrimage, the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) ordered his companions not to abide near some trees in the desert. He, afterwards, bid some to uproot thistles found under these trees. Just as he reached that place, he performed a prayer and ascended a place for sermonizing…”
97
ZaidbnArqam narrated the following: “When the Prophet went back from the Farewell Pilgrimage and resided at Ghadeer Khum…”
AlBerabnAzib related it in the following form: “We were accompanying the Prophet to Ghadeer Khum where we resided. A proclamation for a collective prayer was declared. The ground of two trees was swept for the Prophet…”
____________
96 Ibnul-Jawzi's Tethkiretul-Khawass, page 30. As-Seeretul-Halabiya, part. 3, page 257. Zeini Dehlan's As-Seeretun-Nubawiya, part. 3, page 3. Al-Amini's Al-Ghadeer, page 9.
97 This narration is recorded by At-Tabarani, in his Al-Mu'jamul-Kabeer.
( 259 )
Sa'dbnAbiWaqqas reported: “On one Friday, I saw the Prophet seize Ali from the hand and sermonize…”
Sa'd also related the following: “We were accompanying the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) who ordered people to halt as soon as we reached Ghadeer Khum. He ordered the crowds preceding him to come back and ordered those retarding to catch him. As people gathered, he (peace be upon him and his family) sermonized…”
These narratives assert the fact that the place of crowning was Ghadeer Khum.
The Divine Mandate of Nominating the Leader and the
Prophet's Successor
As a matter of fact, people of AlMadina and the surrounding villages had full acquaintance of Ali's having been the Prophet's successor. This cognizance were obtained according to the consecutive statements repeatedly addressed by the Prophet in the attendance of individuals as well as groups.
AlMadina is the capital of the Islamic state. Its people and their neighbors are the ones legally and actually concerned in the affair of nominating the leader and the Prophet's successor.
As the Lord willed that Muslims should apperceive congregationally that the next leader and the Prophet's successor would be Ali, He ordered His Prophet of acquainting them of this matter during the Farewell Pilgrimage so that none would disremember. This declaration occurred near a spring which carried the core of life at that deserted peninsula; water. That place which was called Khum was too distinct to be having an alike all over the Arab Peninsula. Besides, that was the only place which carried the name Khum. Thousands of wonderments and probabilities are arisen from the declaration of that grand event that occurred before such a huge number of people in proportion of population of the world at that time. The attendants were of different degrees of faith, knowledge and cognition. This truth was taken in consideration during the Prophet's preparing and readying for delivering the divine mandate. Hence, the Lord willed to fasten the Prophet's heart and find an excuse and regiment for conveying this divine mandate
( 260 )
respecting nominating the coming leader and the Prophet's successor. Hence, the Verse of Tabligh — conveyance — was revealed.
The Verse of Tabligh
Instantly, the Angel Gabriel descended carrying the Verse of Tabligh to the Prophet: (O Apostle! Deliver what has been revealed to you from your Lord; and if you do it not, then you have not delivered His message, and Allah will protect you from the people; surely Allah will not guide the unbelieving people. 5:67)
The future of the Islamic mission depended upon this conveyance. On the eighteenth of DhulHijja, this Verse was revealed in Ghadeer Khum. It was the same day on which the Prophet designated Ali as people's head, leader and his successor. That was on Thursday.
