Appointment of Imam Ali (peace be upon him) as the Prophet's Successor
A few months before his death, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his
Household) performed Hajj in Mecca. This is known as the "Farewell Pilgrimage".
On his way back to Medina, his procession reached in area called "Ghadir Khom"
and in that place he received divine inspiration. God’s angel of revelation,
Gabriel, descended and brought the Prophet this message from God: “O Messenger!
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.”
Thus, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his Household) stopped at Ghadir
Khom and ordered the caravans to halt as well. The temperature was very high to
the extent that men would put the tips of their garments under their feet
because the ground was so hot.
Prophet Muhammad (peace
be upon him and his Household) led people in congregational prayer and after
that a platform was erected and the Prophet (peace be upon him and his
Household) ascended this platform. Chroniclers say that the number of those
present was one hundred thousand or more. They all listened intently to what he
had to say to them. He told them what an effort he had made in guiding them and
he also mentioned some Islamic laws.
In this speech, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) mentioned the Narration of
the Two Weighty Matters:
"It seems the time approached when I shall be called away (by Allah) and I
shall answer that call. I am leaving for you two precious things and if you
adhere to them both, you will never go astray after me. They are the Book of
Allah and my Progeny, that is my Ahlul Bayt. The two shall never separate from
each other until they come to me by the Pool (of Paradise)."
Then the Messenger of Allah continued:
"Do I not have more right over the believers than what they have over
themselves?"
People answered:
"Yes, O' Messenger of God."
The Prophet (peace be upon him and his Household) held the hand of Ali (peace be
upon him) aloft, and showing it to the people he commanded: “Whoever I am his
master then Ali is his Master.”
Then he said: “Lord! Be friendly with the friends of Ali! Be an enemy to the
enemies of Ali! Lord! Love those who love him and hate those who hate him!"
After this speech and divine appointment, the Muslims approached Imam Ali (peace
be upon him) to congratulate him.
In addition to this, after the Prophet's speech, Hassan bin Thabit, the
Companion and poet of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his Household)
asked for permission to recite the poetry he had just composed about Imam Ali.
The Prophet (peace be upon him and his Household) gave his permission, and
Hassan recited:
He calls them, (on) the day of Ghadir, their Prophet
In Khom so hear (and heed) the Messenger's call,
He said: "Who is your Master and Prophet?
They said, and there was no apparent blindness (clearly):
"Your God, our Master, and you are our Prophet
And you won't find from among us, in this, any disobedient,"
He said to him: "Stand up O' Ali, for I am
pleased to announce you as Imam and guide after me
So whomever I was his leader, then this is his leader
So be to him supporters in truth and followers,"
And in that day, Allah revealed the holy verse: "Today
I have perfected your religion and completed my favor upon you, and I am
satisfied of Islam as your religion."
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