| Eid al-Ghadir | |
|---|---|
| Also called | Eid al-Ghadeer; Yawm al-mithaq (Day of the Covenant) |
| Observed by | Shia Muslims, Alawites |
| Type | Shia Islam |
| Significance | Commemorates theGhadir Khumm, whenMuhammad is believed by Shia Muslims to have appointedAli as his successor |
| Observances | Prayers, gift-giving, festive meals, as well as reciting theDu'a Nudba, |
| Date | 18 Dhu al-Hijjah |
| 2024 date | 25 June (Iran)[1] |
| Part ofa series on Shia Islam |
|---|
 |
 Shia Islam portal |
Eid al-Ghadir (Arabic:عید الغدیر,romanized: ʿīd al-ghadīr,lit. 'feast of the pond') is a holiday commemorating the event ofGhadir Khumm on 18Dhul-Hijjah, when, according to interpretation inShia Islam, the Islamic prophetMuhammad appointedAli ibn Abi Talib as his successor. It is a significant holidays ofShi'ite Muslims andAlawites.[2] According toShia hadiths, this Eid has been named "Eid-e Bozorg-e Elāhi" (Persian:عید بزرگ الهی; i.e. the greatest divine Eid),[3] "EidAhl al-Bayt Muhammad",[4][5] "Yom Al-Wilayah" (يوم الولاية Day of the Guardianship),[6] and Ashraf al-A'yaad (i.e. the supreme Eid).[7][8]
The event ofGhadir Khumm occurred ten years after the migration (Hijrah), when the Islamic prophetMuhammad 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 toMecca, where, on the fourth day of the month ofDhu'l-Hijjah, there were more than one hundred thousand Muslims present for his entry into the city.[9][10] While returning from this pilgrimage, on 18Dhu'l-Hijjah 10AH (March 632 CE) at an area known asGhadir Khumm, Muhammad delivered a well-known sermon during which he called up his cousin, brother, and son-in-lawAli ibn Abi Talib and declared, "to whomsoever I amMawla, Ali is also theirMawla". The meaning of the wordMawla can be interpreted as "master", and thus many see the sermon as being the official designation of Ali as Muhammad's successor.[11] 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".[12][13] 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 theirMawla". While the meaning of the wordMawla 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”.
In a hadith attributed to Muhammad recorded byIbn Babawayh, Muhammad considers Ghadir Khum to be the best and highest of the festivals of hisUmmah.[14]Shia Muslims throughout the world celebrate this event annually with diverse customs.[15][16] It is held in different countries, includingIran,[17][18][19]India,Pakistan,Azerbaijan,[20]Iraq,[21][22]UAE,Yemen,Afghanistan,Lebanon,Turkey,[23]Bahrain, andSyria. Shia Muslims also celebrate Eid Ghadir in Europe and the Americas, including the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France.[24][25][26][27]
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 theBuyid era, then during theSafavid era, the Eid al-Ghadir was one of the largest religious festivals celebrated. The celebration also gained special importance during theQajar era, 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 thePahlavi era.[28]In 2022, a 10-km long festival was held inTehran marking the Ghadir ceremony with hundreds of thousands of the people pouring out intoValiasr Street and the nearby streets.[29]
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 inYemen as Yom Al-Wilaya) has been celebrated more than ever since theZaydi Shia Government took over Yemen.[30][31] Also in the same Year theIraqi Parliament declared Eid al-Ghadir to be an official public holiday with the encouragement of theSadrist Leader,Muqtada al-Sadr.[32]
According to the narrations,Hassan ibn Ali used to hold ceremonies inKufa 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,hand shaking, wearing new clothes, using perfume, makingdonations, helping others, saying prayers,feeding others, making others happy and giving gifts to others are among the suggested customs reported in narrations.[33]
{{cite book}}:ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)
