Eid al-Ghadeer

Compiled By: Syed Ali Shahbaz
On18th of the Islamic month of Zil-Hijjah in 10 AH, on God's revelation of ayah 67 of Surah al-Ma'edah, Prophet Mohammad (SAWA) proclaimed his cousin and son-in-law, Imam Ali (AS) as vicegerent at the pond (Ghadeer) of Khom near Juhfa while returning to Medina from his farewell Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. After a memorable sermon to a gathering of 120,000-plus pilgrims, the Prophet raised the Imam’s hand, and expressed the immortal phrase, "Man kunto Mowla fa haza Aliyun Mowla" (For whomsoever I am Master, this Ali is his Master).
God then revealed ayah 3 of Surah Ma'edah announcing the perfection of faith, completion of divine favours, and decreeing of Islam as the universal religion. For the next three days during the Prophet's stay at Ghadeer-Khom, every single person of this huge gathering personally pledged allegiance to Imam Ali (AS) as Amir al-Mominin (Commander of the Faithful) by clasping the palm of his right hand. For the convenience of women attendees, the Prophet ordered the placing of water-filled basin in which Imam Ali (AS) dipped his hands and withdrew, while the ladies took turn to dip their own hands as proof of their allegiance to him.

The fresh pledge of allegiance to Imam Ali (AS)
On18th of the Islamic month of Zil-Hijjah in 35 AH, the Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali (AS), reluctantly assumed charge of the political leadership of the Islamic realm upon the insistence and begging of the Muslims to take up the reigns of the caliphate, of which he was deprived 25 years earlier on the passing away of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA), despite his proclamation as the righteous caliph at Ghadeer-Khom and the swearing of allegiance to him by 120,000 Muslims. This fresh pledge of allegiance to him happened three days after the killing of Othman ibn Affan, and thus started the only instance of the model administration of social justice in history.
On 25th of the Islamic month of Zil-Hijjah in 35 AH, the Prophet's divinely-decreed heir, Imam Ali (AS), who a quarter century earlier was deprived of his right to be the political head of the Islamic state, formally started his four year and nine months rule of social justice, when the caliphate came begging at his door. A week earlier on the 18th of Zil-Hijjah, incidentally the 25th anniversary of the historic proclamation by Prophet Mohammad (SAWA) of his God-given Wilayah (Authority), the Muslims had begged him to take up the caliphate following the killing of Osman Ibn Affan on that day. The Imam reluctantly agreed on condition that he would rule only on the basis of God's Revealed Word, the holy Qur'an, and the practice of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA), but not as per the innovations made over the past 25 years of misrule by the three rulers. Imam Ali (AS), knew that whether or not he was given political authority, he was the righteous divinely-appointed heir of the Prophet in all affairs, as per the historic proclamation at Ghadeer-Khom in 10 AH, as is evident by ayah 67 of Surah al-Ma'edah. The Imam's rule of justice has never been equaled to this date, and serves till this day as a model for all seekers of justice and human rights.