The event of Ghadir Khumm is one of the most significant occurrences in the history of Islam – an event in which the Prophet of God (peace be upon him and his family), by divine command, introduced Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him) as the guardian (Wali) and successor after himself. After this historic announcement, those present at Ghadir pledged allegiance to Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him), and many of the companions came to him and congratulated him on this divine station.
The Pledge of Allegiance of Abu Bakr, Umar, and Uthman at Ghadir
The first individuals who pledged allegiance to Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him) as the successor of the Prophet of God were the first three caliphs – Umar, Abu Bakr, and Uthman. Then the companions of the Prophet of God (peace be upon him and his family) came to Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him) and congratulated him on his guardianship (Wilayah).
The first person to congratulate him was Umar ibn al-Khattab, who said:
بَارَكَ اللَّهُ لَكَ يَا عَلِيُّ، أَصْبَحْتَ مَوْلاَيَ وَ مَوْلَى كُلِّ مُؤْمِنٍ وَ مُؤْمِنَةٍ (1)
“Blessings be upon you, O Ali. You have become my master (Mawla) and the master of every believing man and woman.”
The people came to Amir al-Muminin Ali (peace be upon him) to offer their congratulations. Among those who congratulated him before other companions were Abu Bakr and Umar, each of whom said:
هِنِيئاً لَكَ يَا ابْنَ أَبِي طَالِبٍ، أَصْبَحْتَ مَوْلَايَ وَ مَوْلَى كُلِّ مُؤْمِنٍ وَ مُؤْمِنَةٍ (2)
“Congratulations to you, O son of Abu Talib. You have become my master and the master of every believing man and woman.”
The Narration of Imam al-Baqir (peace be upon him) Regarding the Allegiance of the Caliphs
This narration from Imam al-Baqir (peace be upon him) presents a clear picture of the general acceptance of the Prophet’s command at Ghadir and the beginning of the Muslims’ pledge of allegiance to Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him).
Imam al-Baqir (peace be upon him) said:
فَصَاحَ النَّاسُ بِإِجَابَةِ النَّبِيِّ (صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ): سَمِعْنَا وَ أَطَعْنَا اللَّهَ وَ رَسُولَهُ بِقُلُوبِنَا وَ أَلْسِنَتِنَا وَ أَيْدِينَا. ثُمَّ أَقْبَلُوا عَلَى أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلِيٍّ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ) فَبَايَعُوهُ، وَ كَانَ أَوَّلَ مَنْ بَايَعَهُ الْخُلَفَاءُ الْأَوَّلُ وَ الثَّانِي وَ الثَّالِثُ، ثُمَّ الْمُهَاجِرُونَ وَ الْأَنْصَارُ، ثُمَّ بَقِيَّةُ النَّاسِ
“The people cried out in response to the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family): ‘We hear and obey God and His Messenger with our hearts, tongues, and hands.’ Then they turned to Amir al-Muminin Ali (peace be upon him) and pledged allegiance to him. The first to pledge allegiance to him were the first, second, and third caliphs, followed by the Muhajirun and Ansar, and then the rest of the people.”
Congratulating on the Wilayah
Abu Bakr, Umar ibn al-Khattab, Talhah, and al-Zubayr were among the companions who congratulated Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him) at Ghadir Khumm. (4)
Some authors have narrated that Abu Bakr and Umar initially refrained from offering congratulations. However, after the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) assured them that the caliphate and succession of Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him) was the command of God, and reminded them that opposition to this matter would lead to disbelief, they congratulated Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him). (5) (6)
Indication of Imamate
The congratulation of the second caliph to Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him) has been considered an indication of the intent of the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) in introducing Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him) as his successor in the event of Ghadir, and also serves as evidence of his superiority and greater knowledge over others. (7) (8) (9)
In some texts, it is mentioned that Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him) later, in a meeting with the first caliph, used this as evidence of his right to the caliphate. According to Fayd Kashani, the second caliph, after uttering this statement, greeted Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him) with the title “Amir al-Muminin.” (10) (11)
Ghadir is an undeniable reality in the history of Islam and will never be forgotten. For this reason, from the very first days of Abu Bakr’s caliphate, Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him) – while enumerating the qualifications that made him deserving of the caliphate – used the event of Ghadir as an argument and evidence. The action of Amir al-Muminin (peace be upon him) in recounting the important event of Ghadir and revisiting this episode was, in fact, a challenge to the usurping rulers of the caliphate. The Imam did this both in his encounter with Abu Bakr and afterward during the era of the other caliphs. Even after assuming the caliphate himself, he continued to argue and provide evidence for the occurrence of Ghadir and his selection by the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) for the position of Islamic caliphate.
[1] Jami’ al-Akhbar, p. 10; Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 37, p. 166 and p. 108; Tafsir Mafatih al-Ghayb, vol. 3, p. 433; Al-Ghadir, vol. 1, p. 272
[2] Al-Ghadir, vol. 1, p. 35, p. 435, p. 451, and p. 510
[3] Al-Ihtijaj of al-Tabrisi, vol. 1, p. 82; Rawdat al-Wa’izin, p. 109
[4] Allamah al-Hilli, Al-‘Adad al-Qawiyyah, 1408 AH, p. 183
[5] Al-Tafsir al-Mansub ila al-Imam al-‘Askari, 1409 AH, p. 112; Fayd al-Kashani, Nawadir al-Akhbar fima yata’allaq bi Usul al-Din, p. 166
[6] Hilali, Kitab Sulaym ibn Qays, 1405 AH, vol. 2, p. 829
[7] Karajaki, Kanz al-Fawa’id, 1410 AH, vol. 2, p. 96
[8] Shami, Al-Durr al-Nazim, 1420 AH, p. 268-269
[9] Daylami, Ghurar al-Akhbar, 1427 AH, p. 349
[10] Daylami, Irshad al-Qulub, 1412 AH, vol. 2, p. 264; Khasibi, Al-Hidayat al-Kubra, 1419 AH, p. 103-104
[11] Fayd al-Kashani, Nawadir al-Akhbar, 1371 Sh, p. 1
