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Eid al-Ghadir

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Eid al-Ghadir
10-km-long Eid al-Ghadir celebration in Tehran, 2024
Also calledEid al-Ghadeer; Yawm al-mithaq (Day of the Covenant)
Observed byTwelver Shi'ites, Zaydis, Ismailis, Alawites
TypeShia Islam
SignificanceCommemorates the Ghadir Khumm, when Muhammad is believed by Shia Muslims to have appointed Ali as his successor
ObservancesPrayers, gift-giving, festive meals, as well as reciting the Du'a Nudba,
Date18 Dhu'l-Hijja

Eid al-Ghadir (Arabic: عید الغدیر, romanized: ʿīd al-ghadīr, lit. 'feast of the pond') is a major religious festival observed by Shia Muslims on 18 Dhu al-Hijjah, the twelfth month of the Islamic calendar. It commemorates the Event of Ghadir Khumm, during which the Prophet Muhammad declared Ali his mawla in front of a large gathering of Muslims.[1] In Shia Islam, the declaration is understood as Muhammad's designation of Ali as his successor and the first Imam.[2] The festival is particularly significant in Shia Islam and is regarded as one of the most important religious observances.

Shia Muslims commemorate the day through prayers, sermons, religious gatherings, charitable acts, and the exchange of congratulations and gifts. Some communities also hold public celebrations and distribute food and sweets. The day is also known by several other names, including Eid al-Wilayah (“Festival of Guardianship”), Eid-e Bozorg-e Elāhi (“The Greatest Divine Eid”), Eid Ahl al-Bayt Muhammad (“The Eid of the Household of Muhammad”), Yawm al-Wilayah (“Day of Guardianship”), and Ashraf al-Aʿyād (“The Most Exalted of Festivals”).[3][4][5][6][7][8]

Religious background

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The event of Ghadir Khumm occurred ten years after the migration (Hijrah), when the Islamic prophet Muhammad ordered his followers to call upon people everywhere to join him in his first and last pilgrimage. Islamic scholars believe more than seventy thousand people followed Muhammad on his way to Mecca, where, on the fourth day of the month of Dhu'l-Hijja, there were more than one hundred thousand Muslims present for his entry into the city.[9][10]

While returning from this pilgrimage, on 18 Dhu'l-Hijja 10 AH (March 632 CE) at an area known as Ghadir Khumm, Muhammad delivered a well-known sermon during which he called up his cousin, brother, and son-in-law Ali ibn Abi Talib and declared, "for whomever I am Mawla, Ali is also their Mawla". The meaning of the word Mawla can be interpreted as "master", and thus many see the sermon as being the official designation of Ali as Muhammad's successor.[11]

As a result, the date of the sermon is considered to be one of the foundational events of Shia Islam, with the anniversary becoming one of its most important annual celebrations as "Eid al-Ghadir".[12][13] To be more precise, Muhammad declared "Do I have more authority over you than you do yourselves?" They responded with "Yes oh prophet of Allah" He continued with " Then, to whomsoever I am Mawla, Ali is also their Mawla". While the meaning of the word Mawla can be interpreted as "friend" (as it has many meanings), the question asked set the context for it to be interpreted as "master" and in turn suggested “leader”.

Celebration

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In a hadith attributed to Muhammad recorded by Ibn Babawayh, Muhammad considers Ghadir Khum to be the best and highest of the festivals of his Ummah.[14] Shia Muslims throughout the world celebrate this event annually with diverse customs.[15][16] It is held in different countries, including Iran,[17][18][19] India, Pakistan, Azerbaijan,[20] Iraq,[21][22] UAE, Yemen, Afghanistan, Lebanon, Turkey,[23] Bahrain, and Syria. Shia Muslims may also celebrate Eid Ghadir in Europe and the Americas, including the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France.[24][25][26][27]

According to some historical accounts, the commemoration of the event of Ghadir Khum has been celebrated as a festival since the early centuries of Islam. It was first formally observed during the Buyid era, and later, during the Safavid era, Eid al-Ghadir was one of the largest religious festivals celebrated. The celebration also gained special importance during the Qajar era, as on this day, an official greeting ceremony was held with great ceremony in the court. The custom of greeting the king on this day continued during the Pahlavi era.[28]

In 2022, a 10-km long festival was held in Tehran marking the Eid al-Ghadir ceremony, with hundreds of thousands of the people pouring out into Valiasr Street and the nearby streets.[29]

