The Arguments of the Imams (Pbut) regarding Al-Ghadeer Day

عن أمير المؤمنين × في احتجاج طويل على أبي بكر, قال ×: أنشدك بالله أنا المولى لك ولكل مسلم بحديث النبي | يوم الغدير أم أنت؟ قال: بل أنت. [1]

The Commander of the Faithful (Pbuh), in a lengthy argument with Abu Bakr, said: "I adjure you by Allah, am I your master and the master of every Muslim by the declaration of the Prophet (Pbuhp) on the day of Ghadir, or are you?" He (Abu Bakr) replied: "You are." [2]

عن أمير المؤمنين × في احتجاجه يوم الشورى, قال: فهل فيكم أحد قال له رسول الله |: "من كنت مولاه فعلي مولاه، اللهم وال من والاه، وعاد من عاداه، ليبلغ الشاهد الغائب ذلك," غيري؟ قالوا: لا. [3]

The Commander of the Faithful (Ali ibn Abi Talib) (Pbuh), in his argument on the day of the council (Shura), said: "Is there anyone among you to whom the Messenger of Allah (Pbuhp) said: 'Whomsoever I am his master, Ali is his master. O Allah, befriend whoever is loyal to him, and be an enemy to whoever is hostile to him. Let the present convey this to the absent,' other than me?" They replied: "No." [4]

عن أبي عبد الله × قال: سمعته يقول: قال أمير المؤمنين ×: والله لقد أعطاني الله تبارك وتعالى تسعة أشياء لم يعطها أحدا قبلي خلا محمدا |: لقد فتحت لي السبل, وعلمت الأنساب, وأجري لي السحاب, وعلمت المنايا, والبلايا, وفصل الخطاب, ولقد نظرت في الملكوت بإذن ربي فما غاب عني ما كان قبلي ولا فاتني ما يكون من بعدي, وإن بولايتي أكمل الله لهذه الأمة دينهم وأتم عليهم النعم ورضي لهم الإسلام, إذ يقول يوم الولاية لمحمد |: يا محمد أخبرهم أني اليوم أكملت لهم دينهم وأتممت عليهم نعمتي ورضيت لهم الإسلام دينا, وكل ذلك منا من الله من به علي فله الحمد. [5]

Imam Jaa’far Sadiq (Pbuh) said: “Amir Elmo’mineen (Pbuh) said: “By Allah, Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, has granted me nine things that He did not grant anyone before me except the Prophet (Pbuhp): He has opened the paths for me, bestowed knowledge of genealogy, made the clouds pour rain for me, granted me the complete knowledge of life and death and its trials, and granted me decryption of speech. I have looked into the realm of the unseen with the permission of my Lord, and nothing that happened before me or will happen after me has been hidden from me. Allah, in His wisdom, has made my Wilaya (Divine Leadership) a means to complete the religion of this nation, perfect their blessings, and be pleased with their Islam. On the day of Wilaya (leadership), Allah said to Mohammad (Pbuhp): "O Mohammad, inform them that today I have perfected their religion for them, and I am pleased with Islam as their religion. I have completed my favor upon them." All of this is a blessing from Allah, and to Him belongs all praise.” [6]

قال أمير المؤمنين × في حديث طويل: أتعلمون حيث نزلت {يا أيها الذين آمنوا أطيعوا الله وأطيعوا الرسول وأولي الأمر منكم}، وحيث نزلت {إنما وليكم الله ورسوله والذين آمنوا الذين يقيمون الصلاة ويؤتون الزكاة وهم راكعون}، وحيث نزلت {أم حسبتم أن تتركوا ولما يعلم الله الذين جاهدوا منكم ولم يتخذوا من دون الله ولا رسوله ولا المؤمنين وليجة}، قال الناس: يا رسول الله، خاصة في بعض المؤمنين أم عامة لجميعهم؟ فأمر الله عز وجل أن يعلمهم ولاة أمرهم, وأن يفسر لهم من الولاية ما فسر لهم من صلاتهم وزكاتهم وصومهم وحجهم. فنصبني للناس بغدير خم. [7]

The Commander of the Faithful (Ali ibn Abi Talib) (Pbuh), in a long narration, said: "Do you know where the verse {O you who have believed, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you} was revealed, and where the verse {Your ally is none but Allah and His Messenger and those who have believed, those who establish prayer and give zakat while they bow} was revealed, and where the verse {Or do you think that you will be left [as you are] while Allah has not yet made evident those among you who strive [for His cause] and do not take other than Allah, His Messenger, and the believers as intimates} was revealed? The people said: 'O Messenger of Allah, is this specific to some of the believers or general for all of them?' So, Allah the Almighty commanded that he (the Prophet) inform them of their leaders and explain to them the matter of their authority as he had explained to them their prayers, their alms, their fasting, and their pilgrimage. Thus, he appointed me for the people at Ghadir Khumm." [8]

عن محمود بن لبيد أنه سأل السيدة الزهراء ÷: يا سيدتي, إني سائلك عن مسألة تلجلج في صدري, قالت ÷: سل, قلت: هل نص رسول الله | قبل وفاته على علي بالامامة؟ قالت: واعجباه! أنسيتم يوم غدير خم؟! قلت: قد كان ذلك، ولكن أخبريني بما أسر اليك؟ قالت ÷: أشهد الله تعالى لقد سمعته يقول: علي خير من أخلفه فيكم، وهو الامام والخليفة بعدي، وسبطي وتسعة من صلب الحسين أئمة أبرار، لئن اتبعتموهم وجدتموهم هادين مهديين، ولئن خالفتموهم ليكون الاختلاف فيكم الى يوم القيامة. [9]