98
____________
98 bn-Asakir's Tarikhu Dimeshq, Chapter: The Life Account Of Ali Bin Abi Talib, part. 2, page 86. Siddiq Hassan Khan's Feithul-Beyan Fi Meqassidil-Qur'an, part. 3, page 63. Al-Hakim Al-Hassakani's Shawahidut-Tanzil, part. 1, page 187, hadiths 243-50. Al-Wahidi's Asbabun-Nuzoul, page 115. Ad-Durrul-Manthour, part. 2, page 298. Ashawkani's Feithul-Qadeer, part. 2, page 60. bn-Talha Ashafi'i's mettalibus-Sa'ul, part. 1, page 44. Ibnus-Sebbagh's Al-Fussoulul-Muhimmeh, page 25. Al-Qanduzi's Yenabi'ul-Mawadda, pages 120 and 249. Ashahristani's Al-Milelu Wen-Nihel, part. 1, page 163. Al-Amini's Al-Ghadeer, part. 1, page 214. At-Tabari's Al-Wilaya Fi Hadithil-Ghadeer. bn-Hazm' Al-Fasal, part. 1, page 220. Fera'idus-Simtein, part. 11, page 158. Abu Bakr Ashirazi's. Atha'alibi's Al-Keshfu Wel-Beyan. An-Nisapuri's book of Tafseer, part. 6, page 160. Abdul-Wahhab Al-Bukhari's book of Tafseer; God's Saying: "Say: I do not ask of you any reward for it but love for my near relatives." Jamalud-din Ashirazi's Al-Arba'in. Bedkheshti's Miftahun-Neja, page 41. Al-Alusi's Rouhul-Me'ani, part. 2, page 248. Mohammed Abduh's Tafseerul-Menar, part. 6, page 463. Ubeidullah Al-Hanafi's Arjahul-Metalib, pages 66-8, 566-7 and 570. Regarding Shias, they, congregationally, agree upon the fact that the Verse involved was revealed in Ghadeer Khum on the eighteenth of Dhul-Hijja where Allah ordered His Prophet of nominating Ali as the imam and his successor. See Al-Muraja'at, page 717.
( 261 )
The Style of the Decision of Nominating the Leader and
the Prophet's Successor
1. The Text Related By HutheifehbnUseid AlGhefari And
Recorded in AtTabarani's AlKabeer
Hutheifeh says: The Prophet, then, stated: “O people! The Aware, the Knowing informed me that prophets attain only the half of the age of the succeeding ones. I do conclude that I am to be soon invited, and I am to answer. I, as well as you, shall be questioned. What will you reply?” “We do confirm that you have conveyed, done well and advised. God may reward you with good.” They answered.
Thence, the Prophet said: “Do you maintain there is no God but Allah, and Mohammed is Allah's slave and apostle, and the Paradise is true, the Hellfire is true, death is true, the postearthly life resurrection is true and the Hour is coming, there is no doubt about it; and Allah shall raise up those who are in the graves?” “Yes, we do maintain so.” they answered. “O Allah! Be the witness.” supplicated the Prophet, and added: “O people! Allah is surely my Master. I am the master of the believers. I am preceded to the believers' souls. He whomever I was his master, this — Ali — is being his master. O Allah! Accede to whom accedes to him, and oppose whom opposes him.”
99
The Prophet then added: “O people! I will be preceding you to the Heavenly Pool and you shall be following me. It is a pool of an area larger than the distance between Busra — Syria — and San'a — Yemen. In it, there shall be cups as numerous as stars. When you shall be coming to me on that Pool, I will ask you about the two weighty things. Suppose how should you esteem me in these two. The major weighty thing is the Book of Allah, the Elevated. It is a cord, one of its brims is at Allah's hand while the other is at yours. Cling to it and deviate not and distort not. The other is my clan; my
____________
99 bn-Hajar's As-Sawa'iqul-Muhriqa. Al-Haithemi's Majma'uzzawa'id, part. 9, page 164. bn-Asakir's Tarikhu Dimeshq, part. 2, page 45, hadith 545. Kenzul-Ummal, part. 1, page 168, hadith 959. Al-Amini's Al-Ghadeer, part. 1, page 26-7. Nawadirul-Ussoul, page 289. (In this book, the sinful hands of the printers intentionally erased this hadith. They kept an indication only. Ar-Rekhshi, in his Nuzulul-Abrar, page 18, related the whole hadith to Nawadirul-Ussoul. Abaqatul-Anwar, vol. Hadith of Athaqalein, part. 1, page 156 and 312. Al-Qanduzi's Yenabi'ul-Mawaddeh, pages 30-1, 249. Ibnus-Sebbagh's Al-Fussoulul-Muhimmeh, page 24. Ibnul-Meghazili's Menaqibu Ali, page 16, hadith 23. Kenzul-Ummal, part. 1, page 168, hadith 958.
