As the sun began to climb toward its zenith on the 18th of Dhul-Hijjah, the stillness of the plain was broken by a divine command. The Angel Jibreel-e-Ameen descended with the decisive verse:
“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. And Allah will protect you from the people. Indeed, Allah does not guide the disbelieving people.” (Al-Ma’idah 5:67)
The tone of the revelation was unlike any before. It was urgent, absolute, and left no room for delay. The Holy Prophet (SAWAW) at once instructed that those who had gone ahead be called back, and those who lagged behind be waited for, so that not a single soul among the pilgrims would miss what was about to unfold. Messengers rode out in every direction, and slowly the scattered caravans returned, until the entire ocean of pilgrims stood assembled upon that barren land.
The heat of the noon sun was severe. The earth beneath their feet had grown so hot that many spread portions of their cloaks upon their heads and another portion beneath their feet to bear the burning ground. Yet no one complained, for a sense of awe had settled upon the gathering — the feeling that something momentous, something that would shape the future of the Ummah, was about to be declared.
By the command of the Holy Prophet (SAWAW), a raised pulpit was hastily prepared from the saddles of the camels, stacked one upon another, so that his blessed voice and figure could reach the farthest edges of the crowd. He ascended this pulpit of saddles, and a hush fell over the multitude. Even the wind seemed to still itself in reverence.
After praising Allah and glorifying Him as He deserves to be glorified, the Holy Prophet (SAWAW) addressed the gathering with words heavy with farewell:
“O people! It is as though I have been called and I have answered. I am but a (Misal-e-Bashar) human being, and I expect that the messenger of my Lord shall soon come to me and I shall answer his call. Behold! I am leaving among you two weighty things: the Book of Allah, in which is guidance and light, so hold fast to it; and the members of my Household (Ahl al-Bayt). I remind you, by Allah, of my Ahl al-Bayt. I remind you, by Allah, of my Ahl al-Bayt.”
Then, in a voice that carried the weight of prophecy and the tenderness of a father bidding farewell to his children, he asked the gathering:
“Do I not have more authority over the believers than they have over themselves?”
The reply rose from a hundred thousand throats as one voice: “Yes, O Messenger of Allah!”
Commencing his sermon, the Holy Prophet Muhammad(SAWAW) anticipated the likelihood of his absence during the next year’s Hajj. On listening to these words, those who used to keep Holy Prophet Muhammad(SAWAW) most beloved to them together with his Holy Ahle Bait Athaar(ASWS) started crying. On questioning, they told: “Ya Rasool Allah(SAWAW), your anticipation about your absence during the next year’s Hajj, has saddened us a lot as if you shall no longer be among us whereas “You are our Master, Guardian, the ultimate Shield of Safety, and the final Sanctuary of Peace for our souls” and our lives, our survival, our pleasure, our joyful prayers are all because of your blessed presence among us.
At this, the Holy Prophet (SAWAW), removing their worries because of his absence next year, took the hand of Ali ibn Abi Talib (AS), raised it so high that the whiteness of his blessed underarms became visible to the crowd, and proclaimed the immortal words:
“Man kuntu Mawlahu, fa hadha Aliyyun Mawlah — Of whomsoever I am the Master, this Ali is also his Master. O Allah, love him who loves Ali, and be the enemy of him who is the enemy of Ali. Help him who helps him, and forsake him who forsakes him, and let the truth turn with him wherever he turns.”
He repeated this declaration, so that no ear should miss it and no tongue should later deny it. The words settled upon the hearts of the listeners with the weight of a covenant sealed between heaven and earth. The Holy Prophet Muhammad(SAWAW) advised the Listeners to keep conveying this declaration to the coming generations, emphasizing on the present ones to let the ones know who were not present. More importantly, advice to keep conveying this declaration in favour of Hadrat Maula Ali-ul-Murtaza(ASWS) generation to generation was taken into account by the Holy Prophet(SAWAW). Meaning of the word “Maula” is greatly broader as per Holy Quran.
