THE EIGHTEENTH NIGHT OF DHū AL-HIJJAH
The eighteenth night of Dhū al-Ḥijjah is the ‘Eid al-Ghadir Night. It is a blessed night. Sayyid Ibn Tawus, in al-Iqbal, has mentioned that a prayer of twelve units with one Taslim statement (i.e. continuous and uninterrupted prayer), followed by a supplication, should be advisably recited on this night
THE ‘EID AL-GHADIR DAY
The ‘Eid al-Ghadir is the Greatest Feast Day of Almighty Allah. It is also the Feast of the Holy Prophet’s Household. It is in fact the most celebrated Feast Day. All the Prophets that Almighty Allah appointed used to celebrate this day and maintain its sanctity. In the heavens, this day is called “the Day of the Promised Covenant” and in the earth “the Day of the Exacted Covenant and the Witnessed Crowd.”
It has been narrated that when Imam al-Sadiq (عليه السلام) was asked whether Muslims have a Feast Day other than ‘Eid al-Fitr, ‘Eid al-Adha, and Fridays, he answered, “Yes, they have. There is still the Holiest Feast Day, which falls on the day when the Messenger of Allah (عليه السلام) appointed Ameer al-Momineen -Imam Ali- (عليه السلام) (as his successor and the future leader of the Muslim community). On that day, the Holy Prophet (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) declared, ‘Whoever has regarded me as his Master must now regard Ali as his Master.’ It falls on the eighteenth of Dhū al-Ḥijjah.”
When he was asked about the deeds that should be done on that day, Imam al-Sadiq (عليه السلام) instructed, “(The best acts on this day are) Observance of fasting, acts of worship, mention of the Household of the Holy Prophet, and invocation of blessings upon them. The Holy Messenger of Allah (عليه السلام) instructed Imam Ali Ameer al-Momineen (عليه السلام) to consider that day as feast. Similarly, the Prophets (عليه السلام) used to instruct their successors to consider the eighteenth of Dhū al-Ḥijjah as feast day.”
Abu-Nasr al-Bizanti has narrated that Imam al-Rida (عليه السلام) said to him, “Wherever you are, try to be present on the Ghadir Day at the tomb of Imam Ali Ameer al-Momineen (عليه السلام). Verily, Almighty Allah will forgive the sins of sixty years for any believer and Muslim – male and female – on that day and will release from Hellfire twice as many as the number of those whom He releases from Hellfire in the month of Ramaḍān, at the Qadr Night and at the ‘Eid al-Fitr Night. A single dirham (a currency) that is given as alms on this day to the believing brethren is equal to one thousand dirhams (that are given as alms on other occasions). Try to do favors to your brethren on this day and try to please each believing man and woman. By Allah I swear, if people recognized the Reality of this Day, the angels would shake hands with them ten times a day.”
To sum it up, to honor this day is necessary. The devotional acts on the ‘Eid al-Ghadir Day are as follows:
Fast
It is recommended to observe fasting on this day, for it erases the sins of sixty years. Furthermore, it has been narrated that to observe fasting on this day is equal to the observance of fasting of one’s whole lifetime and its reward is equal to the rewards of one hundred times of Hajj and ‘Umrah.
Take Ghusl
It is recommended to bathe oneself on this day.
Visit the Haram of Imam Ali (as)
It is recommended to visit the haram of Imam Ali Ameer al-Momineen (عليه السلام). It is necessary to do one’s best to attend at the holy shrine of Imam Ali (عليه السلام) on this day even if such a journey be difficult. Three forms of Ziyarat have been decided for this day. The first is the familiar Ziyarat Aminullah, which can be practiced whether one is present at the haram or is far away from it.
Isti'adhah
It is recommended to say the supplication of seeking Almighty Allah’s protection against Satan (i.e. Isti’adhah), which is mentioned by Sayyid Ibn Tawus, in his book of Iqbal al-A’mal, who has reported it from the Holy Prophet (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم).