( 262 )
household. The Aware, the Knowing has informed me that they shall never separate until they shall join me on the Pool.”
2. The Text Related By ZaidbnArqam
Zaid relates: When the Prophet went back from the Farewell Pilgrimage and resided at Ghadeer Khum, he ordered of sweeping the ground under some bushes there. He, then, sermonized: “I do conclude that I am to be soon invited, and I am to answer. I am leaving among you the two weighty things, one of whom is greater than the other. It is the Book of Allah, the Elevated, and my clan; my household. Suppose how you should esteem me in these two. Certainly, they shall never separate until they shall join me on the Pool. Allah, the Exalted, is surely my Master. I am the master of the believers.” He then took Ali from the hand and declared: “He whomever I was his master, this — Ali — is being his master. O Allah! Accede to whom accedes to him, and oppose whom opposes him.”
100
3. The Text Related By AlBerabnAzib
AlBera narrates: We were accompanying the Prophet to Ghadeer Khum where we resided. A proclamation for a collective prayer was declared. The ground of two trees was swept for the Prophet who performed the Dhuhr prayer there and, afterwards, took Ali from the hand and asked: “Have you known that I am preceded to the believers' souls?” “Yes, we have.” they answered. “Have you known that I am preceded to every believer's soul?” questioned the Prophet. “Yes, we have.” they answered. Immediately, he took Ali from the hand and declared: “He whomever I was his master, this — Ali — is being his master. O Allah! Accede to whom accedes to him, and oppose whom opposes him.”
Not too long after that, Omar met Ali and addressed at him: “Congratulations, son of AbuTalib! You became the master of every male and female believer.”
101
____________
100 An-Nisa'i's Al-Khassa'iss, pages 93 and 21. Al-Khawarzmi's Al-Menaqib, page 93. Al-Qanduzi's Yenabi'ul-Mawadda, page 32. Al-Amini's Al-Ghadeer, part. 1, page 30. Kenzul-Ummal, part. 15, page 91, hadith 255. Abaqatul-Anwar, part. 1, pages 117, 121, 144, 152 and 161.
101 At-Tabari's Thekh'irul-Uqba, page 67. Fedha'ilul-Khamseh, part. 1, page 350. Ar-Riyadhun-Nedhira, part. 2, page 23. Al-Fussoulul-Muhimmeh, page 24. Jalaluddin As-Suyouti's Al-Hawi Lil-Fetawi, part. 1, page 122. Kenzul-Ummal, part. 15, page 117. Al-Muraja'at, the Index, page 176. The following references record the hadith with little difference: bn-Asakir's Tarikhu Dimeshq, Chapter: The Life Account Of Ali Bin Abi Talib, part. 2, page 47, hadiths 549-50. Al-Belathiri's Ansabul-Ashraf, part. 2, page 215. Al-Khawarzmi's Al-Menaqib, page 94. Al-Amini's Al-Ghadeer, part. 1, page 18-20. Fera'idus-Simtein, part. 1, pages 64-5 and 71. Al-Muraja'at, the index, page 176.
( 263 )
4. The Text Related By Sa'dbnAbiWaqqas
On one Friday, I saw the Prophet seize Ali from the hand and sermonize:
“Praised and thanked be Allah.
O people! I am your master.” “You have said but the truth, Allah's Apostle!” they confirmed. The Prophet, then, raised Ali's hand and declared: “This is my successor. He shall be settling my debts. I am acceding to whomever accedes to him and opposing whomever opposes him.”
102
5. The Text Related By Sa'd In Another Form
Sa'd also relates: We were accompanying the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) who ordered people to halt as soon as we reached Ghadeer Khum. He ordered the crowds preceding him to come back and those retarding to catch him. As people gathered, he (peace be upon him and his family) sermonized: “O people! Who are your masters?” “Allah and His Apostle are.” they confirmed thrice. The Prophet, soon, took Ali from the hand and raised him and declared: “He whomever Allah and His Apostles were his masters, this — Ali — is being his master. O Allah! Accede to whom accedes to him, and oppose whom opposes him.”
