The Historic Declaration of Ghadir Khumm on the 18th of Dhul-Hijjah in Light of Sunni Hadith

In the 10th year of Hijrah, after completing his final pilgrimage—Hajjatul Wida—the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) paused at a place called Ghadir Khumm on his return to Madinah. Ghadir Khumm was a region with a well, where companions traveling from different directions would disperse. Before they parted ways, the Prophet (PBUH) decided to deliver a significant address. This is why the pilgrimage is called the Farewell Hajj, and this speech is referred to as the "Farewell Sermon," as it was the final address to his birthplace.

After bidding farewell to the people of Mecca, the Prophet (PBUH) set off toward Madinah without removing his Ihram garments. Approximately 125,000 companions accompanied him. On the 18th of Dhul-Hijjah, a Saturday, between the Dhuhr and Asr prayers, when the Prophet (PBUH) arrived at Ghadir Khumm—located between Mecca and Madinah at a place called Juhfa—this verse was revealed:

“O Messenger! Convey what has been revealed to you from your Lord. If you do not do so, then you have not conveyed His message. Allah will protect you from the people. Verily, Allah does not guide the disbelieving people.” (Surah Al-Ma'idah 5:67)

The Prophet (PBUH) compared Ali (A.S.) to the Prophet Harun (A.S.) in a hadith narrated by Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas (RA):
“O Ali, you are to me as Harun was to Musa, except that there is no prophet after me.”
Though there are many more evidences, these two are sufficient for the knowledgeable.

This event occurred on the 18th of Dhul-Hijjah and is recognized in Islamic history as a significant day.

The Declaration of the Prophet (PBUH)
The Prophet (PBUH) gathered the companions and asked: "ألست أولى بالمؤمنين من أنفسهم؟" "Am I not more entitled to the believers than they are to themselves?" The companions replied, "Yes, certainly."

After 23 years of enduring hardship and preaching Islam, what remained so crucial that Allah declared the Prophethood incomplete unless it was delivered? Upon this verse's revelation, the Prophet (PBUH) halted immediately and dismounted. Everyone was gathered. The thorny acacia trees in the area were cleared. After the Dhuhr prayer, a pulpit was made using camel saddles. As the day was extremely hot, a cloth was stretched over the acacia trees to provide shade for the Prophet (PBUH).

He praised and glorified Allah and then declared: “Indeed, I am leaving among you two weighty things: the Book of Allah, which is a rope extended from the heavens to the earth, and my Ahlul Bayt (family). If you hold fast to both, you will never go astray. These two will never separate until they meet me at the Pond of Kawthar. So be mindful of how you treat them.” (Tirmidhi)

In another narration, he repeated: "I remind you of Allah regarding my Ahlul Bayt" three times. This hadith is authentically narrated by Jabir ibn Abdullah Al-Ansari (RA) and recorded in Mishkat (Hadith 5892, 5893), and also mentioned by Mulla Ali Qari in Kanz al-Ummal.

Then the Prophet (PBUH) raised the hand of Ali (RA) and declared: “من كنت مولاه، فعلي مولاه. اللهم وال من والاه، وعاد من عاداه” “Whosoever I am his Mawla (guardian, leader), Ali is also his Mawla. O Allah, befriend those who befriend him, and be the enemy of those who oppose him.”

Ghadir Khumm in Sunni Hadith Sources

This hadith is narrated by Bara ibn Azib and Zayd ibn Arqam (RA). One narrator said:
"When Umar met Ali (AS), he said: ‘Congratulations, O son of Abu Talib! You have become the Mawla of every believing man and woman.’"

The term Risalah means representation. Just as Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was Allah’s representative, Allah had commanded that before his departure, he appoint Ali (AS) as his representative. Ali (AS) had already been spiritually prepared for this role. The revelation indicating Ali’s appointment came some time earlier, but the Prophet (PBUH) waited for the right occasion and public setting to announce it, knowing well that people’s envy and malice would cause them to reject Ali (AS) and even conspire against his descendants.

To emphasize the importance, the Prophet (PBUH) left Mecca still in his ihram garments and made this declaration publicly at Ghadir Khumm. The hadith of Ghadir is clearly about wilayah (guardianship or leadership), and afterward, the people pledged their allegiance (bay'ah) to Ali (AS).

This hadith is recorded by Tabarani, Ibn Jarir, Hakim, and Tirmidhi, all from Zayd ibn Arqam (RA), who confirm its authenticity. Ibn Hajar also acknowledged its authenticity in Sawaiq al-Muhriqah (Part 5, Chapter 1, p.25).

Ghadir Khumm’s declaration is not exclusive to Shia sources but is also recorded in authentic Sunni hadith collections:

• Sahih Tirmidhi (Hadith 3713)
• Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal (Hadith 2348)
• Al-Khasa’is al-Alawiyyah by Al-Nasa’i
• Ibn Hibban, Hakim, Jalaluddin Suyuti, and others have all confirmed its authenticity.

Opinions of Islamic Historians and Hadith Scholars:

• Imam Nawawi: Recognized the hadith as authentic.
• Imam Tirmidhi: Graded it as Hasan Sahih.
• Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani: Provided commentary in Fath al-Bari.
• Jalaluddin Suyuti: Honored this hadith in multiple works.

The Message of Ghadir Khumm
While Sunni interpretation does not regard this event as a direct declaration of political succession (khilafah), it certainly affirms the Prophet’s love for Ali (RA), his spiritual and moral leadership, and his importance for the Muslim ummah.

The news of the declaration spread quickly. A man named Harith ibn Nu’man al-Fihri rode his camel and came to the Prophet (PBUH), tied it up, and asked:
“O Muhammad! You instructed us to believe in Allah and accept you as His messenger—we did. You commanded us to pray, fast, pay zakat, and perform Hajj—we did all that. But now you’ve raised your cousin’s hand and declared him superior over us, saying, ‘Whoever I am his Mawla, Ali is his Mawla.’ Was this from yourself or from Allah?”

The Prophet (PBUH) replied: “By Allah, Who is the only deity, this command is from Allah.”
As Harith turned back toward his camel, he said: “O Allah! If what Muhammad has said is true, then send down a stone from the sky or inflict a painful punishment.” Before he reached his animal, a stone descended from the sky, struck his head, passed through his body, and killed him.
This incident is mentioned by Maulana Farman Ali in his commentary on Surah Ma’arij (verses 1–3), and other trusted sources also report it.Some people today still say: “Ali was just his cousin, so of course he praised him like anyone would praise their family.” But such ignorant people fail to understand that Allah would not reveal a Qur’anic verse or the Prophet (PBUH) would not organize such a massive event merely to please a relative. Such shallow thinking is the product of hypocritical and self-serving minds that attempt to obscure the truth.

After the bay’ah (pledge of allegiance), the following verse—the final revelation of the Qur’an—was revealed: “Today the disbelievers have despaired of your religion; so fear them not, but fear Me. This day I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favor upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.” (Surah Al-Ma'idah 5:3)

This verse was the last revealed in the Qur’an. The Prophet (PBUH) appointed Ali (AS) as his representative and declared the perfection of Islam. The spiritually insightful and heirs of prophetic knowledge understand well that the position held by Mawla Ali (AS) is the axis around which Islam and humanity revolve.

Conclusion
The declaration made by the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) on the 18th of Dhul-Hijjah in the plain of Ghadir Khumm is preserved in authentic Sunni hadith sources. It stands as a unique event in Islamic history, imparting lessons of mutual love, exemplary leadership, and unity within the Muslim ummah.