Following the Quranic Verses, Almighty Allah’s commitment “And Allah will protect you from the people“, proved to be true. Hindering the Holy Prophet Muhammad(SAWAW) while speaking, one of the Listeners named Haris Ibn Nauman spoke out stating: “Ya Rasool Allah! Is accepting Hadrat Ali-ul-Murtaza(ASWS) as “Maula” with your own consent or with the consent of Almighty Allah”. Knowing that the Holy Prophet(SAWAW) never spoke a single word with his own wish by with the Will of Almighty Allah, he raised an unwanted question which exposed him. The Holy Prophet(SAWAW) replied: “Announcing Hadrat Ali-ul-Murtaza(ASWS) as “Maula” of True Momineen, is not with my consent but with the consent of Allah” in compliance with the Quranic Order. Even then, Haris Ibn Nauman did not accept the reply of the Holy Prophet Muhammad(SAWAW) and stating: “Better is to die than to accept Ali Ibn Abu Talib(AS) as “Maula”, walked out of the vast gathering. No sooner did he reach an open area, stricken his head until immediate death was a question that could not be answered. After reaching Madinah, those disciples having true love with the Holy Prophet Muhammad(SAWAW) and his Holy Ahle Bait Athaar(ASWS) together with respectful frankness at the end of Esha prayer first sought permission and then asked the Holy Prophet Muhammad(SAWAW) as to all what happened with Harish Ibn Nauman at Khumm-e-Ghadeer’s declaration. The Holy Prophet Muhammad(SAWAW) happily answered stating: “There is a Contract between Allah and Ali Ibn Abu Talib(AS) that Allah’s enemy will be killed by Ali and his enemy will be killed by Allah”. At Khyber, Marhab’s brother was also Haris and being enemy of Allah was killed by Ali, and this Haris Ibn Nauman exposed him to be enemy of Ali, was killed by Allah as per contract. The disciples thanked the Holy Prophet Muhammad(SAWAW) by kissing his holy hands with love. On disciple stated: Ya Rasool Allah(SAWAW): “Sometime Love with Ali Paak arises in my heart like waves of Ocean making me difficult to remain in peace”. The Holy Prophet Muhammad(SAWAW) felt pleasure on his words and gave him a solution stating that when such situation arises again, you should immediately kiss the feet of your mother and you will feel peace. It means, love with Ali Paak(ASWS) is something greater than ones expectation beyond understanding, which is a great blessing of Almighty Allah.
Scarcely had the Holy Prophet (SAWAW) descended from the pulpit of saddles when Jibreel-e-Ameen descended once more, this time bearing the verse of completion:
“This day I have perfected for you your religion, and completed My favor unto you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.” (Al-Ma’idah 5:3)
A wave of joy, awe, and quiet tears passed through the gathering. The religion was complete. The message was delivered. The successor was appointed. The favor of Allah upon the believers had reached its fullness.
Then, by the instruction of the Holy Prophet (SAWAW), a special tent was pitched, and the companions were called forth, one after another, to offer their felicitations to Ali ibn Abi Talib (AS) and to pledge their allegiance to him as the Mawla appointed by the Prophet’s own hand. Foremost among those who hastened forward were Abu Bakr, Umar, and Uthman, each embracing Ali (AS) and saying the celebrated words: “Congratulations, congratulations, O son of Abu Talib! You have become, this morning and this evening, the Mawla of every believing man and every believing woman.”
The sun of that day, the 18th of Dhul-Hijjah, 10 AH, set over Khumm-e-Ghadeer, but its light did not fade. It became a light preserved in the memory of the believers, celebrated year after year as Eid-e-Ghadeer — the day the religion was perfected, the favor was completed, and the guidance of the Ummah was entrusted to hands the Prophet himself had raised before the eyes of all mankind.