- News code: 1241631
- Source: imam-khomeini.ir
According to Imam Khomeini, Ghadir is not only designed to reflect a specific divine day but also it highlights a course of history. It is the comprehensive code of life, belief and school of thought. It also underscores the glad-tiding of a pleasant sun rising. By raising Imam Ali’s hand and introducing him as the source and guardian of Islam, the holy prophet guaranteed his divine mission and rescued it from the evil powers.
The divine event is annually marked with rituals and various ceremonies in different parts of the globe on the 18th of Dhu al-Hijjah on the Islamic calendar.
In the tenth year of Hijra, Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) received a revelation from God, ordering him to halt the pilgrims at a pond called Khum, a place near Mecca, and to designate Imam Ali (PBUH) as his successor in guiding and ruling Muslims.
Eid al-Ghadeer is also known as Eid al-Akbar (the greatest Eid) in Islamic narrations.
Muslims believe that the mission of all the previous messengers of Allah became accomplished on this day.
The Muslims across the world commemorate the Eid al-Ghadeer each year, celebrating the occasion of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) appointing Imam Ali (PBUH) as his successor.
Imam Khomeini through his historic messages and speeches put emphasis on following the footsteps of the Imam Ali (PBUH), the truthful successor of the holy prophet of Islam in all perspectives.
Eid al-Ghadir is observed by Muslims across the globe on the 18th of Dhu al-Hijjah in the Islamic calendar to commemorate the appointment of Ali ibn Abi Talib (’a) by the honorable prophet of Islam as his immediate successor. It marks the anniversary of the prophet’s sermon, described in Hadith of the pond of Khumm, in which the holy prophet stated, “Whomsoever's master (maula) I am, Ali is also his (maula) master. O God, love those who love him, and be hostile to those who are hostile to him.”
It is the day when the leader of the faithful, Imam Ali was named the successor of the holy prophet. The appointment of Imam Ali (PBUH) as the Holy Prophet's successor is based on strong and indisputable reasons.
The Prophet of Islam (PBUH) announced one of the most important commandments of Islam, which he was informed of by angel Gabriel, on this great day. This decree completed his duty as a messenger and the religion of Islam.
This decree was to appoint the leader of faithful Imam Ali (’a) as his rightful successor. By doing so, the Prophet made Ali ibn Abi Talib the captain of the ship of Islam, and no other man was worthy of such a position. This is why all those who love the successor of the Prophet gather on this day to celebrate his appointment.
Imam in this regard once said as following:
“That the voice of Ghadir has been raised so high and that Ghadir has been held in high esteem, as it is, is due to the fact that with the implementation of guardianship, i. e. with the turning over of government to the hands of its rightful owner, all these problems will be solved; all deviations will be removed. If the government of justice were established, had they allowed Hadrat Amir( `a )to establish the government he wanted, all the deviations would have been removed and the environment would have become a proper and wholesome environment, which would be an opportunity for all individuals who had thoughts, mystics who had thoughts, philosophers who had thoughts, jurists who had thoughts, and all others. In view of this," Islam has been founded on five things" does not mean that guardianship( wilayah )pertains to this; the essence of guardianship is the issue of government; the government is such; the government is not even from the branches of religion.”
