Declaration at Ghadeer Khumm

"O MESSENGER! MAKE IT KNOWN, THAT WHICH HADTH BEEN REVEALED UNTO THEE FROM THY LORD, FOR IF THOU DO IT NOT, THOU WILL NOT HAVE CONVEYED HIS MESSAGE. ALLAH WILL PROTECT THEE FROM MANKIND. LO! ALLAH GUIDETH NOT THE DISBELIEVING FOLK"

The Holy Koran, Surrah Al-Ma'idah - verse 67 (The Table Spread)

Gather the pilgrims

The Messenger of Allah, The Holy Prophet Mohammad(pbuh&hf) suddenly
stopped and froze on hearing the above Ayah from The Archangel Jibraeel(as). He quickly ordered the halt of the caravan in astonishment of all his companions and followers under the hot blazing midday sun, at such a desolute place in the desert in a place called Ghadir Khumm.

The Holy Prophet(pbuh&hf) confronted their complaints and pestering by saying that he was commanded by God to address the multitude of travellers. To convey to them all, of what he had been revealed to him. Before the masses begin dispersing in all directions in the desert to their individual homes.

He then quickly commanded one of his trusted faithfull and close companion the blackman Balaal to immeadiatly cry out the call to prayer. So that to call the thousands of Moslem travellers together and gather before him.

The Holy Prophet(pbuh&hf) then quickly ordered the clearing of the desert's dry prickly plants from the ground for the masses to stand before him. The ordered for camel saddles be piled up to as a make shift pulprit upon a small elevated sandy mound.

The Messenger of God(phuh&hf) then awaited under the hot burning sun for the straddlers of people that were still behind to gather together.

As soon as the multitude were gathered before him, The Apostle(phuh&hf) then stood upon the make shift pulprit of camel saddles piled up on the small sandy moud before them, so that he was high enough to be seen by all the congregation before him. The crowd before him quickly quietened down their questioning murrer as soon as they saw their Prophet (phuh&hf) standing high before them.

He then gestured to Ali Ibin Abe Taleb (as) and invited him to join him and stand on his right on the make shift of piled camel saddles upon the small sandy mound. The masses of people waited and watched in wonderment at the two before them, each standing on his woollen cloak on the ground to protect their feet from the burning hot sands around them, under the blazing hot sun.

The Messenger of God (pbuh&hf) began his address in praising and glorify God The Almighty, The Creator of all the worlds and of the heavens. He then proceeded to give them the sad news to the dismay of all the congregation, of his own nearing death saying,

His coming death

"I have been summoned and it is the moment for
me to answer.
The time has come for me, to depart from you.
I leave behind me amongst you, two precious
things which,
if you cleave to them, you will never go astray.
The Holy Book of God and, my Offspring the Ahl Al-Bayt.
For they will never abandon you, until they have
led you to me,
at the sacred shores of Heaven!"

The masses of people gathered before him wept openly in sorrow at news of his nearing death.

The Messenger of God (pbuh&hf) to die. How could this be, they wondered. But who would lead and guide them, they worriedly murrmured to each other in puzzlement?

His Successor

When they had quitened down. The Prophet(pbuh&hf) then called out at the top of his voice.

"Am I not more appropriate to rule over you
than yourselves?"

The people replied in earnest, "By God. Yes you are!"

He continued by taking hold of both Ali's(as) arms and raised them high above his shoulders, so much so that his sleeves slipped down his arms and exposed Ali's(as) naked armpits.

The Prophet(pbuh&hf) went on to proclaimed that Ali(as) as his successor and the legitimate Calipha of Allah(swt).

"Then whosoever, I am master of,
Then this man, Ali is his master."

"O God!
Befriend him, whosoever befriends him.
Oppose him, whosoever opposes him.
Support him, whosoever supports him.
Desert him, whosoever deserts him."

That through the revelation, Allah (swt) that had been made known to him earlier. That Ali (as) standing here before them is the chosen successor by God Himself, upon His own death.

After the masses pledge of allegiance ceremony had completed. The Prophet (pbuh&hf) looked above to the sky and raised a finger declaring in a loud clear voice for all to hear:

"As God is my Judge!
Bear witness then for me, that today I have surely
completed and fulfilled your religion for you,
and have successfully conveyed, The Message,
that has been bestowed upon me by Allah.....
Oh Moslems have I not! ?"

The Moslems all shouted repeatedly and replied in great earnest,

"Yes You have, Oh, Messenger of God! Yes you have."

The Holy Prophet Mohammad(pbuh&hf) then immediately prayed 'two Rakas' on the spot, so as to commemorate the historic occassion. And when he had finished his prayers. It was then time for the noon prayers and Balaal once again cried prayer call. But this time it was made for the actual prayer call for the compulsory noon prayers.
After The Prophet (pbuh&hf) finished leading the noon prayers. He called Ali (as) to follow him into his tent that was pitched under a tree and sat himself opposite to him.
He then ordered all the Muslims and his Companions to each personally make an oath of allegiance to Ali (as) in his very presence.

Congratulating Ali upon his appointment

As soon as the last Muslim had given his pledge of Allegiance. The Prophet(pbuh&hf) embraced Ali(as) and congratulated him on his appointment as his successor and Caliph of all the Muslims after his death and the joyous crowd surrounding them all shouted their approval.

The Prophet Mohammad(pbuh&hf) proudly praising Ali(as) and named him officially as,

Amir Al-Mu'maneen

Meaning, The Commander of all the faithfull.

This was the very first time ever that this term was ever heard and used in addressing any Muslim.

Following The Prophet's(pbuh&hf) example the rest of his accompanying Companions followed suit amongst them notably was, Umar Ibin Al-Khattab. Who joyfully said to Ali(as), "Bravo, bravo Ali. You have now become my master and the master of every believing man and woman!"

Then poets began composing their poetry commerating this happy and wonderfull occassion of the history of Islam.