2 rakaat prayer
It is recommended to offer a two unit prayer. After completion, one should prostrate and thank Almighty Allah one hundred times. Then, one should raise the head from the prostration and say the following:
اَللّٰهُمَّ اِنِّي اَسْاَلُكَ بِاَنَّ لَكَ الْحَمْدَ وَحْدَكَ لا شَرِيكَ لَكَ وَ اَنَّكَ وَاحِدٌ اَحَدٌ صَمَدٌ لَمْ تَلِدْ وَ لَمْ تُولَدْ وَ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَكَ كُفُوا اَحَدٌ وَ اَنَّ مُحَمَّدا عَبْدُكَ وَ رَسُولُكَ صَلَوَاتُكَ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ يَا مَنْ هُوَ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ فِي شَأْنٍ كَمَا كَانَ مِنْ شَأْنِكَ اَنْ تَفَضَّلْتَ عَلَيَّ بِاَنْ جَعَلْتَنِي مِنْ اَهْلِ اِجَابَتِكَ وَ اَهْلِ دِينِكَ وَ اَهْلِ دَعْوَتِكَ وَ وَفَّقْتَنِي لِذَلِكَ فِي مُبْتَدَاِ خَلْقِي تَفَضُّلا مِنْكَ وَ كَرَما وَ جُودا ثُمَّ اَرْدَفْتَ الْفَضْلَ فَضْلا وَ الْجُودَ جُودا وَ الْكَرَمَ كَرَما رَأْفَةً مِنْكَ وَ رَحْمَةً اِلَى اَنْ جَدَّدْتَ ذَلِكَ الْعَهْدَ لِي تَجْدِيدا بَعْدَ تَجْدِيدِكَ خَلْقِي وَ كُنْتُ نَسْيا مَنْسِيّا نَاسِيا سَاهِيا غَافِلا فَاَتْمَمْتَ نِعْمَتَكَ بِاَنْ ذَكَّرْتَنِي ذَلِكَ وَ مَنَنْتَ بِهِ عَلَيَّ وَ هَدَيْتَنِي لَهُ فَلْيَكُنْ مِنْ شَأْنِكَ يَا اِلَهِي وَ سَيِّدِي وَ مَوْلايَ اَنْ تُتِمَّ لِي ذَلِكَ وَ لا تَسْلُبَنِيهِ حَتَّى تَتَوَفَّانِي عَلَى ذَلِكَ وَ اَنْتَ عَنِّي رَاضٍ فَاِنَّكَ اَحَقُّ الْمُنْعِمِينَ اَنْ تُتِمَّ نِعْمَتَكَ عَلَيَّ ، اَللّٰهُمَّ سَمِعْنَا وَ اَطَعْنَا وَ اَجَبْنَا دَاعِيَكَ بِمَنِّكَ فَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ غُفْرَانَكَ رَبَّنَا وَ اِلَيْكَ الْمَصِيرُ آمَنَّا بِاللّٰهِ وَحْدَهُ لا شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَ بِرَسُولِهِ مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ وَ صَدَّقْنَا وَ اَجَبْنَا دَاعِيَ اللّٰهِ وَ اتَّبَعْنَا الرَّسُولَ فِي مُوَالاةِ مَوْلانَا وَ مَوْلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ اَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلِيِّ بْنِ اَبِي طَالِبٍ عَبْدِ اللّٰهِ وَ اَخِي رَسُولِهِ وَ الصِّدِّيقِ الْاَكْبَرِ وَ الْحُجَّةِ عَلَى بَرِيَّتِهِ الْمُؤَيِّدِ بِهِ نَبِيَّهُ وَ دِينَهُ الْحَقَّ الْمُبِينَ عَلَما لِدِينِ اللّٰهِ وَ خَازِنا لِعِلْمِهِ وَ عَيْبَةَ غَيْبِ اللّٰهِ وَ مَوْضِعَ سِرِّ اللّٰهِ وَ اَمِينَ اللّٰهِ عَلَى خَلْقِهِ وَ شَاهِدَهُ فِي بَرِيَّتِهِ اَللّٰهُمَّ رَبَّنَا اِنَّنَا سَمِعْنَا مُنَادِيا يُنَادِي لِلْاِيمَانِ اَنْ آمِنُوا بِرَبِّكُمْ فَآمَنَّا رَبَّنَا فَاغْفِرْ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَا وَ كَفِّرْ عَنَّا سَيِّئَاتِنَا، وَ تَوَفَّنَا مَعَ الْاَبْرَارِ رَبَّنَا وَ آتِنَا مَا وَعَدْتَنَا عَلَى رُسُلِكَ وَ لا تُخْزِنَا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ اِنَّكَ لا تُخْلِفُ الْمِيعَادَ فَاِنَّا يَا رَبَّنَا بِمَنِّكَ وَ لُطْفِكَ اَجَبْنَا دَاعِيَكَ وَ اتَّبَعْنَا الرَّسُولَ وَ صَدَّقْنَاهُ وَ صَدَّقْنَا مَوْلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ كَفَرْنَا بِالْجِبْتِ وَ الطَّاغُوتِ فَوَلِّنَا مَا تَوَلَّيْنَا وَ احْشُرْنَا مَعَ اَئِمَّتِنَا فَاِنَّا بِهِمْ مُؤْمِنُونَ مُوقِنُونَ وَ لَهُمْ مُسَلِّمُونَ آمَنَّا بِسِرِّهِمْ وَ عَلانِيَتِهِمْ وَ شَاهِدِهِمْ وَ غَائِبِهِمْ وَ حَيِّهِمْ وَ مَيِّتِهِمْ وَ رَضِينَا بِهِمْ اَئِمَّةً وَ قَادَةً وَ سَادَةً وَ حَسْبُنَا بِهِمْ بَيْنَنَا وَ بَيْنَ اللّٰهِ دُونَ خَلْقِهِ لا نَبْتَغِي بِهِمْ بَدَلا وَ لا نَتَّخِذُ مِنْ دُونِهِمْ وَلِيجَةٍ وَ بَرِئْنَا اِلَى اللّٰهِ مِنْ كُلِّ مَنْ نَصَبَ لَهُمْ حَرْبا مِنَ الْجِنِّ وَ الْاِنْسِ مِنَ الْاَوَّلِينَ وَ الْآخِرِينَ وَ كَفَرْنَا بِالْجِبْتِ وَ الطَّاغُوتِ وَ الْاَوْثَانِ الْاَرْبَعَةِ وَ اَشْيَاعِهِمْ ، وَ اَتْبَاعِهِمْ وَ كُلِّ مَنْ وَالاهُمْ مِنَ الْجِنِّ وَ الْاِنْسِ مِنْ اَوَّلِ الدَّهْرِ اِلَى آخِرِهِ اَللّٰهُمَّ اِنَّا نُشْهِدُكَ اَنَّا نَدِينُ بِمَا دَانَ بِهِ مُحَمَّدٌ وَ آلُ مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ عَلَيْهِمْ وَ قَوْلُنَا مَا قَالُوا وَ دِينُنَا مَا دَانُوا بِهِ مَا قَالُوا بِهِ قُلْنَا وَ مَا دَانُوا بِهِ دِنَّا وَ مَا اَنْكَرُوا اَنْكَرْنَا وَ مَنْ وَالَوْا وَالَيْنَا وَ مَنْ عَادَوْا عَادَيْنَا وَ مَنْ لَعَنُوا لَعَنَّا وَ مَنْ تَبَرَّءُوا مِنْهُ تَبَرَّأْنَا مِنْهُ وَ مَنْ تَرَحَّمُوا عَلَيْهِ تَرَحَّمْنَا عَلَيْهِ آمَنَّا وَ سَلَّمْنَا وَ رَضِينَا وَ اتَّبَعْنَا مَوَالِيَنَا صَلَوَاتُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْهِمْ اَللّٰهُمَّ فَتَمِّمْ لَنَا ذَلِكَ وَ لا تَسْلُبْنَاهُ وَ اجْعَلْهُ مُسْتَقِرّا ثَابِتا عِنْدَنَا وَ لا تَجْعَلْهُ مُسْتَعَارا وَ اَحْيِنَا مَا اَحْيَيْتَنَا عَلَيْهِ وَ اَمِتْنَا اِذَا اَمَتَّنَا عَلَيْهِ آلُ مُحَمَّدٍ اَئِمَّتُنَا فَبِهِمْ نَأْتَمُّ وَ اِيَّاهُمْ نُوَالِي وَ عَدُوَّهُمْ عَدُوَّ اللّٰهِ نُعَادِي فَاجْعَلْنَا مَعَهُمْ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَ الْآخِرَةِ وَ مِنَ الْمُقَرَّبِينَ فَاِنَّا بِذَلِكَ رَاضُونَ يَا اَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ
One may then prostrate oneself again and repeat each of the following doxological prayers one hundred times:
الحمد للّه
شكر اللّه
According to a narration, to practice this act brings about the same reward of one who was present at that day and swore allegiance to the Holy Prophet (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) as regards the divinely commissioned leadership (wilayah) of Imam Ali (عليه السلام). Besides, it is preferable to offer this prayer at midday, which is the very time when the Holy Prophet (صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم) declared the successorship and leadership of Imam Ali (عليه السلام) at Ghadir Khumm. It is also preferable to recite Surah al-Qadr at the first unit of the prayer and Surah al-Tawḥīd at the second (of course, after Surah al-Fatehah).
