Event of Ghadir Khumm

The event of Ghadir Khumm
Mosque at Johfah near Rabigh, the Hejaz, Saudi Arabia. The event is reported to have occurred somewhere here.
Also called	Eid Al-Ghadeer
Observed by	Muslims, at least Shi'ites
Type	Islam
Significance	Appointment of Ali as the successor of Muhammad, according to Shia Muslims
Observances	Prayers, gift-giving, festive meals, as well as reciting the Du'a Nudba
2017 date	9 September

The event of Ghadir Khumm
Arabic	حدیث غدیر خم
Romanization	Hadeeth Ghadeer Khumm
Literal meaning	Narration of Khumm Pond

The event of Ghadir Khumm (Arabic and Persian: واقعه غدیر خم) is an event that took place in March 632. While returning from the Hajj pilgrimage, the Islamic prophet Muhammad gathered all the Muslims who were with him and gave a long sermon. This sermon included Muhammad's declaration that "to whomsoever I am Mawla, Ali is also their Mawla." After the sermon, Muhammad instructed everyone to pledge allegiance to Ali.

Shia Muslims believe this event to be the official appointment of Ali as Muhammad's successor. The day's anniversary in the Islamic calendar (18 Dhu al-Hijjah) is celebrated by Muslims (primarily Shias) as Eid al-Ghadeer.

Ten years after the migration and on the last days of Dhu al-Qi'dah (coinciding with 632 in the Gregorian calendar), Muhammad moved from Medina to Mecca accompanied by thousands of his followers. He only once attended Hajj rituals, a few months before he died. Since this Hajj took place in the last year of his life, he made his farewells to people. Ali was in Yemen, preaching Islam, when he was informed about Muhammad's Hajj, so he moved towards Mecca together with some people and joined Muhammad before rituals began. When the rituals of Hajj were finished, Muhammad left Mecca for Medina together with other Muslims.

On Thursday the 18th of Dhu al-Hijjah in the year 10 A.H. (March 632), after the Farewell Pilgrimage, the Muslims arrived at Ghadir Khumm. The following verse of the Quran was revealed:

O Messenger! proclaim the (message) which hath been sent to thee from thy Lord. If thou didst not, thou wouldst not have fulfilled and proclaimed His mission. And Allah will defend thee from men (who mean mischief). For Allah guideth not those who reject Faith (5:67).

According to the verse, Muhammad was obliged to proclaim an important message. The verse clearly denotes the importance of the message, by saying that if he does not announce it, then he has not performed his mission. After revelation of the verse, Muhammad ordered the caravan to stop, and ordered those who had passed Ghadir Khumm to return, and for them to wait there until the arrival of those who were still on their way.