It used to be celebrated by the Sufi khanqahs in Pakistan but of late with the growth of a more orthodox version of Islam it has declined, says Dr Mohammad Taqi. It was the day the Prophet (peace be upon him) appointed Hazrat Ali as his spiritual heir and guide for all believing men and women." It is also celebrated by the Chisty Sufis as my friend, Syed Salman Chisty the gaddi nasheen of Ajmer Sharif dargah says, "We celebrate Eid e Ghadeer with great reverence every year as we trace out lineage to Hazrat Ali. While Shias celebrate it as festival, Eid e Ghadeer - the day the Prophet appointed Ali as his successor-maula (leader) of the believing men and women, the Sunnis treat it as just another day. Shia and Sunni commentators both mention that this event took place, and that Omar (who became the second Caliph) congratulated him, however the crux of the matter is the interpretation. The Sunni scholars say he had said he is leaving behind the Quran and his sunnat (hadith). The word Sunni comes from those who follow the Hadith or Sunnat of the Prophet.Īccording to the Shia scholars, the Prophet also said that he was leaving behind the Quran and his ahle bait (immediate family) as guides. The word Shia means friend/followers and those who believed in Ali as the natural successor of the Prophet came to be known as Shiaa't e Ali or followers of Ali which later became just Shia. Mohammad was the last Prophet so he could only have a khalifa after him. This proves that Islam was perfected only after the appointment of Ali as the khalifa or successor. "Today I have perfected your religion and completed my bounty upon you, and I was satisfied that Islam be your religion." (Qur'an 5:3) was revealed after this pronouncement. Since the Prophet did not specifically use the word "khalifa" which means successor a dispute arose after his death as to whether Ali ibn Abu Talib, the Prophet's was his successor or friend. It can be interpreted in various ways and has over 20 meanings such as master, protector, friend, owner of a slave, judge and even servant etc. Its root is the Arabic word "wali" which means friend, guide, to be close to. The root of the problem arises from the meaning of the word Arabic maula. He added, "God be the friend of he who is your friend, the enemy of he who is your enemy." Then the Prophet called his cousin and son in law Ali ibn Abu Talib and very dramatically lifting his forearm in line with his own went on to say After testifying that there is but one God, and his own Prophethood he talked of death and the day of judgment. He asked the assembled people if he had acquitted his responsibilities equitably to which they responded that he had informed, advised and striven. I think I am about to be called (to die) and thus I must respond……." "O people, Allah the Most Kind the Omniscient has told me that no apostle lives to more than half the age of him who had preceded him. The Prophet climbed on to the dias and began his sermon: A makeshift dias was made of palm leaves and sticks topped with camel saddles. The Prophet called back those who were getting ready to go their separate way. Indeed, Allah does not guide the disbelieving people. And Allah will protect you from the people. O Messenger, announce that which has been revealed to you from your Lord, and if you do not, then you have not conveyed His message. This Quranic verse (5:67) is said to have been revealed to him: This is also supposed to be the last time he spoke to a large congregation of Muslim men and women. He said that he had received a revelation from Allah and wanted to announce it to the people with him. It was a barren place with no potable water source, but this was the point where caravans from Mecca left to take separate routes.
Since Ghadeer means pond in Arabic it came to be called Ghadeer e Khumm.
On his way back from Mecca he stopped near a small pond in a place called Khum (now the city of Juhfa in Saudi Arabia). Realising its significance many people had accompanied him. It is known as Hajjat-ul-Vida or Farewell Pilgrimage. On 18th Zill Hijj 10 AH /March 10, 632 AD, (which falls on September 10 this year), just three months before his demise, Prophet Mohammad performed his first and also what was his last hajj. What they probably wouldn't realise is the significance of the words or their ambiguity and the schism they left behind in the Muslim world. Any lover of qawwali would have heard myriad soulful versions of this sung by the greats.