March
2002 Feature
Reflections on Eid al-Ghadir
As
read by students in March
in Celebration of Eid
at the Novato, California center
About
Eid al-Ghadir
Eid
Ghadir which is on the 18th of the Zilhajj (Lunar Calendar) is
one of the most celebrated event by Shiite Moslems. The event
of Ghadir means the nomination of Hazrat Ali, Amir al-Momenin
(pbuh) by the Prophet Mohammad (pbuh)as his successor.
It was the tradition of all the prophets to nominate their successors
in compliance with the order of God and regardless of the approval
of their followers. To the Moslems, Ghadir al-Khum is the famous
place where the Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) revealed his final message
that he would be succeeded by Hazrat Ali (pbuh). The Arabic word
"Ghadir" means pond and Khum is the particular pond
located about 90 Kilometers (54 miles) northwest of Mecca in the
heart of the desert called "Sahra al-Hujfah."
As Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) arrived at Ghadir al-Khum, he heard
the voice of Archangel Gabriel and the signs of revelation appeared.
As Prophet (pbuh) heard the Angel, he asked to recite Adhan (or
the prayers that the muezzin will say to gather Moslems to the
mosque) with addition of words "Hayya'ala Khair il'amal"
which means hasten towards the best of deeds.
As
Uwaiysi Sufis from the Shi'a tradition, each Eid al-Ghadir, we
gather in remembrance. Following are speeches presented by students
at the Novato Khaneghah.
Historical
Significance of Eid al-Ghadir
Bidding
farewell to his native city of Mecca and heading towards Medina
on the 14th day of Zilhajj, 10 AH, the prophet was feeling restless.
He was thinking of an important task, which was to ensure the
continuity of his life’s work by someone endowed with all
the moral values which he had upheld, or else all his miraculous
achievements during the twenty-three years of his apostolic ministry
stood in danger of being irretrievably undone. It was matter of
prime importance that Divine guidance should continue after him
and that the divine sovereignty should be exercised by the chosen
ones of God, to be appointed by the prophet.
He
had already designated his Ahl-ul-Bait on several occasions, as
the Ark of Noah, the strong rope of God, the door of forgiveness,
the purified ones, and made the love of these holy ones incumbent
upon his followers. He had similarly, on many occasions, pointed
out Ali as his brother and successor, the door of the city of
knowledge, the most equitable judge, the embodiment of faith,
and having the position in relation to himself as Aaron was to
Moses.
As
he arrived at Ghadir-eKhum, suddenly the signs of a revelation
appeared. The voice of Archangel Gabriel was heard saying:
“O
thou esteemed Messenger, impart the guidance that has revealed
unto thee” and in order
to impress the urgency of the command, Gabriel went on to say:
“for if thou doeth it not, thou hast not imparted His Message
at all”; and again the
same breath to allay his fears and misgivings the angel added
“God will protect thee from the evil designs of men”
(Qur'an 5:67)
It
is held that the prophet had already been commanded to proclaim
Ali as his successor, but he had postponed the announcement for
some suitable occasion to avoid misinterpretation.
It
was then that the prophet pulled up his reins, and the whole entourage
came to a halt. Those who had gone ahead were summoned back and
those who followed gathered round casting inquiring glances at
each other. The prophet soon dismounted and ordered his followers
to clear the ground. The Prophet stepped forward and on his right
was Ali, whose turban, black in color, with its ends hanging over
both of his shoulders, was arranged by the prophet himself. Then
obeying the diving injunction to the letter, he addressed multitude
in the following memorable words:
“All
Praise belongs to Allah. In Him do I put my faith and from Him
do I crave support. Him do I trust and His protection seek against
the malice of our souls and evils of our deeds.
O
Ye fold, behold, the All knowing Allah hath informed me that the
days of my life are coming to an end and the time is fast approaching
when I shall be called away from your midst towards the eternal
abode. But you and I, each one of us is answerable unto Allah
for all things are due unto Him from us. What then do you say?
