3. The Historical Hadīth of Ghadīr
InthetenthyearoftheIslamiccalendar(hijrah),theProphetsetoutfor
Meccatoperformthepilgrimage(hajj).Thishajjwasundertakeninthe
lastyearsoftheProphet'slife,andforthisreasonhistoryhasgivenitthe
nameofthe"FarewellPilgrimage"(hajjatu'l-wida').Muslimsparticipated
inextraordinarilylargenumbersinthisjourneyoftheProphettoMecca
withtheeagernesstolearnanddothepilgrimagefromtheProphetdir-
ectly. They numbered about 120,000. Some groups joined him in the
town of Mecca.
Aftercompletingthehajj,whentheProphetwasreturningtoMedina,
thefollowingversewasrevealedonthe18thdayofDhilHijjaatGhadīr
Khumm:
OMessenger,deliverthat[message]whichhasbeensentdowntoyou
fromyourLord;forifyoudonot,then[itbeasif]youhavenotdelivered
His message [at all]. Allah will protect you from men. (5:67)
Thusa greatmessage reachedthe Prophet from Allah.The edgesof
thecaravanwereslowlyrollingalong.Suddenlyaheraldproclaimedon
behalfoftheProphet:"Allahhasgivenacommand...Leteveryoneawait
the command... "
Thereupon,theProphet(a.s.)gavetheorderthateveryoneshouldstop
movingandcometoahalt;andtheydid.Manytravelersstoodthereon
the orderof the Prophetto hear the news.Wehavebeen toldthat the
desertofGhadīrKhummisplainwithoutwater;itwasmiddayandthe
heatofthesunwasscorching.WhatisthenewsforwhichtheProphetis
keeping the people standing in such a place, at such a time?
Thenthesoundofadhānwasheard.TheProphetperformstheprayer
with the people, and then camel saddle-packs are built up to form a
raised platform. The Prophet stands on the topof them. People catch
theirbreath,andareasquietasthesandsofthedesert.Theyarewaiting
for the news.
The Prophet starts. After praising Allah, the Prophet says, "Do you
agreethatIhavefulfilledmyresponsibilitybyconveyingthemessageof
Allah to you?"