The Significance of Eid-e-Ghadeer-e-Khum

'Today I have perfected your religion for you, and I have completed My favour upon you, and I have approved Islam for you as religion.'

(Surat al-Ma'idah: 3)

This article was written by Ra'sul Hududil Mayameen Janab Syedi Aziz Bhaisaheb Qutbuddin in 2014.

In his Majlis delivered on the day of Eid e Ghadeer-e-Khum, Syedna al-Mu’ayyad al-Shirazi begins with Hamd and Salawat:

In the Majlis, Syedna al-Mu’ayyad makes the case that the ayat from the Qur’an quoted above was revealed in reference to the Day of Ghadeer in which Rasulullah SA delivered the final message, the final farizat– the walaayat of his wasiyy, Maulana Ali SA.

Syedna Mu’ayyad adds that before Ghadeer Rasulullah was apprehensive about conveying this message because he knew the animosity in some people’s hearts. So deep was the concern that eventually Allah Ta’ala revealed, "O Rasul, convey what has been revealed to you, if you do not, you have not conveyed any message at all" (Surat al-Ma’ida : 67). So important is the message of Ghadeer that no other message counts without it. So important is walaayat that no other farizat stands without it.

Syedna Mu’ayyad argues that this last ayat was no doubt revealed with respect to the fareezat of walaayat, because there was no other fareezat or message that Rasulullah was apprehensive about communicating to the Muslims, despite the hardships that they entailed. Rasulullah was anxious about communicating the fareezat of walaayat because he saw the deep rooted jealousy in some people around him.

Despite Rasulullah’s clear declaration in Ghadeer, man kuntu mawlaahu fa haaza ‘Aliyyun mawlaahu, those who were jealous refused to accept Amirul Mumineen as their Imam, just as they had never truly accepted him during Rasulullah’s lifetime. Despite Syedna Burhanuddin’s clear declaration that Syedna Qutbuddin was his Mazoon in the first misaaq that he took (and reaffirmed this until the last misaaq he took), there were those who were jealous and never really accepted him. In their animosity they became bolder and bolder until after Syedna Burhanuddin’s wafaat they proclaimed la’nat in the Masjids.

We are blessed and fortunate that over 1400 years later we are among those who have fulfilled the oath of Ghadeer. The Nass that was proclaimed by Rasulullah on Amirul Mumineen continued in the line of Imams in the progeny of Muhammad and Ali. And during Imam’s satar, that same Nass continues in the Du’aat by Imam Aamir’s appointment of the 1st Da’i – Syedna Zu’ayb at the hands of Maulatuna Hurratul Malika and each Dai’s appointment of his successor through the ilhaam of Imam-uz-zaman.

Indeed, the honor of the Day of Ghadeer today is truly realized by recognizing the true successor to the Nass of the Imams and the Dais – the Dai of our age – and by giving Misaaq to him, recognizing and accepting the 52 Du’aat, the 21 Imams, Panjetan and through them reaching the Almighty. In his qasida, Syedna Burhanuddin RA eloquently expresses the connection between our declaration of na’am (yes, I swear by God) with ne’am (Allah Ta’ala’s bounties):

This is indeed the covenant that we will be asked about on the Day of Judgment (Surat al-Ahzaab: 15). And for those who have fulfilled their oaths, Allah Ta’ala promises greatest reward (Surat al-Tawba: 111):