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The Blessed Days in Islam
By: Ayatullah Shaheed Sayyid Muhammad Baqir al-Hakim
The Eve of the 1st of Rajab
A set of acts mentioned in books on recommended acts and supplications on this blessed night are:
• Bathe. Some scholars report the Holy Prophet (S) to have said: If one bathes himself on the first, middle, and last of Rajab, he will be released from all of his sins and return pure of sins just as on the day of his birth.
• Read the ziyarah of Imam al-Husayn (‘a)
• Offer a variety of prayers dedicated to this night
• Read some supplications dedicated to this night11
The Eve of the 15th of Sha’ban
The Ahl al-Bayt (‘a) have honored and glorified this exceptionally blessed night. For example, Imam al-Sadiq (‘a) has reported that when Imam al-Baqir (‘a) was asked about the merits of the eve of mid-Sha’ban, he said: It is the most favorable night after the Night of Qadr. On this night, Almighty Allah bestows His favors upon His servants and grants them His pardon out of His conferral of benefit to them. Therefore, you should exert all efforts to seek nearness to Him on this night, because He—the Majestic and Honorable—has decided not to reject any asker as long as he does not ask for an act of disobedience to Him. Almighty Allah has chosen this night for us, the Ahl al-Bayt, in the same way as He has chosen the Night of Qadr for our Prophet, peace be upon him. You should thus pray and thank Him diligently.12
According to another validly reported tradition, Zurarah asked Imam al-Baqir (‘a) to say something about the eve of mid-Sha’ban. The Imam (‘a) thus said: On this night, Almighty Allah forgives as many of His creatures as the hairs on the horses of the Kalb Tribe. He also orders angels to descend to the lowest sky and to the earth—Makkah.13
One of the most magnificent blessings of the last hours of this night is that the Twelfth Imam al-Mahdi, may Allah hasten his Relief, was born in the year AH 255.
In addition to the general recommendation of passing this night in devotional acts, specific acts reported are:
• Bathe, for it results in alleviating the punishments for one’s sins
• Read the ziyarah of Imam al-Husayn (‘a): many traditions have come that lay stress on the significance of this ziyarah, as previously cited.
• Read special supplications, one of which is the famous Du’a' Kumayl Supplication, immediately after offering the Shaf’ Prayer during the last hours of the night
• Invoke blessings of Almighty Allah upon the Holy Prophet and his Immaculate Household (S)
• Offer special prayers, one of which is the famous prayer attributed to Ja’far al-Tayyar
• Perform the prostrations the Holy Prophet (S) is reported to have performed on this night14
The Four Blessed Days
The four most blessed days of the year are the 27th of Rajab (the Day of Divine Mission), the 17th of Rabi’ I (the Holy Prophet’s birthday), the 18th of Dhu’l-Hijjah (the Day of Ghadir), and the 25thof Dhu’l-Qa’dah (the Day of Spreading the Earth).
These days enjoy great merits. It is therefore better to introduce them according to the traditions reported from the Ahl al-Bayt (‘a), and present all the devotional acts dedicated to these days and mentioned in books on devotional acts and supplications.
The Ahl al-Bayt (‘a) reported fasting on these days as equal in reward to fasting for sixty months.
The Day of Divine Mission
The Day of Divine Mission, the 27th of Rajab is the day on which the Holy Prophet (S) was practically designated as a Messenger of Almighty Allah and his Prophethood was revealed to him. The recommended acts on this day are as follows:
• Bathe
• Fast
• Repeatedly invoke blessings upon the Holy Prophet and his Immaculate Household (S)
• Read ziyarah of the Holy Prophet (S) and Imam ‘Ali (‘a)
• Offer a special twelve-unit prayer, with each two units separated by a taslim statement, done in a special way, followed by recitation of the Holy Qur'an and a special litany
• Read the supplication that is reported from Imam Musa al-Kazim (‘a) who recited it on his way to Baghdad when Harun, the ‘Abbasid ruler, ordered his police forces to summon the Imam (‘a) to Baghdad after being arrested on this day
The eve of the Day of Divine Mission is also a blessed night for which certain acts of worship are dedicated.15
The Holy Prophet’s Birthday
The 17th of Rabi’ I is a blessed day on which the Holy Prophet (S) was born according to the most famous traditions believed as authentic by the Twelver Imamiyyah Shi’ah.
The following devotional acts are recommended:
• Bathe
• Fast
• Perform the ziyarah of the Holy Prophet (S) directly by visiting his holy tomb or indirectly by addressing him with definite statements of salutation from afar. It is also recommended to perform or read ziyarah of Imam ‘Ali (‘a).
