The Ahl al-Bayt's Argument Based on the Hadith of Ghadir

Question

Which of the Imams (peace be upon them) referenced the Hadith or Sermon of Ghadir to affirm their leadership (imamate)?

Template:خطبه غدیر Imam Ali (peace be upon him), Lady Fatimah (peace be upon her), Imam Hasan (peace be upon him), and Imam Husayn (peace be upon him) each referenced the Sermon of Ghadir in arguments with their opponents. Imam Ali (peace be upon him) frequently cited the Hadith of Ghadir to affirm his right to the caliphate after the Prophet (peace be upon him). He used this hadith in several critical moments: in a discussion with the first caliph after the Saqifah incident, during the six-member council convened to select the successor of the second caliph, throughout the reign of the third Caliph, and during his own caliphate.

Lady Fatimah (peace be upon her) referenced the Hadith of Ghadir in a gathering with the Muhajirun and Ansar following the Prophet’s death, reproaching them for neglecting its significance. Imam Hasan (peace be upon him) invoked the Hadith of Ghadir in his peace negotiations with Muawiyah to emphasize who was rightfully entitled to the position of imam after the Prophet (peace be upon him). Imam Husayn (peace be upon him), before the death of Muawiyah, referenced this hadith during his Hajj pilgrimage, condemning Muawiyah’s usurpation of the caliphate and affirming Imam Ali’s (peace be upon him) unique virtue and right through the Ghadir tradition.

Imam Ali (peace be upon him)

Imam Ali (peace be upon him) frequently referenced the Hadith of Ghadir to affirm his rightful claim to the caliphate.

• Argument from the Hadith of Ghadir with Abu Bakr: After the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) passing, when Abu Bakr noticed that Imam Ali (peace be upon him) had not pledged allegiance to him, he sought a private audience. In that conversation, Imam Ali recalled his virtues and said,
  “ أَنْشُدُکَ بِاللَّهِ أَنَا الْمَوْلَی لَکَ وَ لِکُلِّ مُسْلِمٍ بِحَدِیثِ النَّبِیِّ ص یَوْمَ الْغَدِیرِ أَمْ أَنْتَ قَالَ بَلْ أَنْت : I ask you by Allah: am I the ‘Mawla’ (guardian) of you and every Muslim according to the Prophet’s words on the Day of Ghadir, or are you?" Abu Bakr replied, "Indeed, you are. ”
  • Argument in the Six-Member Council: In the council convened to select Umar's successor, Imam Ali invoked the Ghadir proclamation, saying,
    “ Is there anyone among you other than myself whom the Messenger of Allah appointed at Ghadir Khumm?" They all replied, "By Allah, no. ”
    • Argument during the Caliphate of Uthman: During Uthman’s caliphate, Imam Ali, in a gathering with the Ansar and Quraysh, referenced the Prophet’s proclamation at Ghadir and the revelation of the Verse of Completion. He also recalled the pledges of allegiance from Abu Bakr, Umar, and others. They replied, "O Ali, you have preserved it well, while we have forgotten parts of it."
    • Argument During His Own Caliphate: During his own rule, Imam Ali gathered people at Ruhbah to recall the Day of Ghadir, saying, "I call upon every Muslim who heard the Prophet’s words at Ghadir to stand and bear witness to what they heard." Several companions stood and testified to what they had witnessed.
    • Imam Ali’s (peace be upon him) use of the Hadith of Ghadir is also recorded in arguments with groups of the Muhajirun and Ansar, public speeches in Kufa, and the Battles of Jamal and Siffin. Al-‘Allamah Amini also compiled a separate book titled al-Munashadah wa-l-Ihtijaj bi-Hadith al-Ghadir, detailing Imam Ali's references to the Ghadir Hadith.

    Lady Fatimah (peace be upon her)

    

    Man Kuntu Mawla in Ma'ali script

    According to the Sunni scholar Ibn Jazari, Lady Fatimah (peace be upon her) said to the people:
    “ Have you forgotten the Prophet’s words at Ghadir when he said, 'Whoever considers me his guardian, Ali is also his guardian'? ”
    Mahmud ibn Labid reports that after the Prophet’s death, Lady Fatimah visited the graves of the Uhud martyrs and, in response to a question, said:
    “ وَا عَجَبَاهْ أَ نَسِیتُمْ یَوْمَ غَدِیرِ خُمٍّ : How astonishing! Have you forgotten the Day of Ghadir? ”
    She then confirmed,
    “ I heard my father say, ‘Ali is the best successor for you after me and he is the imam and the caliph after me and my two sons and nine of the sons of Husayn are the imams of the righteous. ”

    Imam Hasan (peace be upon him)

    In 41 AH, during the peace treaty with Muawiyah, Imam Hasan (peace be upon him) referenced the Hadith of Ghadir, saying,

    “ All saw and heard the Prophet (peace be upon him) raising my father’s hand at Ghadir and declaring, ‘Whoever considers me his guardian, Ali is also his guardian. O Allah, befriend those who befriend him and oppose those who oppose him. ”

    Imam Husayn (peace be upon him)

    In 58 or 59 AH, before Muawiyah’s death, Imam Husayn (peace be upon him) gathered the Banu Hashim and his followers in Mina and denounced Muawiyah's usurpation of the caliphate. He then said,

    “ I call you to bear witness that you know the Prophet appointed my father at Ghadir Khumm and declared his guardianship." They responded, Yes, we testify. ”

    
    

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