🕌 Eid al-Ghadeer: The Festival of Divine Leadership
Commemorating Ghadeer Khum and the Eternal Mandate of Righteous Governance in Islam
A Day Like No Other in Islamic History
Among the luminous days in the Islamic calendar, Eid al-Ghadeer shines with unmatched spiritual and historical brilliance. Celebrated on the 18th of Dhu al-Hijjah, it marks the momentous event at Ghadeer Khum where the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family), in the tenth year after the Hijra, declared Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him) as his successor and the divinely appointed leader (Wali) of the Muslim Ummah.
This proclamation, delivered before a vast assembly of pilgrims returning from the Prophet’s Farewell Hajj, is not a mere historical footnote. Rather, it is a foundational moment that clarified the divine blueprint for leadership in Islam. The Prophet’s statement—
“Whoever I am his master (mawla), Ali is his master”—
echoes through the ages as a declaration of Imamate and an affirmation of divine continuity after prophethood.
The Message of Ghadeer: A Covenant of Loyalty and Leadership
At the heart of Eid al-Ghadeer lies a covenant—a binding pledge of allegiance to divinely sanctioned leadership. The Prophet not only named Imam Ali but called upon every Muslim to reaffirm their loyalty by pledging allegiance to him. This act was not a political manoeuvre but a Quranic imperative rooted in verses such as:
“O Messenger, convey what has been revealed to you from your Lord. And if you do not, then you have not conveyed His message. And Allah will protect you from the people…” (Quran, Surah al-Ma’ida, Chapter 5, The Table Spread, Verse 67)
This verse, widely understood in Shia tradition to refer to the event of Ghadeer, underscores that the announcement was a divine obligation, not a personal preference.
The lessons of Ghadeer are timeless:
🔹 Loyalty to Divine Authority
Ghadeer teaches that obedience to the Prophet includes obedience to those he appoints under divine guidance. Imam Ali was not chosen by tribal consensus but by divine command—due to his piety, knowledge, courage, and unwavering truthfulness.
🔹 The Standard for Leadership
The Prophet’s designation of Imam Ali sets a clear standard for leadership: justice, righteousness, and God-consciousness must be the defining traits. Leadership in Islam is not about power, but about servitude to God and service to humanity.
🔹 Unity Through Divine Appointment
Contrary to being a source of division, Ghadeer was meant to prevent disunity. By clearly appointing a successor, the Prophet offered a divinely endorsed path to preserve the integrity and unity of the Muslim community. The tragedy lies not in the event, but in the neglect of its message.
A Festival for All Who Love Imam Ali
While Ghadeer holds particular significance in Shia theology, its essence resonates with all Muslims who revere Imam Ali. He is the gate to knowledge, the lion of Allah, and a paragon of justice. Celebrating his appointment is an act of honouring a figure loved by the Prophet himself.
Rather than a point of contention, Ghadeer can serve as a bridge. In a time when the Muslim Ummah faces fragmentation and moral erosion, returning to the values embodied in Ghadeer—justice, unity, loyalty, and truth—can be the balm that heals division.
The Responsibility of the Believers
The legacy of Ghadeer is not to be buried in the annals of history. It is a living message, a duty upon every believer to uphold, propagate, and preserve. Teaching the story of Ghadeer to future generations is an obligation and a means of deepening our understanding of Islam’s spiritual and ethical foundations.
Eid al-Ghadeer is not merely a commemoration—it is a reaffirmation of allegiance to the truth, to divine guidance, and to the values that shaped the early Islamic community. It is a reminder that leadership in Islam is a trust (amanah), not a throne.
Shia References on Ghadir: Foundations of the Doctrine of Imamate
The event of Ghadeer is extensively documented in classical Shia scholarship, forming the bedrock of the doctrine of Imamate. Among the most important sources are:
📚 Al-Ghadeer by Allama Amini
In Volume 1, Allama Amini meticulously gathers narrations from both Shia and Sunni sources to document the event of Ghadeer. He cites the Prophet's declaration, "من كنت مولاه فهذا علي مولاه" (man kuntu mawlahu fa hadha 'Aliyyun mawlahu), meaning "For whomever I am his master (mawla), Ali is his master."
📚 Bihar al-Anwar by Allama Majlisi
Volume 37 contains numerous hadith about Ghadeer Khum. For example, a narration describes how the Prophet (S) ordered a pulpit to be built and publicly declared Ali as his successor after the Hajj pilgrimage.
📚 Kitab al-Irshad by Shaykh al-Mufid
In his biography of Imam Ali, Shaykh al-Mufid details the events of Ghadeer Khum, emphasising the divine command to the Prophet to appoint Ali as the leader of the Muslim community after him.
📚 Nahj al-Balagha
Sermon 3, often referred to as the "Shaqshaqiyya Sermon," alludes to Imam Ali's right to the caliphate and the events that transpired after the Prophet's death, indirectly referencing the significance of the Ghadeer declaration.
Conclusion: The Eternal Relevance of Ghadeer
Eid al-Ghadeer is more than a date—it is a declaration. A declaration that the message of Islam was completed not just with scripture, but with leadership. It is a day of light, of loyalty, of divine designation. In celebrating Ghadeer, we do not merely recall the past—we recommit to the principles that can transform our future.
May we be among those who, in every age, respond to the call:
“Whoever I am his master, Ali is his master.”
And may our hearts echo:
“Yes, O Messenger of Allah, we hear and we obey.”
🔗 Want to explore the deeper theological foundations of Imamate?
Visit Reflections313 – Imamah: Leadership after the Prophet Muhammad (S) for a detailed and accessible discussion on why divine leadership matters, and how Ghadeer shapes the doctrine of succession in Islam.