Imam Khomeini also used to describe the event of Ghadeer as the greatest Eid for the Muslims and faithful people.
Meanwhile, millions of Muslims across Iran and across several other parts of the world are commemorating the Eid al-Ghadeer. The auspicious occasion marks the appointment by Islam’s Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) of Imam Ali (PBUH) as his successor.
The divine event is annually marked with rituals and various ceremonies in different parts of the globe on the 18th of Dhu al-Hijjah on the Islamic calendar.
In the tenth year of Hijra, Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) received a revelation from God, ordering him to halt the pilgrims at a pond called Khum, a place near Mecca, and to designate Imam Ali (PBUH) as his successor in guiding and ruling Muslims.
Eid al-Ghadeer is also known as Eid al-Akbar (the greatest Eid) in Islamic narrations. Muslims believe that the mission of all the previous messengers of Allah became accomplished on this day.
The Muslims across the world commemorate the Eid al-Ghadeer each year, celebrating the occasion of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) appointing Imam Ali (PBUH) as his successor.
Imam Khomeini through his historic messages and speeches put emphasis on following the footsteps of the Imam Ali (PBUH), the truthful successor of the holy prophet of Islam in all perspectives.
Imam Khomeini once said on this auspicious occasion as following:
What can I say about the personality of Imam `Ali? Who else may justly say anything about him? The multifarious dimensions of this great personality are beyond human assessment. Just like the names of God, the Exalted, the dimensions of a perfect man, who is the manifestation of all divine names and attributes, are beyond calculation. We cannot describe even a single attribute of Imam Ali… The issue of Ghadir is not an event befallen the Imam. In fact, Ghadir has been created for the sake of the Imam. This noble personality and fountainhead of sound human qualities prompted the Ghadir to take place. The Ghadir itself has no value for Imam Ali. What is valuable is his Excellency for whom Ghadir is valued. (Sahifeh-ye Imam, vol. 20, p. 106)