Mahmoud bin Labid asked Lady Fatimah al-Zahra (pbuh): "O my lady, I have a question that lingers in my heart." She (pbuh) said: "Ask." I said: "Did the Messenger of Allah (pbuhp) appoint Ali as the Imam before his death?" She (pbuh) said: "How strange! Have you forgotten the day of Ghadir Khumm?" I said: "That happened, but tell me what he confided to you?" She (pbuh) said: "I bear witness to Allah that I heard him say: 'Ali is the best one I leave among you. He is the Imam and the successor after me. My two grandsons and nine descendants from the lineage of al-Husayn are righteous Imams. If you follow them, you will find them to be rightly guided. If you oppose them, there will be discord among you until the Day of Resurrection.'" [10]

عن السيدة الزهراء ÷ أنه قالت يوم الهجوم على الدار: لا عهد لي بقوم أسوأ محضرا منكم، تركتم رسول الله | جنازة بين أيدينا وقطعتم أمركم فيما بينكم، ولم تؤمرونا، ولم تروا لنا حقا، كأنكم لم تعلموا ما قال يوم غدير خم؛ والله، لقد عقد له يومئذ الولاء ليقطع منكم بذلك منها الرجاء ولكنكم قطعتم الأسباب بينكم وبين نبيكم، والله حسيب بيننا وبينكم في الدنيا والآخرة. [11]

Lady Zahraa (Pbuh) said: “I have never had an encounter with a people more treacherous than you. You abandoned the funeral of the Messenger of Allah (pbuhp) right before our eyes, and you made decisions among yourselves denying our leadership and our right. It's as if you didn't know what he said on the day of Ghadir Khum. By Allah, on that day, allegiance was given to him, cutting off your hope. But you severed the ties between you and your Prophet. Allah will be the judge between us and you in this world and the Hereafter.'" [12]

عن الإمام الحسن × في احتجاج طويل على معاوية, قال ×: أقسم بالله قسما تاليا, لو أن الناس سمعوا قول الله ورسوله لأعطتهم السماء قطرها والأرض بركتها, ولما اختلف في هذه الأمة سيفان, ولأكلوها خضراء خضرة إلى يوم القيامة, وإذا ما طمعت يا معاوية فيها ولكنها لما أخرجت سالفا من معدنها, وزحزحت عن قواعدها, تنازعتها قريش بينها وترامتها كترامي الكرة, حتى طمعت فيها أنت يا معاوية وأصحابك من بعدك, وقد قال رسول الله |: ما ولت أمة أمرها رجلا قط وفيهم من هو أعلم منه, إلا لم يزل أمرهم يذهب سفالا حتى يرجعوا إلى ما تركوا, وقد تركت بنو إسرائيل وكانوا أصحاب موسى × هارون أخاه وخليفته ووزيره, وعكفوا على العجل وأطاعوا فيه سامريهم, وهم يعلمون أنه خليفة موسى ×, وقد سمعت هذه الأمة رسول الله | يقول ذلك لأبي ×: إنه مني بمنزلة هارون من موسى إلا أنه لا نبي بعدي, وقد رأوا رسول الله | حين نصبه لهم بغدير خم, وسمعوه ونادى له بالولاية, ثم أمرهم أن يبلغ الشاهد منهم الغائب‏. [13]

Imam al-Hasan (pbuh), in a lengthy argument with Muawiyah, said: "I swear by God, a binding oath, that if people had heeded the words of God and His Messenger, the sky would have granted them its rain and the earth its blessings, and there would not have been any conflict among this nation. They would have lived in prosperity until the Day of Judgment, and you, Muawiyah, would not have had any ambition for it. However, because it was taken from its rightful place and moved from its foundations, Quraysh disputed it among themselves and tossed it around like a ball until you, Muawiyah, and your companions, coveted it.

The Messenger of Allah (pbuhp) said: 'A nation never appoints a man to lead them while there is someone among them more knowledgeable than him without their affairs deteriorating until they revert to what they left.' The Israelites, who were with Moses, left his brother Aaron, his successor and minister, and worshipped the calf and obeyed their Samaritan, even though they knew Aaron was the successor of Moses. This nation heard the Messenger of Allah (pbuhp) say to my father: 'He is to me as Aaron was to Moses, except there is no prophet after me.' They saw the Messenger of Allah (pbuhp) appoint him at Ghadir Khumm, heard him declare his leadership, and he ordered them to convey this to those who were absent." [14]

عن أبي الجارود، عن أبي جعفر × قال: فرض الله عز وجل على العباد خمسا، أخذوا أربعا وتركوا واحدا، قلت: أتسميهن لي جعلت فداك؟ فقال: الصلاة وكان الناس لا يدرون كيف يصلون، فنزل جبرئيل × فقال: يا محمد أخبرهم بمواقيت صلاتهم، ثم نزلت الزكاة فقال: يا محمد أخبرهم من زكاتهم ما أخبرتهم من صلاتهم، ثم نزل الصوم فكان رسول الله | إذا كان يوم عاشورا بعث إلى ما حوله من القرى فصاموا ذلك اليوم فنزل شهر رمضان بين شعبان وشوال، ثم نزل الحج فنزل جبرئيل × فقال: أخبرهم من حجهم ما أخبرتهم من صلاتهم وزكاتهم وصومهم. ثم نزلت الولاية وإنما أتاه ذلك في يوم الجمعة بعرفة، أنزل الله عز وجل {اليوم أكملت لكم دينكم وأتممت عليكم نعمتي} وكان كمال الدين بولاية علي ابن أبي طالب × فقال عند ذلك رسول الله |: أمتي حديثوا عهد بالجاهلية ومتى أخبرتهم بهذا في ابن عمي يقول قائل، ويقول قائل - فقلت في نفسي من غير أن ينطق به لساني - فأتتني عزيمة من الله عز وجل بتلة أوعدني إن لم أبلغ أن يعذبني، فنزلت {يا أيها الرسول بلغ ما انزل إليك من ربك وإن لم تفعل فما بلغت رسالته والله يعصمك من الناس إن الله لا يهدي القوم الكافرين} فأخذ رسول الله | بيد علي × فقال: أيها الناس إنه لم يكن نبي من الأنبياء ممن كان قبلي إلا وقد عمره الله، ثم دعاه فأجابه، فأوشك أن ادعى فأجيب وأنا مسؤول وأنتم مسؤولون فماذا أنتم قائلون؟ فقالوا: نشهد أنك قد بلغت ونصحت، وأديت ما عليك فجزاك الله أفضل جزاء المرسلين، فقال: اللهم اشهد - ثلاث مرات - ثم قال: يا معشر المسلمين هذا وليكم من بعدي فليبلغ الشاهد منكم الغائب. قال أبو جعفر ×: كان والله علي × أمين الله على خلقه وغيبه ودينه الذي ارتضاه لنفسه. ^[15]