In 2024, a massive celebration was held in multiple Yemeni provinces where fireworks, bands, and speeches were held. In recent years, Eid Al-Ghadir (known in Yemen as Yom Al-Wilaya) has been celebrated more than ever since the Zaydi Shia Government took over Yemen.[30][31] Also in the same year, the Iraqi Council of Representatives declared Eid al-Ghadir to be an official public holiday, having being persuaded by National Shiite Movement leader Muqtada al-Sadr to do so.[32]

According to historical narrations, Hassan ibn Ali used to hold ceremonies in Kufa on the day of Ghadir while Ali ibn Abi Talib would attend accompanied by a group of his followers. After the ceremony, Hassan ibn Ali would distribute gifts to the people. Among the customs reported in narrations are greeting, hand shaking, wearing new clothes, using perfume, making donations, helping others, saying prayers, feeding others, making others happy and giving gifts.[33]

See also

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References

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  1. ↑ "Happy Eid al-Ghadir". Bianet. 13 June 2025. Retrieved 27 March 2026.
  2. ↑ "Gadir-i Hum Bayramı'na geri sayım başladı - Antakya Gazetesi" (in Turkish). 22 June 2024. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
  3. ↑ Al-Hurr al-Aamili, Wasā'il al-Shīʿa, V.8, P.89
  4. ↑ "مأرب.. فعالية لحرائر مديرية صرواح بذكرى يوم الولاية". www.saba.ye (in Arabic). 29 June 2024. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
  5. ↑ The celebration of Ghaidr mashreghnews.ir Retrieved 15 September 2018
  6. ↑ Sayyed Ibn Tawus, Iqbal al-A'mal, V.2, P.261
  7. ↑ Eid Ghadir (Ghadeer) yjc.ir
  8. ↑ Muhammad ibn Ya'qub al-Kulayni, Kitab al-Kafi, V.4, P.148
  9. ↑ Ghadir Khum Archived 15 September 2020 at the Wayback Machine al-islam.org
  10. ↑ Event of Ghadir Khumm Irfan.ir
  11. ↑ Vaglieri, Laura Veccia (2012). "G̲h̲adīr K̲h̲umm". Encyclopædia of Islam, Second Edition. Brill Online. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
  12. ↑ Lindsay, James E. (1957). Daily Life in the Medieval Islamic World. Greenwood Press. p. 163. ISBN 9780313322709. {{cite book}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)
  13. ↑ Campo, Juan Eduardo (2009). Encyclopedia of Islam. Infobase Publishing. pp. 257–58. ISBN 9781438126968.
  14. ↑ Azimipour, N. (2022). "غدیر خم" [Ghadir Khum]. Center for the Great Islamic Encyclopedia (in Persian).
  15. ↑ The celebration of the event of Ghadir Khum irna.ir
  16. ↑ Eid (feast) Ghadir-Khum afkarnews.com
  17. ↑ Ghadir Khum (Eid)[permanent dead link] farsnews.com
  18. ↑ Ghadir celebration, Ahwaz, Iran aparat.com
  19. ↑ Ghadir celebration Archived 29 June 2020 at the Wayback Machine irinn.ir Retrieved 22 September 2018
  20. ↑ Islamic countries, Eid Ghadir Khum hawzah.net
  21. ↑ Iraq, Eid Ghadir-Khum alalam.ir Retrieved 22 September 2018
  22. ↑ Eid Ghadir Khum, Iraq shia-news.com Retrieved 22 September 2018
  23. ↑ "Gadir Hum Bayramı kutlanıyor (Gadir Hum Bayramı nedir? Gadiri Hum Bayramı'nı kimler, ne zaman kutlar?)".
  24. ↑ Ghadir Khum, celebration Archived 26 June 2020 at the Wayback Machine alkawthartv.com
  25. ↑ Eid Ghadir-Khum, in Georgia iribnews.ir
  26. ↑ The celebration of Ghadir, in Saudi Arabia shia-news.com
  27. ↑ Ghadir celebration in various countries of the world iqna.ir
  28. ↑ Azimipour, N. (2022). "غدیر خم" [Ghadir Khum]. Center for the Great Islamic Encyclopedia (in Persian).
  29. ↑ "3 million Tehraners attend 10-km long Ghadir festival". Mehr News Agency. 18 July 2022. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  30. ↑ "Revolution Leader extends his congratulations to Yemeni people & all Muslims on "Wilayah " Guardianship Day anniversary". www.saba.ye. 24 June 2024. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
  31. ↑ "Event for Al-Sabeen, Al-Wahda & Al-Safia districts' people in capital secretariat on Guardianship Day anniversary". www.saba.ye. 24 June 2024. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
  32. ↑ "Iraqi parliament approves controversial official holidays law, forwards to president". Shafaq News. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
  33. ↑ "The customs and traditions of Eid al-Ghadir". Hawzah information center. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
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