103
The Perception of the Decision and Receiving
Congratulations
As they could totally perceive the significance of the decision, the attendants in Ghadeer Khum, proceeded towards the leader and the Prophet's successor for offering him congratulations on this divine grace. OmarbnAlKhattaab,
____________
102 An-Nisa'i's Al-Khassa'iss, page 101. Fedha'ilul-Khamseh, part. 1, page 365. Al-Bidaya Wen-Nihaya, part. 5, page 212. Al-Amini's Al-Ghadeer, part. 1, page 38 and 41. Al-Muraja'at, the Index, page 176.
103 An-Nisa'i's Al-Khassa'iss, page 101. Fedha'ilul-Khamseh, part. 1, page 365. Is'fur-Raghibin (In the margin of Mourul-Absar), page 149, Ar-Riyadhun-Nedhira, part. 2, page 282 and Al-Muraja'at, the Index.
( 264 )
who could never forget that day, was in the top of the list of the congratulators. “Be felicitate, son of AbuTalib! You became the master of me as well as every Muslim.”
104 Omar addressed at Ali as he offered congratulations. In another occasion, he said to him” “Congratulations, son of AbuTalib! You became the master of every male and female believer.”
105
While Omar was the caliph, some wondered the reason beyond his having estimating Ali particularly. “He is my master.”
106 answered Omar.
Omar asked Ali to judge in a case between two Bedouins. “Is it this man who will judge?” said one of them. Immediately, Omar jumped to him, hanged from the dress and said: “Do you not know this one. He is your
____________
104 bn-Asakir's Tarikhu Dimeshq, Chapter: The Life Account Of Ali Bin Abi Talib, part. 2, page 57, hadiths 575, 577, 578. Ibnul-Meghazili's Menaqibu Ali, page 18, hadith 24. Al-Khawarzmi's Al-Menaqib, page 94. Al-Khateeb Al-Baghdadi's Tarikhu Baghdad, part. 8, page 290. Al-Hakim Al-Hassakani's Shawahidut-Tanzil, part. 1, page 158, hadiths 213. Abu-Ahmed Al-Ghezali's Sirrul-Alemin, page 21. Ihqaqul-Haq, part. 6, page 256. Al-Amini's Al-Ghadeer, part. 1, page 132. Fera'idus-Simtein, part. 1, page 77.
105 bn-Asakir's Tarikhu Dimeshq, part. 2, page 50,hadith 548, 549 and 550. Al-Khawarzmi's Al-Menaqib, page 94. Ahmed Bin Hanbal's book of Hadith, part. 4, page 281. Ibnus-Sebbaghi's Al-Fussoulul-Muhimmeh, page 24. As-Suyouti's Al-Hawi Lil-Fetawi, part. 1, page 122. Thekha'irul-Uqba, page 67. Fedha'ilul-Khamseh, part. 1, page 350. As-Sam'ani's Fedha'ilus-Sahaba. At-Thehbi's Tarikhul-Islam, part. 2, page 197. Khawaja's Ilmul-Kitab, page 161. Az-Zerendi's Nudhumu Duraris-Simtein, page 109. Al-Qanduzi's Yenabi'ul-Mawadda, page 30, 31 and 249. Ar-Razi's book of Tafseer, part. 3, page 63. As-Sibt Ibnul-Jawzi's Tethkiretul-Khawass, page 29. Mishkatul-Messabih, part. 3, page 246. Abaqatul-Anwar, hadith of Athaqalein, part. 1, page 285. Al-Hamawini's Fera'idus-Simtein. Al-Ghadeer, part. 1, page 272. bn-Abi Sheibeh's Al-Mussennef. Ibnul-Abbas Asheibani's Al-Musnedul-Kabeer. Abu-Ya'li Al-Mousuli's Al-Musned. bn-Merdawayih's book of Tafseer. Ath'labi's Al-Keshfu Wel-Bayan. At-Tabari's Ar-Riyadhun-Nedhira, part. 2, page 169. Ashenqiti's Kifayetut-Talib, page 28. Ibnul-Jawzi's Al-Menaqib. An-Natnazi's Al-Khassa'isul-Alawiya. Omar Bin Al-Mulla's Wasiletul-Mute'ebbidin. bn-Kutheir's Al-Bidaya Wen-Nihaya, part. 5, page 169. Al-Muqrizi's Al-Khuttat, page 223. Al-Azra'i's Badi'ul-Me'ani, page 75. Al-Meibidi's Sharhu Diwani Ameeril-Mu'minin, page 406. Kenzul-Ummal, part. 6, page 397. As-Semhoudi's Wefa'ul-Wefa, part. 2, page 173. Mahmud Asheikhani's As-Siratus-Sawi ... etc.
