Eid al-Ghadir (The Ghadir Festival)

Eid al-Ghadir (Arabic: عيد الغدير) is the greatest festival in Shia Islam, celebrated on the 18th of Dhu al-Hijjah each year. It marks the event at Ghadir Khumm, where the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) appointed Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him) as his successor and the community's leader (wali).

On the return journey from his farewell pilgrimage in the year 10 Hijri, the Prophet stopped at Ghadir Khumm (an oasis between Mecca and Medina) and addressed over 100,000 pilgrims. He raised Imam Ali's hand and said: "Man kuntu mawlahu fa hadha Aliyyun mawlahu" (For whom I am mawla, Ali is his mawla). Then Allah revealed: "Today I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favor upon you, and chosen Islam as your religion" (Surah Al-Ma'idah 5:3).

This event is documented in numerous Sunni and Shia sources, including Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Sunan al-Tirmidhi, Al-Mustadrak by al-Hakim, and Al-Ghadir by Allamah al-Amini (an 11-volume work dedicated to this event's authenticity). It is one of the best-documented events in Islamic history.

Eid al-Ghadir is celebrated with special prayers, congregational prayer, du'as, festive meals, and generosity. Imam al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) said: "It is the greatest Eid for Allah. Allah has not sent a prophet without this day being celebrated as an Eid" (Wasail al-Shia, vol. 7). Specific acts for this day include ghusl, fasting, two rak'ah prayer, recitation of Ziyarat al-Ghadir, and Du'a Nudba. For Shia Muslims, Eid al-Ghadir is a day of great joy and affirmation of Imam Ali's wilayah.