On the Islamic calendar (Hijri calendar) today marks an important historical event. Shias (and some minority members of other sects) would come to regard this day as the coronation of Ali ibn Abu Talib. On this day, the Prophet Muhammad ibn Abdullah had his large Muslim caravan halt near the Ghadeer (a pool of water) in a plain that was known as Khumm. The howdahs of the camels were put together to make a makeshift for the pulpit, and there, the Prophet began a speech. In this he ordered the Muslims to obey and follow his Ahlul-Bayt (household). He then lifted Ali’s hand and exclaimed “For whomsoever I am the Maula (Master), Ali is his Maula (Master). O’ God! Be Thou a Friend of him who is a friend of Ali, and be Thou an Enemy of him who is an enemy to Ali. O’ God! Help him who helps Ali, and abandon him who abandons him.”
It was the 18th of Dhu’l-Hijjah in 10AH. On the Gregorian calendar it would have been March 16, 632.
Although, true loyalty to Ali did not remain much after the Prophet’s passing. Following Shi’ite historiography, at a location called Saqifa a number of men plotted to follow their own leadership instead of Ali’s. Abu Bakr, the leader at Saqifa, had gotten the support of his closest ally Umar ibn al-Khattab and of the Umayyad tribe. He quickly gathered the support and loyalty of another faction, al-Ansar, who were vital to Islam. He gained everyone’s allegiance while Ali was cleaning the body of the late Prophet. In Shi’ite historiography, Abu Bakr very clearly usurped the God-given right of Ali. Abu Bakr would come to be the first Caliph of the Rashidun Caliphate, until he named his friend Umar ibn al-Khattab as his own heir. On Umar’s deathbed, he made preparations for Uthman to become the Caliph, and after Uthman was killed by a rebellion, the people returned to Ali some 25 years later. As the Caliphate was on the brink of civil war, Ali accepted the people’s requests after they ignored him refusing the position. On the 18th of Dhu’l-Hijjah, 35AH (June 17, 656), Ali leaned against the pulpit in Medina and just about all of the Mujahireen and Ansar members that were in the city came to swear their allegiance to Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib. He was the fourth and last Caliph of the Rashidun.
I don’t believe I’ve written on here about the Islamicate world at all, and I usually focus more on things during a later time period, but today is a holiday for Shias and I’ve been reading about the early Ummah (Muslim community) quite recently, so I figured this might be interesting. I think most non-Muslims are unfamiliar with Shi’ite historiography, so this might be a first look in. I just decided to write something impromptu for the holiday. Eid Ghadeer Mubarak for anyone celebrating!
