• Statements
• 14 Thul Hijja 1433

Congratulation letter on the occasion of Eid Al-Ghadir 1433

In the Name of Allah the Compassionate Most Merciful

Today I have perfected your religion for you and completed my favour upon you and chosen for you Islam – as a religion. (Qur’an 5:3)

Our warmest congratulations and blessings go out to the Muslim world on the occasion of Allah’s greatest Eid Eid Al-Ghadir

We pray the Almighty to bestow this Eid again upon everyone with blessings and adherence to the principles and beliefs for He is All Hearing and [He] Answers prayers.

In the Name of the Most High

All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds and peace and blessing upon His best of creations Mohammad and his pure household. All praise is due to Allah who made us adhere to the Wilaya of Amirul-Momineen and the Imams (a.s.)

We congratulate Momineen brothers on the advent of Eid al-Ghadir, named in the heavens as the ‘day of the promised covenant’ and on earth as the ‘adopted charter’ and the acclaimed gathering. It is Allah’s greatest Eid, the Eid of Muhammad’s household (a.s.). It is the day when religion was perfected and favour completed. Abu al-Fath al-Sharestani said in his book (al-Millal wal-Nahl 1/163) “the same thing occurred when Islam was perfected and its course regulated when the Almighty sent His word: “O Messenger, deliver whatever has been sent down to you by your Lord. If you do not do so, you will not have conveyed His message..” (Holy Quran 5:67)

When he [the prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.w.)] arrived in Ghadir-Khum he ordered the shelters, from the sun, to be raised. Prayers were called, then while still on his mount, he (s.a.w.w.) said: “Whomsoever I was his master then Ali is his master. O Lord, support he who supports him and [be] the enemy of his enemies, help whoever helps him and fail whoever fails him and let justice turn with him wherever he turns - declared three times.”

Jalal-uddin al-Sayooti said in his interpretation (al-Durr al-Manthoor 2/298) based on proof from Abi Sai’id al-Khudri: This verse “O Messenger, deliver whatever has been sent down to you by your Lord...” (Qur’an 5:67) was revealed unto the messenger of Allah (s.a.w.w.) on Ghadir Khum day and it relates to Ali Ibn Abi Talib (a.s). He also said in (2/259): “When the messenger of Allah appointed Ali as his vicegerent on the day of Ghadir Khum, the angel Jibrael descended with the following verse”: “..Today I have perfected your religion for you and completed my favour upon you and chosen for you Islam – as a religion...” (Qur’an 5:3)

Al-Khateeb al-Baghdadi said in (History of Baghdad 8/284), al-Hafidh al-Hasskani in (Shwahid-ul-Tanzeel 1/200) and Ibn Assakir in (History of Damascus 42/284) plus others with several reliable proofs from Abu Hurraira who said: “Whoever fasts on the 18th of Thil-Hijja Allah will count it as having fasted sixty months – the day of Ghadir Khum. When the messenger of Allah (saw) raised the hand of Ali Ibn Abi Talib and said: Am I not the master of Momineen ? They said: Yes, O messenger of Allah. He said: Whomsoever I am his master then Ali is his master. Then Omar ibn-al-Khatab said: Truly so Oh son of Abi Talib, you have become my master and master of every Muslim.” Thus Allah sent the verse: “Today I have perfected your religion for you... .“ Other sources of reference have narrated the same, about thirty in all - as gathered by Shaykh al-Amini in his book (al-Ghadir fi al-Kitab wal-Sunnah wal-Adab). This book is truly considered as the encyclopaedia of the Wilaya and has been praised by those for and against alike. It has provided arguments, texts and proofs from narrations by Islamic scholars from different beliefs - leaving no room for excuse.

We congratulate Momineen on this day when the holy messenger launched a plan for the continuation of the Islamic message, having completed its establishing stage, like all the prophets and messengers before him, none of whom passed without pledging their divine mission- till the guardian [Wassi] Murtadha to continue the task after him and to be sure the Shari’ah will be in safe hands to protect it from evil and defend it from a belligerent infidel or a hypocrite thug and guard it against an external enemy threatening its existence and an internal one attempting to distort its concepts and contents.

This day is a day guaranteeing the survival of Islam, a day of guiding the Ummah to safe shores, the compass for Islam’s way ahead, the standard for justice. It’s the day of guidance towards the Imamah and Khilafah, the master of unity Amirul-Momineen Ali Ibn Abi Talib (a.s.). Therefore, it is truly Allah’s greatest Eid. Friday, al-Adha, al-Fitr are also Eid days pertaining to the branches of religion [Foroo’ al-Din] such as prayers, Haj and fasting. This day is about the roots, the foundation of religion, its essence and continuation.

Therefore it is narrated from al-Sadiq, Jaffar ibn Moussa (a.s.), when he was asked if there was another Eid for Muslims, other than Friday, al-Adha and al-Fitr ? He (a.s.) said: “Yes, greatest in sanctity.” The narrator said: “which is it then?” He (a.s.) said: “The day when the messenger of Allah (s.a.w.w) appointed Amirul-Momineen (a.s.) and said: Whomsoever I am the master of then Ali is his master it is the day of 18th Dhil-hijjah.” The narrator said: “What should we do then on such a day?” He (a.s.) said: “Fasting, worshiping, remembering [dhikr] Ale-Muhammad (a.s.) and doing Salawat.” The messenger of Allah instructed Amirul-Momineen (a.s.) to observe Eid on this day. It is narrated from al-Ridha, Ali ibn Moussa (a.s.) on the virtue of spending to relive this day: “One dirham is worth a thousand for your brothers who know. Give to your brothers on this day and bring happiness to every Momin and Mominah.”

We ask Allah Almighty to grant us success to relive this day, so that the Dua of al-Sadiq, Jaffar Ibn Moussa (a.s.), may encompass us: “Allah bless those who revive our tradition,” and to remain committed to the great messenger’s instruction to adhere to the Wilaya of his brother and cousin al-Murtadha and seek his intercession, for he is an able master.

Imam Ali Foundation
Liaison Office of Ayatullah al-Udma Sayyid Seestani (mudda dhiluh) – London
14 Dhil-Hijja 1433