Imam Abu Ja'far al-Baqir (pbuh) said, "Allah, the Almighty, has enjoined upon His servants five obligations, of which they have fulfilled four and left one. I asked, 'Can you specify them for me, may I be sacrificed for you?' He replied, 'The prayer'—he counted the obligations until he said—'then the concept of Wilayah (Divine leadership-guardianship) was revealed on Friday at Arafa Mount.'Allah, the Almighty, revealed the verse, {This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you.} The perfection of religion was achieved through the Wilayah of Ali son of Abi Talib (pbuh). At that moment, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) thought to himself without speaking loud, ‘These people are still from the ignorance era, and so when I inform them about this matter in my cousin Ali, one group will say something, and another group will say something.' Then a mandate from Allah, the Almighty, came to me, promising punishment if I did not convey it. So Allah revealed the 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. Allah will protect you from people. Indeed Allah guides not those who reject faith}. ' The Messenger of Allah (Pbuhp) took the hand of Ali (pbuh) and said, "O people, there was no prophet among the prophets who came before me except that he had lived his life, and then Allah called him, and he responded, and I am soon to be called, and I will respond. I am accountable, and you are accountable. What do you say?" They said, "We bear witness that you have conveyed the message, advised, and fulfilled what was upon you. May Allah reward you with the best of rewards given to messengers." He said, "O Allah, bear witness."  This statement was repeated three times. Then he said, 'O people of the Muslims! This Ali is your Waliy (leader-guardian) after me. Let the witness convey this message to the absent ones among you.' Abu Ja'far (pbuh) said, 'By Allah, Ali was entrusted by Allah to fulfill His commandments, whether apparent or concealed, and to safeguard His religion, which He has chosen for Himself.'" [16]

عن أحدهما قال: إن الله قضى الاختلاف على خلق وكان أمرا قد قضاه في علمه, كما قضى على الأمم من قبلكم وهي السنن والأمثال يجري على الناس, فجرت علينا كما جرت على الذين من قبلنا وقول الله حق, قال الله تبارك وتعالى لمحمد |:‏ {سنة من قد أرسلنا قبلك من رسلنا ولا تجد لسنتنا تحويلا} وقال:‏ {فهل ينظرون إلا سنت الأولين فلن تجد لسنت الله تبديلا ولن تجد لسنت الله تحويلا} وقال:‏ {فهل ينتظرون إلا مثل أيام الذين خلوا من قبلهم قل فانتظروا إني معكم من المنتظرين} وقال ×: لا تبديل لقول الله,‏ وقد قضى الله على موسى × وهو مع قومه يريهم الآيات والنذر, ثم مروا على قوم يعبدون أصناما {قالوا يا موسى اجعل لنا إلها كما لهم آلهة قال إنكم قوم تجهلون}‏ فاستخلف موسى هارون فنصبوا {عجلا جسدا له خوار فقالوا هذا إلهكم وإله موسى}‏ وتركوا هارون فقال:‏ {يا قوم إنما فتنتم به وإن ربكم الرحمن فاتبعوني وأطيعوا أمري قالوا لن نبرح عليه عاكفين حتى يرجع إلينا موسى}‏ فضرب لكم أمثالهم وبين لكم كيف صنع بهم, وقال: إن نبي الله | لم يقبض حتى أعلم الناس أمر علي × فقال: من‏ كنت‏ مولاه‏ فعلي مولاه, وقال |: إنه مني بمنزلة هارون من موسى غير أنه لا نبي بعدي, وكان صاحب راية رسول الله | في المواطن كلها, وكان معه في المسجد يدخله على كل حال, وكان أول الناس إيمانا به, فلما قبض نبي الله | كان الذي كان, لما قد قضي من الاختلاف وعمد عمر فبايع أبا بكر ولم يدفن رسول الله | بعد, فلما رأى ذلك علي × ورأى الناس قد بايعوا أبا بكر خشي أن يفتتن الناس, ففرغ إلى كتاب الله وأخذ يجمعه في مصحف, فأرسل أبو بكر إليه أن تعال فبايع, فقال علي ×: لا أخرج حتى أجمع القرآن, فأرسل إليه مرة أخرى, فقال ×: لا أخرج حتى أفرغ, فأرسل إليه الثالثة عمر رجلا, يقال له قنفذ, فقامت فاطمة بنت رسول الله صلوات الله عليها تحول بينه وبين علي × فضربها, فانطلق قنفذ وليس معه علي ×, فخشي أن يجمع علي الناس فأمر بحطب فجعل حوالي بيته, ثم انطلق عمر بنار فأراد أن يحرق على علي بيته, وعلى فاطمة والحسن والحسين صلوات الله عليهم, فلما رأى × ذلك, خرج فبايع كارها غير طائع. [17]

One of the two (Imams) said: “Indeed, God has decreed disputes among His creation, and it was an ordained matter within His knowledge, just as He decreed upon the nations before you. These are the traditions and examples that occur among people. They have happened to us just as they happened to those before us, and the word of God is true. God the Exalted said to Muhammad (pbuh): {This has been Our way with the messengers We sent before you, and you will find no change in Our ways}. And He said: {Do they await anything but the precedent of the former peoples? You will never find any change in the way of Allah, and you will never find any alteration in the way of Allah}. And He said: {Are they waiting for anything but the like of the days of those who passed away before them? Say, “Wait, I am with you among those who wait”}.