2 rakaat prayer before mid-day
It is recommended to bathe oneself and offer a two unit prayer half an hour before midday. At each unit, one should recite Surah al-Fatehah once, Surah al-Tawḥīd ten times, Ayah al-Kursi ten times, and Surah al-Qadr ten times. The reward of practicing this act is equal, in the sight of Almighty Allah, to the rewards of one hundred thousand times of Hajj and one hundred thousand times of ‘Umrah. Almighty Allah will also grant all the worldly and religious needs of the performer with easiness and good health.
It is however worth mentioning that Sayyid Ibn Tawus, in Iqbal al-A’mal, referring to this prayer, has preceded Surah al-Qadr to Ayah al-Kursi. Also, ‘Allamah al-Majlisi, in Zad al-Ma’ad, mentioned that Surah al-Qadr should be preceded to Ayah al-Kursi. So have I done in my other books. But when I investigated the matter, I found out that the majority of scholars who have mentioned this prayer preceded Ayah al-Kursi to Surah al-Qadr. At any rate, there is probability that such confusion has occurred due to an error in writing by Sayyid Ibn Tawus himself or the copiers of the book, since Sayyid Ibn Tawus is too lofty to disagree with the consensus of the other scholars. Finally, Almighty Allah alone knows the most accurate form.
It is preferable to say the supplication that begins with the following statement, after this prayer:
ربّنا انّنا سمعنا مناديا...
Supplication 1
It is recommended to say the following supplication, which is reported by Sayyid Ibn Tawus from Shaykh al-Mufid:
اَللّٰهُمَّ اِنِّي اَسْاَلُكَ بِحَقِّ مُحَمَّدٍ نَبِيِّكَ وَ عَلِيٍّ وَلِيِّكَ وَ الشَّأْنِ وَ الْقَدْرِ الَّذِي خَصَصْتَهُمَا بِهِ دُونَ خَلْقِكَ اَنْ تُصَلِّيَ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ عَلِيٍّ وَ اَنْ تَبْدَاَ بِهِمَا فِي كُلِّ خَيْرٍ عَاجِلٍ اَللّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ الْاَئِمَّةِ الْقَادَةِ وَ الدُّعَاةِ السَّادَةِ وَ النُّجُومِ الزَّاهِرَةِ وَ الْاَعْلامِ الْبَاهِرَةِ وَ سَاسَةِ الْعِبَادِ وَ اَرْكَانِ الْبِلادِ وَ النَّاقَةِ الْمُرْسَلَةِ وَ السَّفِينَةِ النَّاجِيَةِ الْجَارِيَةِ فِي اللُّجَجِ الْغَامِرَةِ اَللّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ خُزَّانِ عِلْمِكَ وَ اَرْكَانِ تَوْحِيدِكَ وَ دَعَائِمِ دِينِكَ وَ مَعَادِنِ كَرَامَتِكَ وَ صِفْوَتِكَ مِنْ بَرِيَّتِكَ وَ خِيَرَتِكَ مِنْ خَلْقِكَ الْاَتْقِيَاءِ الْاَنْقِيَاءِ النُّجَبَاءِ الْاَبْرَارِ وَ الْبَابِ الْمُبْتَلَى بِهِ النَّاسُ مَنْ اَتَاهُ نَجَا وَ مَنْ اَبَاهُ هَوَى، اَللّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ اَهْلِ الذِّكْرِ الَّذِينَ اَمَرْتَ بِمَسْاَلَتِهِمْ وَ ذَوِي الْقُرْبَى الَّذِينَ اَمَرْتَ بِمَوَدَّتِهِمْ وَ فَرَضْتَ حَقَّهُمْ وَ جَعَلْتَ الْجَنَّةَ مَعَادَ مَنِ اقْتَصَّ آثَارَهُمْ اَللّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا اَمَرُوا بِطَاعَتِكَ وَ نَهَوْا عَنْ مَعْصِيَتِكَ وَ دَلُّوا عِبَادَكَ عَلَى وَحْدَانِيَّتِكَ اَللّٰهُمَّ اِنِّي اَسْاَلُكَ بِحَقِّ مُحَمَّدٍ نَبِيِّكَ وَ نَجِيبِكَ وَ صِفْوَتِكَ وَ اَمِينِكَ وَ رَسُولِكَ اِلَى خَلْقِكَ وَ بِحَقِّ اَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ يَعْسُوبِ الدِّينِ وَ قَائِدِ الْغُرِّ الْمُحَجَّلِينَ الْوَصِيِّ الْوَفِيِّ وَ الصِّدِّيقِ الْاَكْبَرِ وَ الْفَارُوقِ بَيْنَ الْحَقِّ وَ الْبَاطِلِ وَ الشَّاهِدِ لَكَ وَ الدَّالِّ عَلَيْكَ وَ الصَّادِعِ بِاَمْرِكَ وَ الْمُجَاهِدِ فِي سَبِيلِكَ لَمْ تَأْخُذْهُ فِيكَ لَوْمَةُ لائِمٍ اَنْ تُصَلِّيَ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ ، وَ اَنْ تَجْعَلَنِي فِي هٰذَا الْيَوْمِ الَّذِي عَقَدْتَ فِيهِ لِوَلِيِّكَ الْعَهْدَ فِي اَعْنَاقِ خَلْقِكَ وَ اَكْمَلْتَ لَهُمُ الدِّينَ مِنَ الْعَارِفِينَ بِحُرْمَتِهِ وَ الْمُقِرِّينَ بِفَضْلِهِ مِنْ عُتَقَائِكَ وَ طُلَقَائِكَ مِنَ النَّارِ وَ لا تُشْمِتْ بِي حَاسِدِي النِّعَمِ اَللّٰهُمَّ فَكَمَا جَعَلْتَهُ عِيدَكَ الْاَكْبَرَ وَ سَمَّيْتَهُ فِي السَّمَاءِ يَوْمَ الْعَهْدِ الْمَعْهُودِ وَ فِي الْاَرْضِ يَوْمَ الْمِيثَاقِ الْمَأْخُوذِ وَ الْجَمْعِ الْمَسْئُولِ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ اَقْرِرْ بِهِ عُيُونَنَا وَ اجْمَعْ بِهِ شَمْلَنَا وَ لا تُضِلَّنَا بَعْدَ اِذْ هَدَيْتَنَا وَ اجْعَلْنَا لِاَنْعُمِكَ مِنَ الشَّاكِرِينَ يَا اَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي عَرَّفَنَا فَضْلَ هٰذَا الْيَوْمِ وَ بَصَّرَنَا حُرْمَتَهُ وَ كَرَّمَنَا ، بِهِ وَ شَرَّفَنَا بِمَعْرِفَتِهِ وَ هَدَانَا بِنُورِهِ يَا رَسُولَ اللّٰهِ يَا اَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْكُمَا وَ عَلَى عِتْرَتِكُمَا وَ عَلَى مُحِبِّيكُمَا مِنِّي اَفْضَلُ السَّلامُ مَا بَقِيَ اللَّيْلُ وَ النَّهَارُ وَ بِكُمَا اَتَوَجَّهُ اِلَى اللّٰهِ رَبِّي وَ رَبِّكُمَا فِي نَجَاحِ طَلِبَتِي وَ قَضَاءِ حَوَائِجِي وَ تَيْسِيرِ اُمُورِي اَللّٰهُمَّ اِنِّي اَسْاَلُكَ بِحَقِّ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ اَنْ تُصَلِّيَ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ اَنْ تَلْعَنَ مَنْ جَحَدَ حَقَّ هٰذَا الْيَوْمِ وَ اَنْكَرَ حُرْمَتَهُ فَصَدَّ عَنْ سَبِيلِكَ لِاِطْفَاءِ نُورِكَ فَاَبَى اللّٰهُ اِلا اَنْ يُتِمَّ نُورَهُ اَللّٰهُمَّ فَرِّجْ عَنْ اَهْلِ بَيْتِ مُحَمَّدٍ نَبِيِّكَ وَ اكْشِفْ عَنْهُمْ وَ بِهِمْ عَنِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ الْكُرُبَاتِ اَللّٰهُمَّ امْلَأِ الْاَرْضَ بِهِمْ عَدْلا كَمَا مُلِئَتْ ظُلْما وَ جَوْرا وَ اَنْجِزْ لَهُمْ مَا وَعَدْتَهُمْ اِنَّكَ لا تُخْلِفُ الْمِيعَادَ.
It is also recommended to say the short supplication that are recorded by Sayyid Ibn Tawus in Iqbal al-A’mal.
