Gadir-Khum – the day of the improvement of religion

On the eighteenth day of the month of Zilhijja, one of the biggest holidays of the Islamic world is celebrated – the Ghadir-Khum holiday.
It was on this day, in the 10th year of the Hijra, that the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) appointed His Eminence Ali (a) as his viceroy at the behest of Allah. Ghadir-Khum is a significant event that took place in the Ghadir-Khum oasis.
According to traditions, His Eminence Muhammad (pbuh) together with more than 100 thousand companions, having performed the farewell Hajj, left Mecca and went to Medina on the 14th day of the month of Zilhijjah. Between Mecca and Medina, near the village of Juhfa, the Ghadir Khum event took place.
When the caravan reached Juhfa, the Great Allah sent the following verse to the Prophet (s): “O Messenger! Convey what has been sent to you from your Lord. If you do not do this, you will not convey His message. Allah will protect you from the people. Verily, Allah does not guide unbelieving people to a straight path” (“Maida”, 67).
After the message of the above verse, the Prophet (pbuh) ordered the caravan to halt. After performing the collective Zohra prayer, the Prophet (pbuh) ascended the minbar made of camel palanquins and delivered a sermon.
His Eminence (pbuh) reminded that he bequeaths two values to the ummah – the Qur’an and his family. It is the duty of Muslims to respect these two values and not deviate from them.
Then the Prophet (pbuh) raised his hand and stood next to Ali ibn Abu Talib (a) and said: “Allah is my patron, and I am the patron of the believers and worthy to show them more than themselves. Whose patron I am, so is Ali the patron.”
The Prophet (s) repeated this suggestion three times and then said: “O Allah, be a friend to Ali’s friends, an enemy to his enemies! Love those who love Ali, be enemies with those who hate him! Help Ali, turn away from those who turn away from him! O people ! Convey what you heard to those who are not here! “.
Before the people dispersed, this verse was sent: “This day I have perfected your religion for you, completed My mercy upon you, and approved for you Islam as a religion” (Ma’idah, 3).
Then the Prophet (pbuh) ordered a tent to be built for Ali ibn Abu Talib (a), and he himself camped in another tent. All the Muslims went to the tent of Ali (a) and greeted him. It is said that the first to greet Ali ibn Abu Talib (a) were the future Rashidite caliphs Abu Bakr and Omar ibn Khattab.
Imam Sadiq (a) prophesied: “Fast, pray on the day of Ghadir-Khum, remember the Prophet Muhammad (s) and his family, give them salawat. The Prophet (s) commanded Ali (a) to celebrate on this day.”