He (the Imam) said: There is no change to the word of God. God decreed upon Moses (pbuh) while he was with his people, showing them the signs and warnings. Then they passed by a people who were devoted to their idols. {They said, "O Moses, make for us a god just as they have gods." He said, "Indeed, you are a people behaving ignorantly"}. Moses left Aaron as his successor, {and they fashioned a calf with a lowing sound and said: This is your god and the god of Moses}. They abandoned Aaron who said: {O my people, you are only being tested by it, and indeed, your Lord is the Most Merciful; so follow me and obey my order. They said, "We will never cease being devoted to it until Moses returns to us"}.

He set examples for you and explained to you how He dealt with them. He said: The Prophet of God (pbuhp) did not depart until he had informed the people of the matter of Ali (pbuh). He said: 'For whomever I am his master, Ali is his master.' He said: 'He is to me as Aaron was to Moses, except that there is no prophet after me.' Ali was the bearer of the banner of the Messenger of God (pbuhp) in all the battles. He was with him in the mosque on all occasions. He was the first to believe in him. When the Prophet of God (pbuhp) passed away, what was destined to happen, happened. The matter of disputes arose. Umar went ahead and pledged allegiance to Abu Bakr before the Prophet (pbuhp) was even buried. When Ali (pbuh) saw this and saw that people were pledging allegiance to Abu Bakr, he feared that people might turn away from the faith. So he turned his attention to the Book of God and began compiling it into a single manuscript.

Abu Bakr sent for him to come and pledge allegiance. Ali (pbuh) replied: 'I will not leave until I have compiled the Quran.' Abu Bakr sent for him again, and Ali (pbuh) said: 'I will not leave until I have finished.' The third time, Abu Bakr sent Umar along with a man named Qunfudh. Fatimah, the daughter of the Messenger of God (pbut), stood in their way to prevent them from reaching Ali (pbuh). Qunfudh struck her, and he returned without Ali (pbuh). Fearing that Ali might gather people against them, they gathered wood and placed it around his house. Then Umar came with fire, intending to burn the house of Ali, Fatimah, Hasan, and Husayn (peace be upon them all). When Ali (pbuh) saw this, he went out and reluctantly pledged allegiance." [18]

عن المفضل بن عمر الجعفي، قال: سألت مولاي جعفر بن محمد الصادق × عن قول الله عز وجل: {قل فلله الحجة البالغة فلو شاء لهداكم أجمعين‏} فقال جعفر بن محمد ×: الحجة البالغة: التي تبلغ الجاهل من أهل الكتاب فيعلمها بجهله‏ كما يعلمها العالم بعلمه، لأن الله تعالى أكرم وأعدل من أن يعذب أحدا إلا بحجة. ثم تلا جعفر بن محمد ×: {وما كان الله ليضل قوما بعد إذ هداهم حتى يبين لهم ما يتقون}. ثم أنشأ جعفر بن محمد × محدثا يقول: ما مضى رسول الله | إلا بعد إكمال الدين وإتمام النعمة ورضا الرب، وأنزل الله على نبيه | بكراع الغميم‏: {يا أيها الرسول بلغ ما أنزل إليك من ربك وإن لم تفعل فما بلغت رسالته والله يعصمك من الناس} لأن رسول الله | خاف الارتداد من المنافقين الذين كانوا يسرون عداوة علي ×، ويعلنون موالاته خوفا من القتل، فلما صار النبي | بغدير خم بعد انصرافه من حجة الوداع، انتصب للمهاجرين والأنصار قائما يخاطبهم، فقال بعد ما حمد الله وأثنى عليه: معاشر المهاجرين والأنصار، أ لست أولى بكم من أنفسكم؟ فقالوا: اللهم نعم. فقال رسول الله |: اللهم اشهد. ثلاثا. ثم قال: يا علي. فقال: لبيك يا رسول الله. فقال له: قم، فإن الله أمرني أن أبلغ فيك رسالاته، أنزل بها جبرئيل‏ {يا أيها الرسول بلغ ما أنزل إليك من ربك وإن لم تفعل فما بلغت رسالته‏}. فقام إليه علي ×، فأخذ رسول الله | بضبعه فشاله، حتى رأى الناس بياض إبطيهما، ثم قال: من كنت مولاه فعلي مولاه، اللهم وال من والاه وعاد من عاداه، وانصر من نصره، واخذل من خذله- فأول قائم قام من المهاجرين والأنصار عمر بن الخطاب، فقال: بخ بخ لك يا علي، أصبحت مولاي ومولى كل مؤمن ومؤمنة. فنزل جبرئيل × بقول الله عز وجل: {اليوم أكملت لكم دينكم وأتممت عليكم نعمتي ورضيت لكم الإسلام دينا} فبعلي أمير المؤمنين × في هذا اليوم أكمل الله لكم معاشر المهاجرين والأنصار دينكم، وأتم عليكم نعمته، ورضي لكم الإسلام دينا، فاسمعوا له وأطيعوا له تفوزوا. واعلموا أن مثل علي فيكم كمثل سفينة نوح، من ركبها نجا، ومن تخلف عنها غرق، ومن تقدمها مرق، ومثل علي فيكم كمثل باب حطة في بني إسرائيل، من دخله كان آمنا ونجا، ومن تخلف عنه هلك وغوى. فما مر على المنافقين يوم كان أشد عليهم منه‏. [19]