106 bn-Hajar's As-Sawa'iqul-Muhriqa, page 26. bn-Asakir's Tarikhu Dimeshq, Chapter: The Life Account Of Ali Bin Abi Talib, part. 2, page 82. Ar-Riyadhun-Nedhira, part. 2, page 224. Al-Muraja'at, the Index, page 212.
( 265 )
master, and my master, and the master of every male and female master. He is not a believer that whomever Ali is not his master.”
107
Texts Quoted from the Immortal Decision of Nominating
Ali for the Leadership
Unanimously, Sunnis relate that the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) referred to Ali in Ghadeer Khum by stating:
1. “He whomever I was his master, this — Ali — is being his master. O Allah! Accede to whom accedes to him, and oppose whom opposes him, and champion whomever champions him and deject whomever dejects him.”
108
2 “He whomever I was his master, this, Ali, is being his mater.”
3 “He whomever I was his master, Ali is being his master. O Allah! Accede to whomever accedes to him and oppose whomever opposes him.”
109
It is obvious that the previous texts have been excerpted from the decision of nominating Ali for the leadership. The texts involved told of the place of occurrence, which was Ghadeer Khum. They also fitted the size of the crowds that heard the decision and that it occurred during the Prophet's last pilgrimage; the Farewell Pilgrimage. The decision was so strong that it
____________
107 bn-Hajar's As-Sawa'iqul-Muhriqa, page 107. At-Tabari's Thekha'irul-Uqba, page 68. Al-Khawarzmi's Al-Menaqib, page 98. Ar-Riyadhun-Nedhira, part. 2, page 224. Al-Amini's Al-Ghadeer, part. 1, page 382. Al-Muraja'at, the Index, page 212.
108 the following: bn-Asakir's Tarikhu Dimeshq, Chapter: The Life Account Of Ali Bin Abi Talib, part. 2, page 13, hadith 508 and 513-5. Kenzul-Ummal, part. 6, page 403. An-Nisa'i's Al-Khasa'iss, page 96. bn-Hazm's Al-Fasl, part. 1, page 260. The margin of bn-Hamz's Al-Fasl, part. 1, page 260. Ahmed's book of Hadith, part. 5, page 32. The margin of Ahmed's book of Hadith. Al-Belathiri's Ansabul-Ashraf, part. 2, page 112. Al-Khawarzmi's Al-Menaqib, page 294. Al-Muraja'at, the index, page 183 ... etc.
109 At-Tirmithi's book of hadith, part. 5, page 297. bn-Asakir's Tarikhu Dimeshq, Chapter: The Life Account Of Ali Bin Abi Talib, part. 1, page 213. Al-Haithemi's Majma'uzzawa'id, part. 9, page 103. An-Nisa'i's Al-Khassa'iss, page 94. Ibnul-Atheer's Jami'ul-Ussoul, part. 9, page 468. Al-Hakim's Al-Mustedrak, part. 3, page 110. (In this reference, the compiler decides the authenticity of the hadith.) Al-Khawarzmi's Al-Menaqib, page 79. At-Thehbi's Talkhissul-Mustedrak, part. 3, page 110. Hilyetul-Awliya, part. 5, page 26. As-Suyouti's Ad-Durrul-Manthour, part. 5, page 182. At-Thehbi's Tarikhul-Islam, part. 2, page 196. Al-Bagdadi's Tarikhu Baghdad, part. 8, page 290 ... etc.
