Even though the event of Ghadeer has traversed a period of 1400 years yet even today and in the days to come, the reality of Ghadeer is a divine testamentof faith and mirror of Islam and Quran for every Muslim who believes in Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) and acts upon it and takes it as a guarantee of success in this world and the hereafter.
Hence the Muslim world should not only pass the realities of this great day its lofty concepts and hidden teachings to the followers of monotheism, but to the entire world so that the celebrated desires of mankind can be enlivened and illuminated. Veiling Ghadeer is equivalent to veiling humanity, because the fortune of human societies is hidden in the leadership of a divine leader i.e. AmeerulMomineen Ali ibn AbiTalib (a.s.) and his infallible sons. Hence discussing about Ghadeer is the need of every era and our responsibility cannot be confined to a few pages of history.
It is convenient to say that discussing about an incident which occurred hundreds of years ago, will result in nothing except differences and controversies hence we should not discuss about an issue that will harm “unity among the Muslims” and acts as a barrier for the unity of Muslims. However, if the real message of Ghadeer and true unity is pondered upon, then it is only Ghadeer which will be seen as an axis of unity and consensus.
If we pay attention to a few realities, we will see that Ghadeer not only resolves our differences but there are huge benefits that we stand to accrue from Ghadeer, like no other subject.
1. True unity
At the onset it is important to understand the reality and concept of unity. In reality, there are two concepts which are presented with one meaning which is wrong and hence it requires detailed analysis and cognitive approach. We cannot give preference to one over the other.
1. The Muslim nation coming on one platform to protect unity so that a culture of consensus and harmony
is established.
2. Protecting the true Islam
There is no doubt that it is the duty of all the Muslims that they protect this true religion and put efforts to spread and propagate it. Every Muslim has this big responsibility on himself and since there are common enemies of all the Muslims, who want to destroy the real Islam, Quran and the Muslims, they must fight unitedly to protect the religion and Quran. But it does not mean that we belittle the other important responsibility and we avoid talking about the established foundations and realities. To consider unity of Muslims as the prime objective and give a secondary status to religious rights is against intellect. In fact, if Islam calls for unity of Muslims, then it is for the sakeof protecting the religion so that the reality of religion of Islam continues, because if Islam itself does not survive, how will we benefit from unity. The history and conduct of Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) is a mirror, witness and supporter of this reality. He was aware and he even informed that the Umayyads (may Allah curse them) are enemies of Imam Ali (a.s.) and the Hashemites and would never accept the mastership and leadership of Chief of Believers - Imam Ali (a.s.), yet Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) neither prevented himself from speaking the truth nor abandoned it, but in his 23 years as a Prophet he announced the mastership of Imam Ali (a.s.) at various junctions, through different points and on multiple occasions he kept reminding the people about it while he knew this very well that immediately after his martyrdom there would be differences concerning this issue.More so, the differenceswould involve the prominent names and these differences would remain till the advent of Imam Mahdi (a.t.f.s.), yet he spoke about it and made it clear for all Muslims.
To erase all doubts, he raised Imam Ali (a.s.) with his hands on the day of Ghadeer and appointed him as the caliph so that all the companions and the entire nation witnesses the arrangement the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) has done for mastership and Imamate. Hence it is clear that propagating truth is the foundation, and any other issue cannot be made more important, even if there are two groups being formed among the Muslims.Put simply, Imamate cannot take a backseat. It also does not mean that Muslims should be at loggerheads with each other and work towards destroying themselves but bring forth their viewpoints in the light of strong arguments and clear facts and tolerate each other and accept the truth and invite others towards it and at the same time be vigilant of the common enemy. The stand of Imam Husain (a.s.) also supports this. He knew it very well that by his stand, there would be two groups formed among the Muslims and it will give rise to severe conflict but did not abstain from enjoining the good and forbidding evil.
The practice and conduct of Imam Ali (a.s.) also pointed toward this aspect. A few people think that by giving Talha, Zubair and Muawiya some government position, the battle of Jamal and Siffeen could have been avoided saving lives of thousands of people but Imam Ali (a.s.) did not accept to sideline the truth for the safety of realities of religion and true Islam and avoid the battle of Siffeen and Jamal. The door has always been and will remain in every condition open for academical analysis and unveiling the realities for the scholars. By raising the slogan of mastership and Imamate of Ahle Bait (a.s.) one cannot demean the religious effect of martyrdom, nor one can turn a blind eye on the differences in the foundations of faith by raising the slogan of unity of Muslims.
