Eid al-Ghadir () is a commemorative holiday, and is considered to be among the most significant holidays of Shiasm Muslims and Alawites.[Al-Hurr al-Aamili, Wasā'il al-Shīʿa, V.8, P.89] "Eid Ahl al-Bayt Muhammad",[ The celebration of Ghaidr mashreghnews.ir Retrieved 15 September 2018][Sayyed Ibn Tawus, Iqbal al-A'mal, V.2, P.261] "Yom Al-Walayah" (يوم الولاية Day of the Guardianship),[ Eid Ghadir (Ghadeer) yjc.ir][Muhammad ibn Ya'qub al-Kulayni, Kitab al-Kafi, V.4, P.148]
Religious background
Ten years after the migration (
Hijrah), the Islamic prophet
Muhammad ordered his followers to call upon people everywhere to join him in his first and last pilgrimage. Islamic scholars believe more than seventy thousand people followed Muhammad on his way to
Mecca, where, on the fourth day of the month of Dhu'l-Hijjah, there were more than one hundred thousand Muslims present for his entry into the city.
[ Ghadir Khum al-islam.org][ Event of Ghadir Khumm Irfan.ir] While returning from this pilgrimage, on 18 Dhu'l-Hijjah 10
Islamic calendar (March 632 CE) at an area known as Ghadir Khumm, Muhammad delivered a well-known sermon during which he called up his cousin, brother, and son-in-law Ali ibn Abi Talib and declared, "to whomsoever I am
Mawla, Ali is also their
Mawla". The meaning of the word
Mawla can be interpreted as "master", and thus many see the sermon as being the official designation of Ali as Muhammad's successor.
As a result, the date of the sermon is considered to be one of the foundational events of Shia Islam, with the anniversary becoming one of its most important annual celebrations as "Eid al-Ghadir".
To be more precise, Muhammad declared "Do I have more authority over you than you do yourselves?" They responded with "Yes oh prophet of Allah" He continued with " Then, to whomsoever I am Mawla, Ali is also their
Mawla". While the meaning of the word
Mawla can be interpreted as "friend" (as it has many meanings), the question asked set the context for it to be interpreted as "master" and in turn suggested “leader”.
Celebration
In a hadith attributed to Muhammad recorded by
Ibn Babawayh, Muhammad considers Ghadir Khum to be the best and highest of the festivals of his
Ummah.
Shia Muslims throughout the world celebrate this event annually with diverse customs.
[ The celebration of the event of Ghadir Khum irna.ir][ Eid (feast) Ghadir-Khum afkarnews.com] It is held in different countries, including
Iran,
[ Ghadir Khum (Eid) farsnews.com][ Ghadir celebration, Ahwaz, Iran aparat.com][ Ghadir celebration irinn.ir Retrieved 22 September 2018] India,
Pakistan,
Azerbaijan,
[ Islamic countries, Eid Ghadir Khum hawzah.net] Iraq,
[ Iraq, Eid Ghadir-Khum alalam.ir Retrieved 22 September 2018][ Eid Ghadir Khum, Iraq shia-news.com Retrieved 22 September 2018] UAE,
Yemen,
Afghanistan,
Lebanon,
Turkey,
, and
Syria. Shia Muslims also celebrate Eid Ghadir in Europe and the Americas, including the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France.
[ Ghadir Khum, celebration alkawthartv.com][ Eid Ghadir-Khum, in Georgia iribnews.ir][ The celebration of Ghadir, in Saudi Arabia shia-news.com][ Ghadir celebration in various countries of the world iqna.ir]
According to some historical accounts, the commemoration of the event of Ghadir Khum was held as a festival since the first centuries of Islam, for the first time during the Buyid dynasty, then during the Safavid dynasty, the Eid al-Ghadir was one of the largest religious festivals celebrated. The celebration also gained special importance during the Qajar dynasty, as on this day, an official greeting ceremony was held with great ceremony in the court. The custom of greeting the king on this day continued during the Pahlavi dynasty.
In 2024, a massive celebration was held in multiple Yemeni Provinces where fireworks, bands, and speeches were held. In recent years, Eid Al-Ghadir (known in Yemen as Yom Al-Wilaya) has been celebrated more than ever since the Zaydism Shia Government took over Yemen.
According to the narrations, Hassan ibn Ali used to hold ceremonies in Kufa on the day of Ghadir. Ali ibn Abi Talib used to participate the ceremony accompanied by a group of his followers. After the ceremony, Hassan ibn Ali would give people gifts. Greeting, Handshake, wearing new clothes, using perfume, making , helping others, saying prayers, Eating others, making others happy and giving gifts to others are among the suggested customs reported in narrations.
See also
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