( 266 )
imposed itself on others. Despite the fact that reviling at Ali was an official act obligatorily burden on the Umayid state's people, and that this state had the full actual dominion on the state's imports, capacities and mass media, they showed total dearth to shade this decision. The compact of the decision, however, remained along with days. It became the evident witness on this nation's deceiving the real leader and the Prophet's successor. Allah's, however, is the consequence of affairs.
The Hadith of Ghadeer and the Event of the Nomination
is A Certitude
This hadith is related by AhmedbnHanbal from forty different ways of narration. bnJarir relates it from seventy two different ways of narration. AlJizri AlMiqerri relates it from eighty different ways of narrations. bnUqda relates it from 105 different ways of narration. AbuSa'eed AsSejistani relates it from 120 ways of narration. AbuBakr AlHassabi relates it from 125 different ways of narration. Mohammed AlYamani claims of relating it from 150 different ways of narration. AbulAla AlAttar AlHamadani relates it from 250 different ways of narration.
110
The entire Shias believe in the authenticity of the hadith of Ghadeer in an indisputable way. They do believe undiscussibly in the ceremonies of nominating Ali for leadership and succession of the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) that occurred in Ghadeer Khum.
The entire Sunnis admit the authenticity of the Ghadeer hadith. They acknowledge of the Prophet's uttering that hadith. They, however, adopted the misrepresentation of the hadith and the event of the nomination originated by the rulers who regarded the hadith as a mere merit imputed to Ali. They discarded the actual meanings and purports of the hadith and the event. Thus, Sunnis inherited this misrepresentation. They reckoned it with the traditions of the ancestors that it is illicit to be neglected. Supposing Sunnis adopted other than this opinion, they would drag the rug of legality on which the Umayids, the Abbasids and the Ottoman stood. Other would be included in this process of dragging; the matter that would prove the
____________
110 Al-Amini's Al-Ghadeer, part. 1, pages 14-213, Abaqatul-Anwar, Ghayetul-Maram, bn-Asakir's Tarikhu Dimeshq, Chapter: The Life Account Of Ali Bin Abi Talib, part. 2, page 5-90 and Al-Muraja'at, the Index, page 182.
( 267 )
rightfulness of Shias. This would contravene the tradition of Shias have been the enemies of this religion!!
The Ghadeer Festivity
In the former times, Muslims appraised the anniversary of the Ghadeer day as a festivity. They were wont to celebrate on this anniversary. When the enemies of the Prophet's household came to power, the Muslims stopped celebrating it. Hence, because of the pressure imposed by the rulers, the next generations overlooked that anniversary. For Shias, they still celebrating it.
111
Fasting On The Day Of Ghadeer
AbuHureira sates: He whoever fasts on the eighteenth of DhulHijja, Allah shall record for him the reward of a sixty month fasting. This anniversary is the Ghadeer Khum day when the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) took Ali from the hand and said: “He whomever I was his master, this — Ali — is being his master. O Allah! Accede to whom accedes to him, and oppose whom opposes him and champion whomever champions him.” OmarbnAlKhattaab commentated: “Be felicitate, son of AbuTalib! You became the master of me as well as every Muslim."
112
____________
111 Al-Amini's Al-Ghadeer, part. 1, page 267, Al-Beiruni's Al-Atharul-Baqiya Fil-Qurounil-Khaliya, page 334, bn-Talha's Mettalibus-Sa'ul, part. 1, page 44, bn-Khillekan's Wefiyatul-A'yan, part. 1, page 90, Al-Musta'li Bin Al-Mustensir's book of the famed's life account, part. 1, page 223 and Al-Muraja'at, the Index, page 92.
112 bn-Asakir's Tarikhu Dimeshq, Chapter: The Life Account Of Ali Bin Abi Talib, part. 2, page 75, hadiths 575-7, Al-Hakim Al-Hassakani's Shawahidut-Tanzil, part. 1, page 157, hadiths 210-3, Al-Amini's Al-Ghadeer, part. 1, page 402, Al-Khateeb Al-Baghdadi's Tarikhu Baghdad, part. 8, page 290, Fera'idus-Simtein, part. 1, page 77, title 13 and Al-Muraja'at, the Index, page 192-3.
