Basic info about Eid-e-Ghadeer(Eidullahil Akbar)

Some basic info about Ghadeer e Khum every shia must know about:


What Happened at Ghadeer Khumm??
“The Prophet Muhammad said: I am the City of Knowledge, and ‘Ali is the gate. So let those who seek knowledge enter through its gate.” -- Sahih Tirmidhi,
The Background:
On the 18th of Dhul-Hajjah, after completing his
“farewell pilgrimage” (Hajjatul- Wida'a), the Messenger of
Allah (peace be upon him and his progeny) had departed
Makkah en route to Madinah. He and the entire Muslim
caravan, numbering over 100,000, were stopped at
Ghadeer Khumm, a deserted-yet-strategically situated area
that lies between Makkah and Madinah (near today’s
Juhfah). In those days, Ghadeer Khumm served as a point
of departure, where the various Muslims who had come
to perform the pilgrimage from neighbouring lands would
disperse and embark upon their own routes back home. It
was in this place that the Angel Jibra’eel descended upon
the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his
progeny) and revealed the following urgent command of
Allah:
“O Apostle! Deliver what has been sent down to
you from your Lord; and if you do not do it, you
have not delivered His message (at all); and Allah
will protect you from the people ...” (5:67).
Some of the famous commentators of the Qur’an who have
verified the revelation of this verse at Ghadeer Khumm
include Fakhrudeen ar-Razi, Hafiz Abu Nu’aym, as-Suyuti,
and Muhyadeen an-Nawawi (all under commentary of the
verse 5:67).
Preparations:
Immediately upon revelation of this verse, The Prophet
(peace be upon him and his progeny) stopped at once and
ordered that all the people who had gone ahead should
be called back, and waited for those who had fallen behind
to catch up. It was around noon time in the summer, and
due to the extreme heat in that valley, the Muslims had
taken shade under their cloaks from the burning sun, and
were sitting on their robes to protect themselves from the
burning desert sands. When the entire caravan had
converged, the Prophet (peace be upon him and his
progeny) ordered his companions to use the saddles from
the Muslims’ camels and set up a makeshift pulpit.
The Speech
Upon ascending the pulpit, the Messenger of Allah
(peace be upon him and his progeny) delivered a lengthy
sermon in which he recited nearly one hundred verses from
the Qur’an, and warned people of their deeds and future.
Then he delivered a long speech, in which he said:
“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
both of them, 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).”
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his progeny)
then continued: “Do I not have more right over the believers
than what they have over themselves?” The people cried
out: “Yes, O' Messenger of God.” Then Prophet then held
up the hand of ‘Ali and said:
“For whoever I am his leader (Mawla), ‘Ali is his leader
(Mawla). “O Allah! Love those who love ‘Ali, and be
the enemy of the enemy of ‘Ali; help him who helps
‘Ali, and forsake him who forsakes ‘A1i.”
This incident has been recorded by so many Muhaditheen
(recorders of ahadeeth) that is is considered mutawatir
(undeniably authentic). The list of sources includes Sahih
Tirmidhi, Sunan ibn Majah, Khasa’is an-Nisa’i, Mustadrak
al-Hakim, Musnad ibn Hanbal, Fadha’il as-Sahaba of ibn
Hanbal, Tasfeer al-Kabir by Fakhrud Deen ar-Razi, al-Bidayah
wa Nihaya by Ibn Kathir, and many others. All of these
scholars are among the most renowned and well-respected
scholars in Islamic history.

Revelation of Verse 5:3
Immediately after the Prophet (peace be upon him and
his progeny) finished his speech, the following verse of Holy
Qur’an was revealed:
“This day have those who disbelieve despaired of your
religion, so fear them not, and fear Me. This day have
I perfected for you your religion and completed My
bounty upon you and chosen for you Islam as a
religion.” (5:3)
Some of the Ahle-Sunnah scholars who which mention the
revelation of this verse at Ghadir Khum include as-Suyuti,
ibn Asakir, ibn Katheer, Abu Nu’aym, and many others.
Laudation from the Muslims
After his speech, the Messenger of Allah asked every
body to give the oath of allegiance to ‘Ali (as) and
congratulate him. Among the first Muslims to congratulate
‘Ali were ‘Umar and Abu Bakr, who said:
“Well done, O son of Abu Talib! Today you have
become the leader (Mawla) of all believing men and
women.”
[Found in Musnad Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, Tafsir al-Kabir by
Fakhrudeen al-Razi, Kitabul Wilayah by at-Tabari, and many
others]

The Meaning of "Mawla"
The schools of thought differ on the interpretation of
the word “Mawla.” In Arabic, the world “Mawla” has
many meanings. It can mean master, friend, slave, or even
client. If a word has more than one meaning, the best way
to ascertain its true connotation is to look at the association
(qarinah) and the context. There are scores of “associations”
in this hadith which clearly show that the only meaning
fitting the occasion can be “master”. Some of them are as
follows.
First: The question which the Holy Prophet asked just before
this declaration: “Do I not have more authority (awla) upon
you than you have yourselves?” When they said: “Yes,
surely,” then the Prophet proceeded to declare that:
“Whoever whose mawla I am. ‘Ali is his mawla.” Without
doubt, the word “mawla” in this declaration has the same
meaning as “awla” (having more authority upon you). At
least 64 Sunni traditionalists have quoted that preceding
question; among them are Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Ibn Majah,
an-Nasa’i and at-Tirmidhi.
Second: The following prayer which the Holy Prophet
uttered just after this declaration:
“O Allah! Love him who loves ‘Ali, and be the enemy
of the enemy of ‘Ali; help him who helps ‘Ali, and
forsake him who forsakes ‘A1i.”
This prayer shows that ‘A1i, on that day, was entrusted with
a responsibility which, by its very nature, would make some
people his enemy; and in carrying out that responsibility
he would need helpers and supporters. Are helpers ever
needed to carry on a friendship?
Third: The declaration of the Holy Prophet that: “It seems
imminent that I will be called away (by Allah) and I will
answer that call.” This clearly shows that he was making
arrangements for the leadership of the Muslims after his
death.