The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his holy progeny) laid special emphasis on Muslims paying allegiance to Ameerul Momineen Imam Ali Ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon them both) on the Day of Ghadeer in his lengthy sermon. This short section of the Ghadeer Sermon consists of three clear statements wherein the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his holy progeny) exhorted people to give their pledge (Bay’ah) to Ameerul Momineen, Imam Ali (peace be upon him) as follows:
مَعَاشِرَ النَّاسِ قَدْ بَيَّنْتُ لَكُمْ وَ أَفْهَمْتُكُمْ وَ هٰذَا عَلِيٌّ يُفْهِمُكُمْ بَعْدِي
“O people! I have clarified for you and explained to you and this is Ali who will explain to you after me.”
أَلَا وَ إِنَّ عِنْدَ انْقِضَاءِ خُطْبَتِي أَدْعُوكُمْ إِلَى مُصَافَقَتِي عَلَى بَيْعَتِهٖ وَ الْإِقْرَارِ بِهِ ثُمَّ مُصَافَقَتِهٖ بَعْدِي
“Know that surely at the end of my sermon, I invite you to place your hand over mine regarding his allegiance and accepting him and then you place your hands over his hands after mine.”
أَلَا إِنِّي قَدْ بَايَعْتُ اللّهَ وَ عَلِيٌّ قَدْ بَايَعَنِي وَ أَنَا آخِذُكُمْ بِالْبَيْعَةِ لَهُ عَنِ اللّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَ
“Know that I have, indeed, sworn allegiance to Allah, and Ali has sworn allegiance to me, and I am demanding from you to give the oath of allegiance to him on behalf of Allah, Mighty and Majestic be He”
Then the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his holy progeny) recited the first verse of Surah Fath (48)
فَمَنْ نَكَثَ فَإِنَّما يَنْكُثُ عَلى نَفْسِهِ وَ مَنْ أَوْفى بِما عاهَدَ عَلَيْهُ اللهَ فَسَيُؤْتيهِ أَجْراً عَظيماً
“Thereafter, anyone who violates (his oath) has indeed violated his (own) soul, and whoever fulfils the covenant he has made with Allah, He shall soon grant him a great reward.”
Notes:
- People were clearly warned before they paid allegiance to Ameerul Momineen, Imam Ali (peace be upon him)
- Since the Holy Quran will last till the Day of Judgement, this warning too, is not restricted to those who were present in Ghadeer but holds true till the Day of Judgement
- If anyone breaks this oath then it will be their loss
- Breaking this oath will not make any difference to the position of Ameerul Momineen, Imam Ali (peace be upon him)
References:
- Al-Ehtejaaj by Shaikh Abu Mansoor Ahmad Ibn Ali Tabresi (exp. 548 AH), vol. 1, p. 64
- Al-Adad al-Qawiyyah by Raziuddin Ali Ibn Yusuf Ibn Mutahhar al-Hilli (elder brother of Allamah Hilli), p. 179
- Al-Yaqeen by Sayed Ibn Tawoos (exp. 664 AH), p. 343 onwards, chapter 127
- Behaar al-Anwaar by Allamah Majlisi, vol. 37, p. 214, H. 86