The Archangel in Ghadir Khumm

When the ceremonies of Hajj ended, and Muslims learned its rituals from the Prophet (may Allah bless him and his family), the Messenger of Allah decided to leave Mecca and return to Medina, so he issued an order to that effect.

When the great procession of pilgrims reached the area of ​​Rabigh,¹ which is three miles away from al-Juhfa,² the Trustee of Revelation, Gabriel, descended upon the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) in an area called Ghadir Khumm and addressed him with the following verse. He said: “Oh Messenger, convey what has been revealed to you from your Lord, and if you do not do that, then you have not conveyed His message, and Allah will protect you from people.”³

The Language of the Verse

The language of the verse and its apparent meaning reveal that Allah Almighty has placed the responsibility of the Prophet to carry out a dangerous task, and what is more dangerous than to appoint Ali (peace be upon him) to the position of the caliphate after him in the presence and hearing of one hundred thousand witnesses.

From here, the Messenger of Allah (may God bless him and his family) issued an order to stop, so the vanguards of that grand procession stopped, and those who were late joined them.

It was noon, and the weather was very hot. A person used to put part of his cloak above his head and the other part of it under his feet, and they made an umbrella for the Prophet (peace and blessings of God be upon him and his family), which was a cloak that was thrown on the branches of a tree. The Messenger of Allah (may God’s prayers be upon him and his family) prayed the noon prayer with those present. While the people had surrounded him, he ascended on a pulpit that was made of camels saddles and addressed the people.

The Prophet Delivers a Sermon

Raising his voice, the Prophet said:

“Praise be to Allah, and we seek His help, believe in Him, rely on Him, and seek refuge in Him from the evils of ourselves and the evils of our deeds. There is no guide for those who go astray, nor is there a misleader for those who are guided. I bear witness that there is no god but Him and that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger.

O people, the All-Merciful, the All-Knowing, informed me that no prophet lived but as long as half of the one before him; I am about to be called, and I will answer, and I am responsible, and you are responsible, so what do you say?

They said: We bear witness that you have informed, advised, and worked hard, so may Allah reward you. He (PBUH) said:

“Do you not bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and that Muhammad is His servant and His Messenger, that His Paradise is true, that the Hour (Day of Judgment) is coming, there is no doubt in it, and that God will resurrect those in the graves?”

They said: Yes, we bear witness to that.

He (PBUH) said:

“Oh Allah, bear witness.”

The Two Heavy Weights

Then the Prophet (PBUH) said:

“I am leaving among you the two heavy weights; as long as you hold to them, you will never go astray.”

Then a caller called out: may my father and mother be sacrificed for you, O Messenger of Allah. What are the two weights?

He PBUH said: “The Book of Allah, one end is in God’s hand, and one end is in your hands, so hold fast to it, and the other is my progeny.

The Prophet Appoints His Successor

Here he took the hand of “Ali” (peace be upon him) and raised it until the whites of their armpits were seen and the people recognized him. Then he said:

“O people, who is more deserving of the believers than themselves?”

They said Allah and His Messenger know best.

He (PBUH) said:

“God is my master, and I am the master of the believers, and I am closer to them than their own selves, so whomever I am his master, then Ali is his master.^{4 5}