"Today I have perfected your religion
and completed my bounty upon you, and I was satisfied that Islam be
your religion."
In this holy verse, Today is the
eighteenth day of Zul Hijja of the tenth year Hegira when the
Messenger of Allah (PBUH) declared before the entire crowd of people
the Greatest Imamate of the Commander of Faithful Imam Ali Bin Abi
Taleb, marking that day as the Greatest Eid (Feast) of Allah during
which religion was completed and the grace, bounty and satisfaction of
Allah that Islam be the religion of the believers were granted.
Among the aspects of such grace which
was completed in the Day of Ghadir Khum is the image of the believers;
having been composed of different individuals, they have become
brothers. The same is stated in the Holy Qur’an, “And hold fast, all
together, by the rope which Allah (stretches out for you), and be not
divided among yourselves; and remember with gratitude Allah's favor on
you; for ye were enemies and He joined your hearts in love, so that by
His Grace, ye became brethren…”
Imam Al Sadek (PBUH) pointed out such
grace derived from the Greatest Imamate saying, “We, the Descendants
of the Messenger of Allah (PBUT), are the bounty granted to mankind,
for by us they became brothers after they were different and they
became brethren…”
Fraternization on the
Day of Ghadir Khum
Accordingly, fraternization on the Day
of Ghadir Khum has been highlighted as one of the courtesies of the
Day of Ghadir Khum. A certain format to be followed, which indicates
the depth of the relation Allah wants it to be existing among brothers
of Wilaya (recognizing and acknowledging Imamate to Ali Bin Abi Taleb),
has been reported by Al Nouri, a historian. This format begins when a
person puts his hand in his brother’s hand and says, “I cordially
associate, fraternize, select, and make vows before Allah and his
angles, holy books, messengers, prophets and infallible Imams (PBUT)
that if I would be amongst those who shall go to heaven and have the
power of intercession and I would be ordered to enter heaven, I shall
not do so unless you are with me.” The answer comes from his brother
believer, “I approve.”
Relationship between
Brothers
Joining the fate of both brothers with
each others in the Hereafter is a vivid expression which Allah wants
the same to exist between brothers and which was expressed by Imam Al
Sadek (PBUH), “A believer is the brother of another. They stand as one
body: if one of the organs suffered pain, all other organs and the
souls of the two brothers shall feel the same pain. A believer’s soul
is connected to the spirit of Allah more than the connection of a sun
beam to the sun itself;” and “A believer is the brother of the other
believer: one is the other’s eyes and guide; he never betrays,
misjudges, cheats or breaks his promises to him.”
These are the specifications of a
brother for the sake of Allah whom the Descendants of the Messenger of
Allah (PBUT) described: whoever benefited from the same shall get the
intercession on the Day of Judgment and a house in heaven.
The Best of Brothers
The relationship between two brothers
helps one benefit in improving his conduct through the divine way. The
more the benefit is, the higher level of fraternity shall be. This is
why, when being asked about the use of a brother, the Messenger of
Allah (PBUH) replied, “If you want to mention something he shall help
you and if you forget the same he shall remember you.”
Imam Ali (PBUH) is also reported to
have said, “The best of your brothers is the one who jumps into good
and attracts you to it and the one who orders you to benevolence and
helps you to perform the same.”
Eventually, Praise be
to Allah, the Cherisher and Sustainer of the worlds.
Date: 13 Zul Hijja 1425
Hegira
Corresponding to
24.01.2005 A.D.