Eid E Ghadir: Eid E Akbar!

On the 18th Zilhijjah 10 Hijri after completing the last pilgrimage, the Holy Prophet (pbuh) along with around 100,000 reached a place called "Ghadeer-e- Khum" near Macca.

The following verse was revealed: 

(Quran 5:67) 

O Messenger! deliver what Has been revealed to you from your Lord; and if you do it not, then you have not delivered His message, and Allah will protect you from the people, surely Allah will not guide the unbelieving people. 

On receiving the above verse, the Holy Prophet stopped at that very place and delivered a speech an extract of which is :-[....It seems the time has approached when I shall be called away ( by Allah) and I shall answer that call.

I am leaving for you two precious things and if you adhere to them both, you will never go astray after me. They are the Book of Allah and My Progeny, that is my Ahlul Bayt. The two shall never separate from each other until they come to me by the pool ( of Paradise)."

Then the Holy Prophet (pbuh) in an attempt to remind Muslims of his own authority over them said: " Do I not have more right over the believers that what they have over themselves?" Muslims answered unanimously" Yes, O' Messenger of God." This served as a stepping stone for the announcement of his heir and vicegerent. The Holy Prophet( pbuh) held out the hand of Ali (as) and said:" For whoever I am his Leader( mawla), Ali is his Leader (mawla)." The Holy Prophet then continued to say:" O' God love those who love him, and be hostile to those who are hostile to him."

It is worth mentioning that a great reward has been narrated to be the share of one who, on this day,puts on the best dress, adores himself, imparts perfume, shows delight and happiness, give pleasure to the adherents of Imam Ali(as), pardons them, settles their needs, visits the relatives,confers upon the family members with gifts and whatever they need, offers food to the believers and the observers of fasting, thans Almighty Allah for the grand bliss of recognising the Divinely commissioned leadership of Imam Ali(a), invokes blessings upon the Holy Prophet (pbuh) and his Household, and practices acts of worship and obedience to Almighty Allah.

One dirham that is given as alms on this day to a believer is equal to one thousand dirhams that are given on other days. Finally, to offer food to a believer on this day is equal, in a reward, to offering food to all the prophets and the veracious people. Addressing the sermon of Ghadeer Day, Imam Ali (a) said, " The reward of offering food to an observant of fasting on this day is equal to the reward of offering food to Two Hundred Thousand prophets, veracious people, and martyrs multiplied by ten. As for one who provides for a number of believing men and women, I guarantee that Almighty Allah will secure him against atheism, poverty, etc...