Salamun alaykum,
This week we celebrated the auspicious occasion of Eid ul Ghadeer. It marks the event when, on the 18th Dhulhijjah 10 A.H at the junction of Ghadeer Khum, the Noble Prophet made the formal declaration of appointment of Amiral Muminin Imam Ali bin abi Talib as Mawla –master-of all the believers.
How did he receive the news?
After the important message had been delivered by the Noble Prophet, the news of formal declaration of Amiral Muminin as mawla quickly spread over all urban and rural areas.
When Harith ibn Numan al-Fahri came to know of it, he rode his she-camel and came to Madina to see the Noble Prophet. On reaching his destination he made the camel sit, alighted from it, approached the Noble Prophet and said: "You commanded us to testify that there is no god but Allah and that you are the messenger of Allah. We obeyed you. You ordered us to say prayers five times a day and we obeyed. You directed us to pay charity and we obeyed. You ordered us to observe fasts during Ramadan and we obeyed. Then you commanded us to perform pilgrimage to Ka’bah and we obeyed. But you are not satisfied with all this and you raised your cousin by the hand and imposed him upon us as our master by saying: 'Ali is the mawla of whom I am mawla' Is this imposition from you or from Allah?"
The Noble Prophet replied: "By Allah who is the only God, this is from Allah, the Mighty, the Glorious."
He asked for a chastisement:
On hearing this Harith turned back and proceeded towards his she-camel saying, "O Allah, if what Muhammad says is true, then fling on us a stone from the sky and make us suffer severe pain and torture."
What happened?
He had not yet reached his camel when a stone dropped on him and struck him on his head, penetrating into his body leaving him dead.
It was on this occasion that Allah revealed the verses: “He (the questioner) demanded a chastisement which must befall.” (Surah al Ma-arij 70:1).
The foregoing outlines how the news of declaration at Ghadeer Khum was taken by Harith.
Question: How do you take the news of Ghadeer?
We are fortunate indeed to once again celebrate the auspicious occasion of Eid ul Ghadeer in our lifetime. Bihamdillah, it is an invaluable blessing for us to be from the ummah which has received the news of Ghadeer.
We do hold dearly to the message of wilayah and celebrate this in our daily lives. One way of reviving this news of wilayah in our daily lives is the recitation of the shahada of Amiral Muminin in the Kalimah, Adhan, and Iqamah. Our majalis gatherings are adorned with the remembrance of the virtues of Imam Ali. Numerous manqabat/ qasida poems are passionately recited and accompanied with loud slogans of Naare Hydery.
Some points to reflect upon are:
- What are the other ways of celebrating message of wilayah?
- What is the essence of the Divine message of Ghadeer?
- What impact should this news have upon a believer?
- Is the declaration of shahada of Amiral Muminin and celebrations of Eid ul Ghadeer only that is required from us?
- What more is expected of one who submits to news of Ghadeer to be led in one’s daily life?
- How do you act upon the instruction of the Noble Prophet to convey this message?
Alhamdulillahil ladhi ja’alana minal mutamassikina bi wilayati amiril m’uminina wal aimmati ‘alayhimus salaam.
(All praise is due to Allah for having enabled us to be from those who hold to the leadership of Amiral Muminin and the Imams a.s.)
Heartiest Felicitations on the Blessed and Auspicious Occasion of Eid ul Ghadeer
Wa ma tawfiqi illa billah
With salaams and duas,
Fazle Abbas Datoo
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Resident Alim
Wessex Shia Ithna Asheri Jamaat