2. Unity is possible under the leadership of a true Imam
Islam emphasizes a lot to Muslims about unity and coexistence. Quran has also pointed this at various places “when you were enemies, then He united your hearts so by His favor you became brethren” - (Surah Aal-e-Imran (2):103)
“And be not like those who became divided and disagreed after clear arguments had come to them, and these it is that shall have a grievous chastisement.”
(Surah Aale Imran (2): 105)
“The believers are but brethren”
Surah Hujraat (49): 10
“And hold fast by the covenant of Allah all together and be not disunited”
(Surah Aale Imran (2): 103)
“Surely this Islam is your religion, one religion (only), and I am your Lord, therefore serve Me”
(Surah Anbiya (21): 92) Despite abundant reminders by Quran one cannot be ignorant of the fact that unity requires an axis and a foundation, till the time this is not agreed upon, differences and disagreements will always be there. If someone claims Quran to be a leader (Imam) then, it alone does not have the capacity because as per the narration of Imam Ali ibn AbiTalib (a.s.), Quran has different meaning and aspects on the basis of which one word can be associated to one interpretation, yet we see that the Holy Quran introduces a divine book as a leader
and before it (is) the Book of Moosa (a)
Surah Hud: 17
the book of Ibrahim (a) and Moosa (a)
Surah Aala: 19 But it does not restrict to this and Prophet Ibrahim (a.s.) was introduced as a speaking Imam
And when his Lord tried Ibrahim with certain words, he fulfilled them. He said: Surely, I will make you an Imam of men
(Surah Baqarah (2): 124)
This clarifies that Quran alone cannot be taken as a leader/Imam till the time this silent Imam is accompanied by a speaking Imam so that he judges with truth during conflicts and they are none but the progeny of Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) who are worthy of this leadership from the side of Allah.
3. Scholastic discussions and talks are the first step towards unity
In the book Al-Melalwaal-Nehal, Shahristani writes:
The biggest difference among the (Muslim) nation is the issue of Imamate (Al-Melalwaal- Nehal vol1 pg. 24). There is no doubt that ignoramus and irrational discussions have given birth to obstinacy and enmity. But if through intellectual discussions if one group reaches to the depth of the beliefs of the other group and understands that this belief is a based-on Quran and teachings of the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) then the enmity and prejudice between the two groups can be eliminated. The primary and most important reason hatred among two groups is not knowing beliefs of each other or to consider it baseless i.e., without any rationale or proof. E.g. Shias are considered disbelievers for the belief of “Change (Badaa)” or call them hypocrite for their belief of “Dissimulation (Taqiya)” because they are unaware of reality behind practicing this action similar to the belief of Imamate and mastership of AhleBait (a.s.).
If the AhleTasannunconsider the consider Shias as exaggerators (Ghaali) due to their belief of Imamate and its conditions, then the primary reason for this is the inability to decipher the intellectual path or we have not introduced the correct path from our side. Its proof is that wherever the correct path has been introduced respectably, success has been attained and a sense of unity has been developed among the honorable members of the community and this went on expanding. Here are a few instances: The ruling (Fatwa) of Shaikh Mahmood Shaltoot, Dr. Mohammad Muhammad Fahaam, Shaikh Muhammad Ghazzali, Abdul Rahman Najjar, Ustad Ahmad, Shaikh Mohammad Abu Zahra, Ustad Mahmood Sartavi, Ustad Abdul Fatah Abdul Maqsood, Dr. Hamid Hanafi, Dr. Abdur Rahman Kiyali, Ustad Abul Wafa Ghanami Taftazani are distinguished researchers and jurists in the world of Islam. Weren’t the following scholars involved in intellectual discussions as a result outweighed all types of malice and hatred Dr. Mohammad TejaniSamawi, Saeb Abdul Hamid, Ustad Saleh al-Wardani, UstadMotassim Syed Ahmad Sudani, the famous Egyptian lawyer DamardashAqqali, Allamah Dr. Mohammad Hasan Shahatah, Shaikh Mohammad Abdul Aal, Mohammad Shahadah, AsadWaheedQasim (Palestinian doctor) and thousands like them cannot be neglected.