Al-Mufaddal ibn 'Umar al-Ju'fi said: I asked my master Ja'far ibn Muhammad al-Sadiq (pbuh) about the saying of Allah the Almighty: {Say, 'With Allah is the far-reaching argument. If He had willed, He would have guided you all.'} Ja'far ibn Muhammad (pbuh) replied: "The far-reaching argument is that which reaches the ignorant among the People of the Book, so they know it with their ignorance as the knowledgeable know it with their knowledge, because Allah is more honorable and just than to punish anyone without an argument. Then Ja'far ibn Muhammad (pbuh) recited: {And Allah would not let a people stray after He has guided them until He makes clear to them what they should avoid.} Then Ja'far ibn Muhammad (pbuh) continued, saying: 'The Messenger of Allah (pbuhp) did not pass away until the religion was perfected, the blessing was completed, and the Lord was pleased. Allah revealed to His Prophet (pbuhp) at Kura' al-Ghamim: {O Messenger, proclaim what 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.} because the Messenger of Allah (pbuhp) feared the apostasy of the hypocrites who secretly harbored enmity towards Ali (pbuh), while openly professing allegiance to him out of fear of being killed.

When the Prophet (pbuhp) reached Ghadir Khumm after returning from the Farewell Pilgrimage, he stood up among the emigrants and advocators, addressing them. After praising Allah and extolling Him, he said: 'O company of emigrants and advocators, am I not more deserving of you than your own selves?' They said: 'Yes, by Allah.' The Messenger of Allah (pbuhp) said: 'O Allah, bear witness.' Three times. Then he said: 'O Ali.' Ali (pbuh) replied: 'At your beck and call, O Messenger of Allah.' The Prophet (pbuhp) said: 'Stand up, for Allah has commanded me to convey His message regarding you, which Gabriel has brought down: {O Messenger, proclaim what has been revealed to you from your Lord; and if you do not, then you have not conveyed His message.} He then took Ali (pbuh) by the arm and raised it until the people saw the whiteness of their armpits, and he said: 'For whomever I am his master (mawla), this Ali is his master. O Allah, befriend whoever is loyal to him, be hostile to whoever is hostile to him, support whoever supports him, and abandon whoever abandons him.'

The first to rise from the emigrants and advocators was Umar ibn al-Khattab, who said: 'Congratulations, congratulations to you, O Ali, you have become my master and the master of every believing man and woman.' Then Gabriel (pbuh) descended with the words of Allah the Almighty: {Today I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islam as religion.} So, through Ali, the Commander of the Faithful (pbuh), on this day Allah has completed your religion, O company of emigrants and advocators, and has completed His favor upon you, and is pleased with Islam as your religion. So listen to him and obey him so that you may succeed. And know that the example of Ali among you is like the Ark of Noah; whoever boards it is saved, and whoever stays behind is drowned, and whoever precedes it strays. And the example of Ali among you is like the Gate of Repentance (Bab Hitta) among the Children of Israel; whoever enters it is secure and saved, and whoever stays behind it is lost and misguided. There has never been a day harder on the hypocrites than this day.'" [20]

عن محمد الحلبي قال: قال لي أبو عبد الله ×: إنه من عرف دينه من كتاب الله عز وجل زالت الجبال قبل أن يزول, ومن دخل في أمر بجهل خرج منه بجهل, قلت: وما هو في كتاب الله عز وجل؟ قال: قول الله عز وجل‏ {ما آتاكم الرسول فخذوه وما نهاكم عنه فانتهوا}, وقوله عز وجل‏ {من يطع الرسول فقد أطاع الله}‏, وقوله عز وجل‏ {يا أيها الذين آمنوا أطيعوا الله وأطيعوا الرسول وأولي الأمر منكم‏}, وقوله تبارك اسمه‏ {إنما وليكم الله ورسوله والذين آمنوا الذين يقيمون الصلاة ويؤتون الزكاة وهم راكعون}‏, وقوله جل جلاله‏ {فلا وربك لا يؤمنون حتى يحكموك فيما شجر بينهم ثم لا يجدوا في أنفسهم حرجا مما قضيت ويسلموا تسليما}, وقوله عز وجل‏ {يا أيها الرسول بلغ ما أنزل إليك من ربك وإن لم تفعل فما بلغت رسالته والله يعصمك من الناس}‏, ومن ذلك قول رسول الله لعلي ×: من كنت مولاه فعلي مولاه, اللهم وال من والاه, وعاد من عاداه, وانصر من نصره, واخذل من خذله, وأحب من أحبه, وأبغض من أبغضه‏.[21]

Muhammad al-Halabi said: Abu Abdullah (Imam Sadiq peace be upon him) told me, "Whoever knows his religion from the Book of Allah Almighty, mountains will perish before he perishes, and whoever enters into an affair ignorantly will leave it ignorantly." I asked, "And what is in the Book of Allah?" He said, "The saying of Allah Almighty: {Whatever the Messenger gives you, take it; and whatever he forbids you, abstain from it} and His saying: {Whoever obeys the Messenger has obeyed Allah} and His saying: {O you who have believed, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you} and His saying: {Your ally is none but Allah and His Messenger and those who have believed - those who establish prayer and give zakah, and they bow in worship} and His saying: {But no, by your Lord, they will not [truly] believe until they make you, [O Muhammad], judge concerning that over which they dispute among themselves and then find within themselves no discomfort from what you have judged and submit in [full, willing] submission} and His saying: {O Messenger, proclaim 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}." And among them is the saying of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his progeny) to Ali (pbuh): "Whoever I am his master, Ali is his master. O Allah, be loyal to those loyal to him, be an enemy to those who are hostile to him, support those who support him, forsake those who forsake him, love those who love him, and hate those who hate him." ^[22]

