In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

O Allah, hasten to grant me relief... 🤲

In the light of the Holy Quran, the importance of Ghadir Khumm holds a very significant and profound meaning. Although the word "Ghadir Khumm" has not been explicitly mentioned in the Holy Quran, there are certain verses that Islamic scholars and commentators have linked to the incident of Ghadir. Especially the scholars of the Shia school—and even some Sunni scholars—have explained the greatness and significance of Ghadir Khumm in very clear terms, considering it essential to understanding the message of Islam.

One of the key verses related to Ghadir Khumm is known as the "Verse of Proclamation" (Ayat al-Balagh), found in Surah Al-Ma’idah, verse 67:

"O Messenger, convey what has been revealed to you from your Lord; and if you do not do so, then you have not conveyed His message. And Allah will protect you from the people."
(Surah Al-Ma'idah, 5:67)

This verse shows that the message being commanded to convey was a very special and crucial one, as Allah uses a strong and firm tone. The seriousness of the language indicates that this message was the most important of all the messages that the Holy Prophet (PBUH) had delivered throughout his life.

Now the question arises: What was that message so important that if the Prophet (PBUH) had not delivered it, his 23 years of preaching and effort would have been in vain?

For ten years in Mecca, the Prophet (PBUH) endured hardships and persecution from the disbelievers and polytheists while preaching the message of Islam. Eventually, he had to leave his beloved homeland and migrate to Medina by the command of Allah. Even after the migration, the Prophet (PBUH) continued his mission with unwavering dedication. He fought many battles, faced numerous challenges, and worked tirelessly to spread the message of Islam. With the help of divine support—especially from Imam Ali (AS) in battles—he achieved great victories.

He continued preaching in Medina for another thirteen years, and eventually, the Quran declared:

"When the help of Allah and the victory comes, and you see the people entering the religion of Allah in crowds..."
(Surah An-Nasr: 1-2)

This was a divine announcement of success.

So what message remained that, if not delivered, would render the entire Prophetic mission incomplete?

This suggests that the message being ordered to be delivered at that moment in the final days of the Prophet’s life was so essential that failure to do so would invalidate the entire mission of Prophethood—as if that message was the certification of the Prophet’s 23-year struggle.

A relevant example: imagine a student who has completed all his studies and passed with excellent grades, becoming an exceptional doctor. But if the government refuses to issue him a certificate, can he practice medicine? No. Without certification, despite all his knowledge, his efforts would be meaningless, as there is no formal proof of his qualification.

Similarly, the Prophet of Islam (PBUH) fulfilled the mission of Prophethood for 23 years, bearing all kinds of difficulties to deliver the message of God. But at this stage, Allah commands that if this specific message is not conveyed, it is as if no message has been conveyed at all.

This strong tone from Allah highlights the critical importance of the message. However, the Prophet (PBUH) was still showing patience and caution in delivering it. There was hesitation and delay.

Why was the Prophet hesitant? After all, he had previously delivered all other divine commands—even the call to monotheism—in the hostile environment of Mecca, facing polytheists without hesitation.

In such an environment, where only idols were being worshipped, it was very difficult to declare the worship of one God in opposition to the 360 idols in the Kaaba. There, to say "There is no god but Allah" was a matter of great courage and boldness.

But at that time, Allah neither adopted a harsh tone, nor did He say that if monotheism was not conveyed, the mission of the Prophet would be in vain. The Prophet of Islam (PBUH) also raised the slogan "La ilaha illallah" in the assembly of disbelievers without fear or anxiety.

However, the message that Allah Almighty ordered to be delivered in the presence of one hundred and twenty thousand pilgrims (some narrations say more) in the field of Ghadir Khumm, on the return from the Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) last Hajj, came with a harsh tone, and the Prophet (PBUH) was visibly hesitant and nervous in delivering it.

Only then did Allah say:

"O Prophet, do not be afraid. Allah will protect you from the evil of the people."

This promise of protection from Allah to His beloved Prophet implies that the Prophet’s hesitation was not without reason. He was not exercising restraint based on mere suspicion or doubt, but rather because he was certain of real danger.

If there had been no possibility of danger, then why would Allah have said, "Allah will protect you from the people"? In that case, Allah could have simply said:

"Deliver the message without hesitation. There is no danger for you here."

But instead, Allah's words — "And Allah will protect you from the evil of the people" — show that there truly was a threat, and therefore, divine protection was necessary.

All scholars and commentators — especially within the Shia school, and also some Sunni scholars — have made it clear that this command was regarding the announcement of the wilayah (guardianship and leadership) of Hazrat Ali (PBUH), which was officially declared by the Prophet (PBUH) at Ghadir Khumm.

image by printest