4. Appointing the religious guide after Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.)
The position of Imamate is divine status which is important from worldly as well religious affairs and at the same time its historical importance cannot be ignored. And assume that historically that event has passed and belongs to the bygone time, it would have been correct to say that it is useless in the present time if it was a historical matter only, but if it is associated with religion and faith then one cannot term it as historical and avoid it. It was not only relevant at that time but till the day of judgment. Hence if we talk about Imamate and mastership then it is for the sake to identify our religious guide. From whom do we take the religion today? Who is aware of true practices of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.)? Should we take our religion and religious teachings from Abul Hasan Ashari, Hasan Basari, Ibn Taimiyah, Fazl bin Roozbahan and religious rulings from the four schools of thought? This is the practice of AhleTasannunand Wahabi. Or should we take it from a person who is infallible possessing divine knowledge and is from the family of Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.), in whose heart is all the knowledge and perfections of Prophet (s.a.w.a.).
This is a clear truth and there are several verses of the Holy Quran and innumerable narrations supporting it and the twelver sect emphasizes and is firm on it and invites others also towards it.It is the responsibility of every Muslim given the distance from Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) and after multiple school of thoughts and conflicting opinions coming into existence, to seek the path to the true practices of Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) and real teachings which is satisfactory as well as endorsed by Allah and His Messenger (s.a.w.a.). It is for this reason that Imam Ali (a.s.) is being referred to as the contiguous caliph which fills the gap of Islamic leadership and guidance and gives answers to religious issues as well.
Imam Ali (a.s.) says in Nahj al-Balagah:
O people! Where are you going? Why are you deviating from the truth, the flag of guidance is raised and its signs are apparent and the paths of guidance are illuminated, where are you going like the deviated ones? Why are you wandering while the progeny of your messenger (s.a.w.a.) is among you, they are the guides of truth and leaders of religion and tongues of truth. O people! Pay attention to the progeny of your Prophet (s.a.w.a.) wherever they keep their feet, you also keep it there, they will take you out of guidance and will not take you towards destruction and degradation again. If they are silent, then you also remain silent, if they rise then you also rise, do not go ahead of them lest you may deviate neither stay behind then lest you may be destroyed
Where are those who considered themselves and not us to be firmly entrenched in knowledge, they have lied (by claiming they are the ones firmly entrenched in knowledge) and have wreaked oppression and tyranny. Allah elevated us and downgraded and embarrassed them, He gave us and denied them...
The Ahle Bait (a.s.) are the secret of knowledge and wisdom and death for ignorance and foolishness, their forbearance informs you about their knowledge, their apparent about their hidden, and their silence about their speech, neither they oppose the religion of Allah nor make changes in it.
It is true that Allah made Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) as the best role model for all Muslims but one should note that after his martyrdom, such situations arose which were opposite to the covenant taken and the Muslims selected an idol for themselves.Hence, it was necessary that someone who possessed the same characteristics so that wherever he steps, the others can follow, whenever he is silent, the Muslims also remain quiet, whenever he rises the Muslims also rise with himeven when he unleashes his sword against reciters and memorizers of Quran and those who are vigilant in night prayers with prayers marks on the forehead as apparent signs of believers cannot deceive him. Similarly, if a time comes that in the name of Islam, Yazeed becomes ruler of all the Muslim states, the Imam presents the practices of the Messenger (s.a.w.a.) which can be a perfect example for the people till the day of judgment as a guiding light for everyone.Hence it is necessary that we discuss about the successors of Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) even after his martyrdom, in every era, so that when the Quran is raised on spears he comes to the fore like a speaking Quran. The discussion of Imamate is important because only he can confront the accursed Yazid with the attributes of Mohammad (s.a.w.a.). After the martyrdom of Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.), the discussion of Imamate is necessary so that it becomes clear who can lead the Muslim nation to success till the day of judgment. And when such a person is appointed then not only Muslims but the entire humanity will submit to him and the winds on unity and collaboration will start to blow and there will be no differences
Let us pray for the reappearance of the last uniting leader Imam Mahdi (a.t.f.s.) and pray to Allah that He hastens the reappearance of the successor of Ghadeer and include us among his supporters and helpers.