Congratulate the believers
It is recommended to congratulate the brethren-in-faith on this day by saying,
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي جَعَلَنَا مِنَ الْمُتَمَسِّكِينَ بِوِلايَةِ اَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ الْاَئِمَّةِ عَلَيْهِمُ السَّلامُ
It is also recommended to say the following:
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي اَكْرَمَنَا بِهٰذَا الْيَوْمِ وَ جَعَلَنَا مِنَ الْمُوفِينَ بِعَهْدِهِ اِلَيْنَا وَ مِيثَاقِهِ الَّذِي وَاثَقَنَا بِهِ مِنْ وِلايَةِ وُلاةِ اَمْرِهِ وَ الْقُوَّامِ بِقِسْطِهِ وَ لَمْ يَجْعَلْنَا مِنَ الْجَاحِدِينَ وَ الْمُكَذِّبِينَ بِيَوْمِ الدِّينِ
Invocation
It is recommended to repeat this invocation one hundred times:
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي جَعَلَ كَمَالَ دِينِهِ وَ تَمَامَ نِعْمَتِهِ بِوِلايَةِ اَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلِيِّ بْنِ اَبِي طَالِبٍ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ
Misc
It is worth mentioning that a great reward has been narrated to be the share of one who, on this day, puts on the best dress, adorns himself, imparts a sweet smell, shows delight and happiness, gives pleasure to the adherents of Imam Ali Ameer al-Momineen (عليه السلام), pardons them, settles their needs, visits the relatives, confers upon the family members with gifts and whatever they need, offers food to the believers and the observers of fasting, shakes hands with, visits, smiles in the faces of, and presents gifts to the believers, thanks Almighty Allah for the grand bliss of recognizing the Divinely commissioned leadership of Imam Ali(عليه السلام), invokes blessings upon the Holy Prophet and his Household, and practices acts of worship and obedience to Almighty Allah. One dirham that is given as alms on this day to a believer is equal to one thousand dirhams that are given on other days. Finally, to offer food to a believer on this day is equal, in reward, to offering food to all the prophets and the veracious people.
Addressing a sermon on the ‘Eid al-Ghadir Day, Imam Ali(عليه السلام) said,
The reward of offering food to the one who is fasting on this day is equal to the reward of offering food to two hundred thousand Prophets, truthful people, and martyrs multiplied by ten. As for one who provides for a number of believing men and women, I guarantee that Almighty Allah will secure him against atheism, poverty ...etc.
Seegha of Brotherhood
To sum it up, the merit of the ‘Eid al-Ghadir Day is too great to be cited. On this day, the deeds of the Shi’ah are admitted and their grievances are relieved. On this day, Prophet Moses (عليه السلام) overcame the sorcerers, the fire in which Prophet Abraham (عليه السلام) was thrown was made by Almighty Allah comfort and peace, Prophet Moses (عليه السلام) appointed Yushua ibn Nun as his successor, Prophet Solomon (عليه السلام) declared openly before his people that Asif ibn Barkhiya would be his successor, and the Holy Prophet Muhammad(عليه السلام) united as brothers his companions; therefore, the believers are advised to form brotherhood with each other on this day. This fraternization, as is quoted by Shaykh al-Nuri in Mustadrak al-Wasa’il from the book of Zad al-Firdaws, can be practiced by putting the right hand on the brother-in-faith’s right hand and saying the following:
وَاخَيْتُكَ فِي اللّٰهِ وَ صَافَيْتُكَ فِي اللّٰهِ وَ صَافَحْتُكَ فِي اللّٰهِ وَ عَاهَدْتُ اللّٰهَ وَ مَلائِكَتَهُ وَ كُتُبَهُ وَ رُسُلَهُ وَ اَنْبِيَاءَهُ وَ الْاَئِمَّةَ الْمَعْصُومِينَ عَلَيْهِمُ السَّلامُ عَلَى اَنِّي اِنْ كُنْتُ مِنْ اَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ وَ الشَّفَاعَةِ وَ اُذِنَ لِي بِاَنْ اَدْخُلَ الْجَنَّةَ لا اَدْخُلُهَا اِلا وَ اَنْتَ مَعِي
Similar to this form, al-Muhaddith al-Fayd, in his book of Khulasat al-Adhkar, has mentioned a form of fraternization adding that the other party, or his representative, may accept the fraternization by uttering any statement entailing agreement. Then, each party releases the other from the duties of fraternity except supplication and visiting the shrines of the Infallibles (a.s).