عن أبي بصير قال سألت أبا عبد الله × عن قول الله عز وجل: {أطيعوا الله وأطيعوا الرسول وأولي الأمر منكم} فقال: نزلت في علي بن أبي طالب والحسن والحسين عليهم السلام: فقلت له: إن الناس يقولون: فما له لم يسم عليا وأهل بيته عليهم السلام في كتاب الله عز وجل؟ قال: فقال: قولوا لهم: إن رسول الله | نزلت عليه الصلاة ولم يسم الله لهم ثلاثا ولا أربعا، حتى كان رسول الله | هو الذي فسر ذلك لهم، ونزلت عليه الزكاة ولم يسم لهم من كل أربعين درهما درهم، حتى كان رسول الله | هو الذي فسر ذلك لهم، ونزل الحج فلم يقل لهم: طوفوا أسبوعا حتى كان رسول الله | هو الذي فسر ذلك لهم، ونزلت {أطيعوا الله وأطيعوا الرسول وأولي الأمر منكم} ونزلت في علي والحسن والحسين, فقال رسول الله | في علي: من كنت مولاه، فعلي مولاه، وقال | أوصيكم بكتاب الله وأهل بيتي، فإني سألت الله عز وجل أن لا يفرق بينهما حتى يوردهما علي الحوض، فأعطاني ذلك وقال: لا تعلموهم فهم أعلم منكم، وقال: إنهم لن يخرجوكم من باب هدى، ولن يدخلوكم في باب ضلالة, فلو سكت رسول الله | فلم يبين من أهل بيته لادعاها آل فلان وآل فلان, ولكن الله عز وجل أنزله في كتابه تصديقا لنبيه | {إنما يريد الله ليذهب عنكم الرجس أهل البيت ويطهركم تطهيرا} فكان علي والحسن والحسين وفاطمة (عليهم السلام), فأدخلهم رسول الله | تحت الكساء في بيت أم سلمة, ثم قال: اللهم إن لكل نبي أهلا وثقلا, وهؤلاء أهل بيتي وثقلي, فقالت أم سلمة: ألست من أهلك؟ فقال: إنك إلى خير, ولكن هؤلاء أهلي وثقلي‏.[23]

Abi Basir said, "I asked Abu Abdullah (pbuh) about the words of Allah, the Almighty: {Obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you}. He said: 'It was revealed regarding Ali ibn Abi Talib, Hasan, and Husayn (pbut).' So I said to him, 'People say, why did He not name Ali and his family (pbut) in the Book of Allah, the Almighty?' He replied, 'Tell them: Prayer was revealed to the Messenger of Allah (pbuhp), but Allah did not specify for them three or four units, until the Messenger of Allah (pbuhp) himself explained it to them. Zakat was revealed to him, but He did not specify for them one dirham from every forty dirhams, until the Messenger of Allah (pbuhp) himself explained it to them. Hajj was revealed, but He did not say to them: Circumambulate seven times, until the Messenger of Allah (pbuhp) himself explained it to them.

{Obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you} was revealed concerning Ali, Hasan, and Husayn. The Messenger of Allah (pbuhp) said about Ali: 'For whomever I am his master, Ali is his master.' He said, 'I advise you to adhere to the Book of Allah and my family. I have asked Allah, the Almighty, not to separate them until He brings them to me at the Pond, and He granted me that. He said, 'Do not teach them, for they are more knowledgeable than you.' He also said, 'They will not lead you out of guidance, nor will they lead you into misguidance.' If the Messenger of Allah (pbuhp) had remained silent and not clarified who his family was, then the people of so-and-so and the people of so-and-so would have claimed it. However, Allah, the Almighty, revealed in His Book, confirming His Prophet: {Allah only wishes to remove all impurity from you, O people of the household, and to purify you thoroughly}.

Thus, Ali, Hasan, Husayn, and Fatimah (pbut) were the ones included. The Messenger of Allah (pbuhp) brought them under the cloak in the house of Umm Salama. Then he said: 'O Allah, every prophet has a family and a weighty responsibility, and these are my family and my weighty responsibility.' Umm Salama said: 'Am I not of your family?' He replied: 'You are in a good state, but these are my family and my weighty responsibility.'"[24]

عن أبي عبد الله × قال: إن رسول الله | عرف أصحابه‏ أمير المؤمنين × مرتين, وذلك أنه قال لهم: أتدرون من وليكم بعدي؟ قالوا: الله ورسوله أعلم, قال |: فإن الله تبارك وتعالى قد قال: {فإن الله هو مولاه وجبريل وصالح المؤمنين}‏ يعني أمير المؤمنين ×, وهو وليكم بعدي, والمرة الثانية في غدير خم[25]حين قال |: من‏ كنت‏ مولاه‏ فعلي مولاه.[26]

Abi Abdullah (pbuh) said, "The Messenger of Allah (pbuhp) defined to his companions the Commander of the Faithful (pbuh) twice. This was when he said to them, 'Do you know who your guardian is after me?' They said, 'Allah and His Messenger know best.' He said, 'Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, has said: {Indeed, Allah is his Protector, and [so is] Gabriel and the most righteous believers}, referring to the Commander of the Faithful (pbuh), who is your guardian after me.' The second time was at Ghadir Khumm when he said, 'For whomever I am his master, Ali is his master.'"[27]

عن محمد القبطي‏ عن أبي عبد الله × قال: الناس أغفلوا قول رسول الله | في علي × يوم غدير خم, كما أغفلوا قوله يوم مشربة أم إبراهيم, أتى الناس يعودونه فجاء علي × ليدنو من رسول الله | فلم يجد مكانا, فلما رأى رسول الله | أنهم لا يفرجون لعلي × قال:‏ يا معشر الناس, هؤلاء أهل بيتي تستخفون بهم وأنا حي بين ظهرانيكم, أما والله لئن غبت فإن الله لا يغيب عنكم, إن الروح والراحة والرضوان والبشرى والحب والمحبة لمن ائتم بعلي وتولاه, وسلم له وللأوصياء من بعده, حق علي أن أدخلهم في شفاعتي لأنهم أتباعي‏, {فمن تبعني فإنه مني}‏ مثل جرى في إبراهيم, لأني‏ من إبراهيم وإبراهيم مني, وديني دينه وسنتي سنته وفضله فضلي, وأنا أفضل منه, وفضلي له فضل تصديق قول ربي‏: {ذرية بعضها من بعض والله سميع عليم‏}.[28]

