The Ghadir Khumm is well known in the history of Islam as where the Islamic prophet Muhammad pronounced a significant declaration in favor of ʿAli b. Abi Talib, his cousin and son-in-law (by marriage to Muhammad’s daughter Fatima) in 632 CE. The announcement took place during his return journey from the farewell pilgrimage on 18 Dhuʼl Hijja amid a noteworthy gathering and was destined to have a far-reaching impact on the dynamics of the Muslim community. All Muslims concur on the historicity of the event even if the statements therein remain open to interpretation. The Ghadir Khumm tradition is among the most extensively acknowledged and substantiated of traditions and exists in several variations in classical Islamic sources. The pool (ghadir) in the valley of Khumm is situated three miles from al-Jahfa (al-Juhfa) on the way from Mecca to Medina. Because it was a strategic meeting area from which travelers would disperse to their respective routes, Muhammad called for a congregational prayer and asked for an improvised pulpit to be raised. After a contextual brief, he uttered the famous saying “man kuntu mawlahu fa ʿAli mawlahu” (he whose mawla I am, Ali is his mawla).
Sunni Muslims and Shia Muslims differ here intensely on what the word Mawla meant, as it was an Arabic word with multiple meanings depending on context. Sunnis allege that mawla here meant friend, implying that Muhammad was simply declaring Ali a close ally of his. Shias meanwhile contest this claim by using the other meaning of the word, which means leader, alleging that through Muhammad’s declaration, he was appointing Ali to succeed him as the leader of the Muslim community following his death.
TheMidnightBear on
Well, there goes the “everything is in classical arabic, so there are no linguistic misunderstandings” argument.
Levyathan666 on
There are many examples of this word “Walee – ولي” in Quran, in the context of friends/allies, yet Shia insist on the part that means Leader.
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The Ghadir Khumm is well known in the history of Islam as where the Islamic prophet Muhammad pronounced a significant declaration in favor of ʿAli b. Abi Talib, his cousin and son-in-law (by marriage to Muhammad’s daughter Fatima) in 632 CE. The announcement took place during his return journey from the farewell pilgrimage on 18 Dhuʼl Hijja amid a noteworthy gathering and was destined to have a far-reaching impact on the dynamics of the Muslim community. All Muslims concur on the historicity of the event even if the statements therein remain open to interpretation. The Ghadir Khumm tradition is among the most extensively acknowledged and substantiated of traditions and exists in several variations in classical Islamic sources. The pool (ghadir) in the valley of Khumm is situated three miles from al-Jahfa (al-Juhfa) on the way from Mecca to Medina. Because it was a strategic meeting area from which travelers would disperse to their respective routes, Muhammad called for a congregational prayer and asked for an improvised pulpit to be raised. After a contextual brief, he uttered the famous saying “man kuntu mawlahu fa ʿAli mawlahu” (he whose mawla I am, Ali is his mawla).
Sunni Muslims and Shia Muslims differ here intensely on what the word Mawla meant, as it was an Arabic word with multiple meanings depending on context. Sunnis allege that mawla here meant friend, implying that Muhammad was simply declaring Ali a close ally of his. Shias meanwhile contest this claim by using the other meaning of the word, which means leader, alleging that through Muhammad’s declaration, he was appointing Ali to succeed him as the leader of the Muslim community following his death.
Well, there goes the “everything is in classical arabic, so there are no linguistic misunderstandings” argument.
There are many examples of this word “Walee – ولي” in Quran, in the context of friends/allies, yet Shia insist on the part that means Leader.
I can provide evidence if needed.