The Ghadiriyah pilgrimage is a poetic depiction of Shiite beliefs about Imamate and Wilayat.

According to Ashura News, citing a Mehr reporter, visiting the Ahl al-Bayt (a.s.) is one of the best deeds. Every Imam has a right on the shoulders of his followers, which includes visiting the grave of that Imam (a.s.). Among the deeds of the day of Ghadir, the Eid prayer of Ghadir and the Ghadir pilgrimage are specially recommended; of course, these two deeds are not specific to this day and it is narrated that they are performed on other days as well.

The Ghadir pilgrimage attributed to Imam Hadi (a.s.) is a valuable treasure trove of Shiite knowledge about the incident of Ghadir and the position of the Imamate and guardianship of the Ahl al-Bayt (a.s.). This pilgrimage, with an eloquent tone and eloquent phrases, not only recounts the history of Ghadir, but also helps to deepen understanding and promote Shiite beliefs by explaining the different dimensions of the Imamate.

The Ghadiriyah pilgrimage is a pilgrimage in which Imam Hadi (AS) introduces the position of the Commander of the Faithful (AS) on the day of Ghadir Khum. This pilgrimage is in fact a poetic depiction of Shiite beliefs about Imamate and Wilayat. The Ghadiriyah pilgrimage is solid in terms of text and very rich in terms of meaning. The content of this pilgrimage is mostly in explaining and expressing the virtues of the Commander of the Faithful (AS), expressing the position of his Imamate and Wilayat, and also outlining the general outlines of Shiite beliefs.

The teachings of the culture of Wilayat and Imamate in the Ghadiriyah pilgrimage

The Ghadiriyah pilgrimage introduces the Ghadir event not only as a historical event, but also as the foundation and foundation of the Islamic religion. In this pilgrimage, the importance of pledging allegiance to the Commander of the Faithful (AS) on the day of Ghadir and the necessity of continuing this allegiance throughout history is emphasized.

The Ghadir event is not just a historical event in the tenth year of the Hijri calendar, but is a manifestation of the divine will to determine the successor of the Great Prophet (PBUH) and to continue his mission. This event is a turning point in the history of Islam that guides the path of the Islamic nation towards guidance and prosperity. Pledge of allegiance to the Commander of the Faithful (AS) on the Day of Ghadir is a renewal of the covenant with the Prophet (PBUH) and obedience to the divine command. This pledge is not only an outward act, but also a heartfelt and spiritual commitment to follow Imam Ali (AS) and accept his guardianship. The pledge of allegiance at Ghadir is a permanent and everlasting pledge that must be renewed in every era and time. This means that Shiites must always pledge allegiance to the Imam of their time (AS) and walk on the path of obedience to him. The Ghadir pilgrimage points out with statements that Ghadir is the day of the completion of religion and the completion of divine blessings. These interpretations demonstrate the extraordinary importance of the Ghadir event in the formation of Shiite identity.

The Ghadir pilgrimage, to prove the succession of the Commander of the Faithful (PBUH), cites several verses from the Holy Quran, such as the verse of Wilayat (Al-Ma'idah: 55) and the verse of Tabligh (Al-Ma'idah: 67). This pilgrimage also refers to the frequent prophetic narrations such as the Hadith of Ghadir (“Whoever is my protector, act as my protector”) and the Hadith of Manzillat (“You are from me, the lineage of Aaron from Moses”). The Ghadir pilgrimage, by enumerating the outstanding characteristics of the Commander of the Faithful (AS) such as his profound knowledge, unparalleled courage, asceticism and piety, his spreading of justice, and his infallibility, introduces him as the most worthy person to succeed the Prophet (PBUH). In addition to his knowledge acquired from the Prophet, Imam Ali (AS) had also acquired it through divine inspiration and revelation. He was aware of the unseen sciences and divine secrets and could answer any question or doubt. Imam Ali (AS) was famous for his courage on the battlefields. He was present in all the campaigns of the Prophet (PBUH) and helped Islam with his bravery. Imam Ali (AS) always practiced asceticism and piety in his life and avoided worldly pleasures. Despite having power and wealth, he lived a simple and uncomplicated life and always thought of the needy and poor. During his caliphate, Imam Ali (AS) made every effort to establish justice and equality in society. He fought against any discrimination and injustice and respected the rights of all members of society equally. Imam Ali (AS) was innocent of any sin and mistake and never deviated from the path of truth and justice. His infallibility was the guarantor of the preservation and continuation of the pure Islam of Muhammad (PBUH). The Ghadiriya pilgrimage, with phrases such as “Peace be upon you, the sharer of Paradise and Hell”, “Peace be upon you, the balance of deeds”, refers to the unique position of Imam Ali (PBUH) in the sight of God and introduces him as the criterion for measuring right and wrong.

The Ghadiriya pilgrimage introduces the Imamate not as a political position, but as a divine position and an inner command. In this pilgrimage, the infallible Imams (PBUH) are introduced as divine proofs, intermediaries of grace and guides of the nation. Also, the necessity of obeying the Imams and following their instructions is emphasized. The Ghadiriya pilgrimage introduces the Imamate and the Quran as two inseparable pillars of the religion of Islam. In this pilgrimage, the role of the Imams in explaining and interpreting the Quran and the necessity of clinging to both weights (the Quran and the progeny) for guidance and salvation are mentioned.

The Ghadiriyah pilgrimage of Imam Hadi (AS) is a rich and valuable source for understanding Shiite teachings about Imamate and guardianship. This pilgrimage, by emphasizing the incident of Ghadir, introducing the Commander of the Faithful (AS) as the successor of the Prophet (PBUH), explaining the exalted position of the Imamate, emphasizing the connection between the Imamate and the Quran, and exonerating the enemies of the Ahl al-Bayt (AS), helps to deepen the understanding and promote Shiite beliefs. It is appropriate for Shiites to gain a deeper understanding of the culture of guardianship and Imamate by reflecting on this pilgrimage and taking a more firm step on the path of following the Ahl al-Bayt (AS).