The only authentic version of Hadith Al-Ghadir in Shia sources can be found in Al-Kafi 1/173-174. Al-Majlisi in Mira’aat Al-Uqool grades it as a good hadith.

The Narration

Al-Kulayni says: Ali bin Ibrahim, from his father, from Ibn Abi Umayr, from Omar bin Uthaina, from Zurarah, Fudhail bin Yasar, Bukair bin A’ayan, Mohammad bin Muslim, Buraid bin Mu’awiyah, and Abu Al-Jarood, all together, reported that Abu Ja’afar (peace be onto him) said:

Allah ordered the Messenger (to announce) the appointment of Ali, and He revealed, “Your wali is Allah, His messenger, and those that pray and give the alms,” (Al-Ma’idah 55) and they (the Companions) did not know what this meant. Allah then ordered Mohammad (peace be upon him and his progeny) to explain to them Wilayat in the same way he explained prayer, alms, fasting, and the pilgrimage.

When this (order) came from Allah, the Messenger’s (peace be upon him and his progeny) chest grew tight, and he feared that they would apostate from their religion and declare him a liar. His chest grew tight and he revised the matter to his Lord Almighty, so Allah the Almighty revealed, “O’ Messenger, announce what has been revealed to you from your Lord, and if you do not, then you have not delivered your message, and Allah protects you from the people.” (Al-Ma’idah 67)

He then moved ahead with the order of Allah the Almighty and announced the Wilayat of Ali during the day of Ghadir Khumm. He called onto the people to gather for prayer and ordered those that witnessed to notify those that did not.

Omar bin Uthaina said: They all said except for Abu Al-Jarood: Abu Ja’afar (peace be onto him) said:

Laws would be revealed after one another, and Wilayat was the last law, and Allah the Almighty the revealed, “Today I have perfected your religion from you and I have completed onto you my grace,” (Al-Ma’idah 3)

Abu Ja’afar (peace be onto him) said: Allah the Almighty said:

I will not reveal another law after this law, for I have completed for you the law.

Our Commentary

The narration is problematic due to the following reasons:

• The Prophet (peace be upon him), who put his life on the line by destroying the religion of his tribe and by announcing that their relatives that died upon polytheism were going to hell, was afraid that people would apostate for a matter that is infinitely smaller.
• He was not afraid that people would declare him a liar for traveling to Jerusalem and the heavens, then back on the same night, but was afraid of being called a liar for appointing Ali.
• The Prophet (peace be upon him) had to revise the matter with Allah, because he feared that it would create more harm than benefit.
• If verse 67 of Al-Ma’idah was revealed on that date, then it means that the Prophet (peace be upon him) never called onto the Imamate of Ali until the last few weeks of his life, thereby nullifying all other Shia narrations in the same topic as fabrications.
• Verse 3 of Al-Ma’idah was actually revealed nine days before Ghadir Khumm, during the Farewell Pilgrimage. So if there were no laws that were revealed after this day, then it is proof that the Hadith Al-Ghadir was not an appointment.
• The narration is clear that the Companions had no idea about Al-Ma’idah 55, which means that they never saw Ali bow down while giving his ring to charity, as per the fabricated narration.

Conclusion

The Shia version of Hadith Al-Ghadir creates far more problems for the Shias than it solves. Apart from conflicting with the correct context, these problems are just too many to be explained away.

Also, do check out our article on Eid Al-Ghadir for an additional problem with this narrative.