a summary of the story of Ghadir Kham from sunni traditions

In the final year of his blessed life, during his return from the pilgrimage, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was commanded by Allah Almighty at a place called Ghadir Khumm to appoint Imam Ali (peace be upon him) as his successor and the leader of the Muslim Ummah after him.

Despite the certainty of the Ghadir incident and the numerous narrations concerning it, some raise doubts, claiming that the story of Ghadir Khumm is a fabrication by the Shia and is not true. In response to these claims, it should be said:

The event of Ghadir is well-documented even in Sunni texts, and there is no doubt about its occurrence. For example, Allama Amini (may Allah have mercy on him), in his book Al-Ghadir, cited the Ghadir Hadith from 110 companions and 84 followers (those who saw the companions) from Sunni sources.

Here is a summary of the events of Ghadir Khumm:

The Prophet’s Journey from Medina to Mecca:
In the year 10 AH, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) sent out messengers to various parts of the Islamic community, inviting them to join him in the “last pilgrimage.” A large number of Muslims from different regions gathered in Medina.

On Saturday, the 23rd, 24th, or 25th of Dhu al-Qa’da, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) performed ghusl (ritual washing) and donned the ihram (the special clothing for Hajj) and began his journey on foot from Medina to Mecca.

The Number of Muslims Present at the Hajj:
Although a disease, possibly smallpox or measles, had spread in Medina, preventing many Muslims from participating in this pilgrimage, a large number of Muslims, estimated between 90,000 and 124,000, accompanied the Prophet (peace be upon him) to Mecca.

It is said that a group of Muslims, led by Imam Ali (peace be upon him), had gone to Yemen for a military campaign and returned to join the Prophet (peace be upon him).

The Command to Appoint a Successor:
The caravan of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) reached Mecca on Monday evening.

According to historical accounts, divine revelation had instructed the Prophet (peace be upon him) to appoint his successor after teaching the Muslims the rites of Hajj.

Completion of the Hajj and the Return Journey:
After performing the Hajj rites, the Prophet (peace be upon him) ordered the return. All the caravans accompanied him toward al-Juhfa, where the routes to Medina, Syria, and Egypt diverged.

The Revelation of the Verse of Proclamation at Ghadir Khumm:
The caravan of pilgrims reached Ghadir Khumm on the 18th of Dhu al-Hijjah. Here, the verse 67 of Surah Al-Ma’idah was revealed: “O Messenger, proclaim that which has been revealed to you from your Lord…”

The Reason for Choosing Ghadir Khumm for the Succession Announcement:
Ghadir Khumm was chosen for this announcement because it was a junction where people from various regions were present. Therefore, it was the most suitable place to ensure that all Muslims were informed.

The Halt of the Caravan and the Sermon:
When the caravan reached Ghadir Khumm, the Prophet (peace be upon him) ordered it to stop. He then delivered a long sermon, during which he declared Ali (peace be upon him) as his successor.

The Revelation of the Verse of the Perfection of Religion:
After declaring Imam Ali (peace be upon him) as his successor, the verse “Today I have perfected your religion for you…” was revealed. The Prophet (peace be upon him) praised Allah and prayed for Imam Ali (peace be upon him).

Muslims Congratulating the Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him):
Afterward, a tent was set up for Imam Ali (peace be upon him), and Muslims came forward in groups to congratulate him. Abu Bakr and Umar were the first to congratulate him, followed by the wives of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and the rest of the Muslim women.

The Incident of Harith bin Nu’man:
A few days after the Ghadir event, a man from Mecca named Harith bin Nu’man al-Fihri came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and asked if this matter (the appointment of a successor) was from Allah or the Prophet himself. When the Prophet (peace be upon him) confirmed it was from Allah, Harith asked the Prophet to pray for his destruction if he was telling the truth. The Prophet prayed, and immediately, a punishment from the sky befell him.