Abu Abdullah Imam Ja’far Sadiq (pbuh) said, "People neglected the statement of the Messenger of Allah (pbuhp) about Ali (pbuh) on the day of Ghadir Khumm, just as they neglected the day at Ibrahim's mother place. When people came to visit him [the Prophet] during his sickness, Ali (pbuh) came to get close to the Messenger of Allah (pbuhp), but they didn’t make room for him. When the Messenger of Allah (pbuhp) saw that they did not make room for Ali (pbuh), he called out, 'O people, make way for Ali!' Then he took his hand, made him sit with him on his bed, and said, 'O people, these are the people of my household, and you are treating them lightly while I am alive among you. By Allah, if I am absent from you, Allah will not be absent from you. The soul, contentment, satisfaction, good news, glad tidings, love, and affection are for those who follow Ali and his leadership, and submit to him and to the successors after him. Truly, I will intercede for them because they are my followers. Whoever follows me is from me. This is like what happened to those who followed Ibrahim. I am from Ibrahim, and Ibrahim is from me. His religion is my religion, and his way is my way. His virtue is from my virtue, and I am superior to him. My virtue for him is the verification of my statement and Allah's statement, {Offspring, one of the other, and Allah is Hearing, Knowing.} [29]

سئل الصادق × عن قول الله عز وجل {يعرفون نعمت الله ثم ينكرونها} قال ×: يعرفونها يوم الغدير وينكرونها يوم السقيفة. [30]

Imam al-Sadiq (pbuh) was asked about the saying of Allah, the Exalted, {They recognize the favor of Allah; then they deny it}. He (pbuh) said, "They recognized it on the Day of Ghadir and denied it on the Day of Saqifah." [31]

عن زيد بن الجهم, عن أبي عبد الله × في حديث عن بيعة الغدير, قال: {إنما يبلوكم الله به} يعني عليا × {وليبينن لكم يوم القيامة ما كنتم فيه تختلفون ولو شاء الله لجعلكم أمة واحدة ولكن يضل من يشاء ويهدي من يشاء ولتسئلن عما كنتم تعملون ولا تتخذوا أيمانكم دخلا بينكم فتزل قدم بعد ثبوتها} بعد ما سلمتم على علي × بإمرة المؤمنين {وتذوقوا السوء بما صددتم عن سبيل الله} يعني عليا {ولكم عذاب عظيم}. ثم قال لي: لما أخذ رسول الله | بيد علي × فأظهر ولايته, قالا جميعا: والله من تلقاء الله ولا هذا إلا شي‏ء أراد أن يشرف به ابن عمه, فأنزل الله عليه {ولو تقول علينا بعض الأقاويل لأخذنا منه باليمين ثم لقطعنا منه الوتين فما منكم من أحد عنه حاجزين وإنه لتذكرة للمتقين وإنا لنعلم أن منكم مكذبين} يعني فلانا وفلانا {وإنه لحسرة على الكافرين} يعني عليا × {وإنه لحق اليقين} يعني عليا {فسبح باسم ربك العظيم}. [32]

Zayd ibn al-Jahm reported from Abu Abdullah (pbuh) in a narration about the allegiance of Ghadir, where he said: {Allah is only testing you through it} meaning Ali (pbuh) {and He will surely make clear to you on the Day of Resurrection that wherein you used to differ. And if Allah had willed, He could have made you [of] one religion, but He sends astray whom He wills and guides whom He wills; and you will surely be questioned about what you used to do. And do not take your oaths as a means of deceit between you, lest a foot slip after it was once firm} after you have acknowledged Ali (pbuh) as the Commander of the Faithful {and you would taste evil [in this world] for what you diverted from the way of Allah} meaning Ali {and you would have a great punishment}.

Then he said to me: When the Messenger of Allah (pbuhp) took Ali's hand and made his leadership manifest, they both (meaning two individuals) said: "By Allah, this is only something he wanted to honor his cousin with." So Allah revealed to him {And if he had fabricated against Us some [false] sayings, We would have seized him by the right hand; then We would have cut from him the carotid. And there is no one of you who could prevent [Us] from him. And indeed, it is a reminder for the righteous. And indeed, We know that among you are deniers. And indeed, it will be [a cause of] regret upon the disbelievers} meaning Ali (pbuh) {And indeed, it is the truth of certainty. So exalt the name of your Lord, the Most Great}. [33]

قال مولانا وإمامنا الصادق ×: إن حقوق الناس تعطى بشهادة شاهدين، وما اعطي أمير المؤمنين × حقه بشهادة عشرة آلاف نفس, يعني يوم غدير خم, [34] إن هذا إلا ضلال عن الحق المبين، {فما ذا بعد الحق إلا الضلال فأنى تصرفون كذلك حقت كلمة ربك على الذين فسقوا أنهم لا يؤمنون} [35]

Our master and Imam, Al-Sadiq (pbuh), said: "The rights of people are given by the testimony of two witnesses, but the right of the Commander of the Faithful (pbuh) was not given despite the testimony of ten thousand souls- referring to the Day of Ghadir Khumm-. This is nothing but deviation from the clear truth. {So what is there after truth except error? How are you then averted? Thus the word of your Lord has come into effect upon those who defiantly disobeyed, that they will not believe} [36]