Then
bear witness to the Unity of Allah and the Apostleship of this
servant of Allah, who now speaks to you by His command, and do
ye not bear witness that the resurrection and judgment, heaven
and hell an the life hereafter are certainties.”
They
all answered “yea, verily yes.”
“Now
then, Listen to me carefully; I have been commanded to tell you
that I will soon be taken away from your midst, but I leave unto
you my legacy of two grand precepts, each of which surpasses the
other in its grandeur – Allah’s Holy Book, the Quran
and my Ahl-ul-Bait (my irrevocable progeny, consisting of Ali,
Fatima, Hasan and Husain). Never shall they separate from one
another until they reach me in Heaven, and so long as you will
adhere unto both my legacies, you will never be led astray after
me. Therefore, o ye fold, it is my last will and testament unto
you that you should always remain faithful to the Holy Quran and
my Ahl-ul-Bait as true Muslims until death. Do not lag too far
behind them and do not walk ahead of them, for it either even
you will go astray. But follow them and walk in their footsteps
and they will guide you along the strait path.
Who
do you think is more worthy of obedience than your souls?”
They
answered “Allah and his messenger know best.”
Mohammad
continued, “Lo! Allah is my Master, and am I not worthy of
obedience from You?”
They
answered “yes.”
Then
the prophet bend down and lifted up Ali in his hands, showing
him to the crowds on all sides of the pulpit, and proclaimed:
MunKunto
Maulaho fe haasa Ali-yun Maulah
Of
whomsoever I am the master,
This Ali is his Master
So saying, the prophet raised up his hands heavenwards and prayed.
“O our Allah, love those who will love Ali, despise those
who will despise him; support those who will support him; and
reject those who will reject him”.
Announcing
this thrice, he got down from the raised platform, and seated
Ali in a tent, where the people did him homage. After the men,
came all the women to congratulate Ali. At the conclusion of this
installation ceremony, the Holy Prophet asked the congregation,
“Have I not truly and faithfully delivered unto you the Message?”
And
they answered, Yea, verily you have.”
Then
the prophet said, “Go now, and let those who have been present
here today repeat and convey to those who area absent all that
they have seen and heard.”
Reflections
on Receiving
Our
holy teacher, Shah Nazar Seyed Ali Kianfar recently reminded me
that the goal of a Sufi student is to be a good receiver. Allah
will provide his grace and mercy but we have to be and do right
to receive it. I find his words especially significant as we gather
this evening to commemorate this blessed eid. Tonight, in part,
celebrates the Prophet Mohammad’s receiving his last revelation
from the Divine as he returns from his last pilgrimage to Mecca.
The Prophet Mohammad (swa) passed away only a few months later.
Stopping
at Ghadir Khumm, the Prophet gives his last sermon to his followers.
He confirms the connection between his family (his teaching) and
the book (the Holy Koran) — that there is no separation between
these two. Trying to make this message clear, the Prophet tells
his followers:
“Who
ever received light through me, will receive light through Ali.”
In
this way, he acknowledges his student Hazrat Ali who is the best
example of the receiving student and asks them now to follow in
the way of Ali and the Prophet’s family who carry the Prophet’s
teaching with them.
As
Hazrat Shah Maghsoud Sadegh Angha said:
“Ali
is the perfect mirror of the Holy Prophet.”
As
Sufi students, this is our goal — to mirror our teachers.
As a mirror, we reflect without deviation exactly the teaching
and do not add anything. This is the right way of receiving —
as the Prophet did and as Hazrat Ali did.
Tonight
also marks the story of the prophet Abraham and his attempt to
sacrifice his son. Seeing that Abraham’s commitment to Him
is unshakeable under all circumstances, God spares Abraham from
this difficult task. Abraham is an example of the human being
who has honored his contract with the Divine and follows it unhesitatingly.
His devotion is rewarded. Abraham too shows us how to be a receiver.
If you do right, you will receive the mercy and grace of the Divine.
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