عن القاسم بن مسلم, عن أخيه عبد العزيز بن مسلم قال: كنا في أيام علي بن موسى الرضا ‘ بمرو, فاجتمعنا في مسجد جامعها في يوم الجمعة في بدء مقدمنا, فإذا رأى الناس أمر الإمامة وذكروا كثره اختلاف الناس فيها, فدخلت على سيدي ومولاي الرضا × فأعلمته ما خاض الناس فيه, فتبسم × ثم قال: يا عبد العزيز جهل القوم وخدعوا عن أديانهم, ان الله تبارك وتعالى لم يقبض نبيه | حتى أكمل له الدين, وانزل عليه القرآن فيه تفصيل كل شئ, بين فيه الحلال والحرام والحدود والاحكام وجميع ما يحتاج إليه كملا, فقال عز وجل: {ما فرطنا في الكتاب من شئ} وانزل في حجه الوداع وفي آخر عمره | {اليوم أكملت لكم دينكم وأتممت عليكم نعمتي ورضيت لكم الاسلام دينا} وأمر الإمامة في تمام الدين, ولم يمض | حتى بين لامته معالم دينهم, وأوضح لهم سبيلهم, وتركهم على قصد الحق, وأقام لهم عليا × علما واماما, وما ترك شيئا يحتاج إليه الأمة إلا بينه, فمن زعم أن الله عز وجل لم يكمل دينه فقد رد كتاب الله عز وجل, ومن رد كتاب الله فهو كافر, هل يعرفون قدر الإمامة ومحلها من الأمة فيجوز فيها اختيارهم؟ [37]

Imam Ali Al-Rida (pbuh) said: Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, did not take away His Prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny) in death until He completed the religion for him. He revealed the Quran to him, containing detailed explanations of everything, clarifying what is lawful and what is prohibited, the boundaries and the rulings, and everything they needed in its entirety. Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, said: {We have not neglected anything in the Book.} He also revealed during the Farewell Pilgrimage and at the end of his life (pbuh): {This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islam as religion.} He decreed that the Imamate is the completion of the religion and did not pass away until he clarified the signs of their religion to his nation, showed them their path, and left them on the guidance of truth. He established Ali (pbuh) as their leader and Imam, and he did not leave anything that the Ummah needed except that he clarified it. Therefore, whoever claims that Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, did not complete His religion has rejected the Book of Allah. And whoever rejects the Book of Allah is a disbeliever. Do they not recognize the value and position of the Imamate in the Ummah? So how is it permissible for them to choose their leaders in it? [38]

عن إسحاق بن إسماعيل النيسابوري ان العالم كتب إليه يعنى الحسن بن علي ‘: ان الله تعالى بمنه ورحمته لما فرض عليكم الفرائض لم يفرض ذلك عليكم لحاجة منه إليه بل رحمة منه إليكم لا إله إلا هو ليميز الخبيث من الطيب وليبتلي ما في صدوركم, وليمحص ما في قلوبكم, ولتتسابقوا إلى رحمته، ولتتفاضل منازلكم في جنته, ففوض عليكم الحج والعمرة وإيقام الصلاة وإيتاء الزكاة والصوم والولاية, وجعل لكم بابا لتفتحوا به أبواب الفرايض، ومفتاحا إلى سبيله، ولولا محمد | والأوصياء من ولده كنتم حيارى كالبهائم لا تعرفون فرضا من الفرايض, وهل تدخل قرية إلا من بابها، فلما من الله عليكم بإقامة الأولياء بعد نبيكم | قال الله عز وجل {اليوم أكملت لكم دينكم وأتممت عليكم نعمتي ورضيت لكم الإسلام دينا} وفرض عليكم لأوليائه حقوقا, فأمركم بأدائها إليهم ليحل لكم ما وراء ظهوركم من أزواجكم وأموالكم ومأكلكم ومشربكم, ويعرفكم بذلك البركة والنماء والثروة, وليعلم من يطيعه منكم بالغيب, وقال الله تبارك وتعالى {قل لا أسئلكم عليه اجرا إلا المودة في القربى} فاعلموا ان من يبخل فإنما يبخل على نفسه, ان الله هو الغني وأنتم الفقراء إليه, لا إله إلا هو, فاعملوا من بعد ما شئتم {فسيرى الله عملكم ورسوله والمؤمنون} ثم تردون إلى عالم الغيب والشهادة, فينبئكم بما كنتم تعملون, والعاقبة للمتقين والحمد لله رب العالمين. [39]

Isaac ibn Isma'il al-Nisaburi narrated that a scholar wrote to him, meaning Imam Hasan ibn Ali (Pbut): "Allah, the Most High, in His grace and mercy, when He obligated upon you the duties (Fara'id), did not do so out of any need from you to Him, but out of His mercy towards you. There is no deity except Him. He did so to distinguish between the impure and the pure, to test what is in your hearts, for you to strive towards His mercy, and for your ranks to be elevated in His Paradise, He entrusted upon you the obligation of Hajj, Umrah, establishing prayers, paying Zakat, fasting, and loyalty (Wilaya), and He opened for you a door through which you open the doors of the duties, and a key to His path. And if it were not for Mohammad (Pbuhp) and the successors from his progeny, you would have been lost like animals, not knowing one duty from another. Does anyone enter a city except through its gate? So, when Allah blessed you with the custodians after your Prophet, He the Almighty said: {This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islam as religion.} And He imposed rights for the custodians and commanded you to fulfill it towards them, so that you become allowed to enjoy what you have of spouses, your wealth, your food, and your drink. Thus, allowing you to acknowledge the blessings, growth, and wealth and He would know who among you would obey Him in the unseen. Allah, blessed and exalted, said: {Say, [O Mohammad], "I do not ask of you for it any payment except affection for [my] relatives."} So know that whoever is stingy, he is only stingy towards himself. Indeed, Allah is the Free of need, and you are the ones in need of Him. There is no deity except Him. So work as you wish, then Allah will see your deeds, and His Messenger, and the believers. Then you will return to the Knower of the unseen and the witnessed, and He will inform you of what you used to do. And the (good) outcome is for the righteous. And praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds." ^[40]