• Offer a special prayer followed by a special supplication cited for this day16
The Day of Ghadir
According to traditions reported from the Ahl al-Bayt (‘a), the Day of Ghadir, the 18th of Dhu’l-Hijjah, is considered the most significant of all festival days. On this day, Imam ‘Ali, the Commander of the Faithful (‘a), was appointed as the successor and Imam after the Holy Prophet (S). Immediately after the completion of the last ritual pilgrimage of the Holy Prophet (S), known as the Farewell Pilgrimage, this declaration came and subsequently the Holy Prophet (S) ordered all Muslims to swear allegiance to Imam ‘Ali (‘a) as their next leader. This took place at a crossroad where the Holy Prophet (S) ordered all Muslims to gather to hear his declaration and appointment of Imam ‘Ali (‘a) as their next leader. At this very place, he received a divine revelation, saying: O Messenger, deliver what has been revealed to you from your Lord. And if you do it not, then you have not delivered His message. And Allah will protect you from the people. (5:67)
Having received this divine command, the Holy Prophet (S) climbed a pulpit made of the saddles of camels and stated: Behold! ‘Ali is now the master of everyone who has regarded me as his master. O Allah, (please do) support whoever supports ‘Ali and be the enemy of whoever incurs the hostility of ‘Ali…17
This declaration came after the Holy Prophet (S) had called the audience to witness that he had conveyed the Divine Message perfectly, and that he had a greater claim on the faithful believers than they had on themselves.
This event has been reported by Muslim traditionists and historians of various sects.
After this declaration, Almighty Allah revealed the verse known as the Verse of Perfecting the Religion, which reads, This day have I perfected for you your religion and completed My favor on you and chosen for you Islam as a religion. (5:3)
Traditions that are reported from the Ahl al-Bayt (‘a) have also confirmed that making the Day of Ghadir a feast day is based on the Holy Prophet’s instruction to Imam ‘Ali (‘a) to do so. In this respect, Shaykh al-Kulayni has reported on the authority of ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Salim that his father asked Imam al-Sadiq (‘a), whether Muslims have other feast days besides ‘Id al-Fitr, ‘Id al-Adhha, and Fridays.
The Imam (‘a) answered: Yes, they have. There is still the holiest feast day, which falls on the day when the Messenger of Allah (S) appointed the Commander of the Faithful, Imam ‘Ali (‘a), as his successor and the coming leader of the Muslim community. On that day, the Holy Prophet (S) declared, ‘Whoever has regarded me as his master must now regard ‘Ali as his master…’
The Imam (‘a) was asked, “What are the acts that should be done on that day?”
He (‘a) instructed: On this day, mention Allah and Glorify His remembrance by fasting, doing devotional acts, and mentioning the Holy Prophet and his Household (S). The Holy Messenger of Allah (S) instructed the Commander of the Faithful (‘a) to celebrate this day as a feast day. Similarly, all the prophets used to order their successors to celebrate the eighteenth of Dhu’l-Hijjah as a feast day.18
Another tradition reads: The prophets used to order the days on which they nominated successors to be taken as feast days.19
Other traditions have referred to a historical root for this day holding that, on this day, Almighty Allah accepted the repentance of Prophet Adam (‘a) who, as a result, observed fasting as an expression of thanking Him for this grace. It is also the day on which Almighty Allah delivered Prophet Abraham (S) from the fire—he therefore observed fasting as an expression of thanking Him for this grace. On this day too, Prophet Moses (‘a) appointed Prophet Aaron (‘a) as his successor and he therefore observed fasting as an expression of thanking Him for this grace.
It is also the day on which Prophet Jesus (‘a) declared Simon the Zealot as his successor and observed fasting as an expression of thanking Him for this grace. It is finally the day on which Prophet Muhammad (S) declared Imam ‘Ali (‘a) as his successor, demonstrating ‘Ali’s excellence and worthiness for this position. This day is therefore a day of fasting, worship, establishment of good relations with brethren-in-faith, and attainment of the All-beneficent Lord’s pleasure, in addition to being a day of showing defiance to Satan.20
In books of devotional acts and supplications, a set of acts has been mentioned to be done on this day:
• Bathe
• Fast
• Perform or read the ziyarah of Imam ‘Ali (‘a)
• Offer certain prayers that are dedicated to this day
• Supplicate and thank Almighty Allah for this great grace of the divinely designated leadership of Imam ‘Ali (‘a). In his book of Iqbal al-A’mal, Sayyid Ibn Tawus has cited a set of long supplications to be read on this day.
• Adorn, dress up, and express joy and pleasure
• Give generously, grant the requests of those asking for them, show regard to relatives, present gifts to dependents, and serve food to the faithful believers in general, and those observing fast on this day in particular
• Visit one’s brethren-in-faith, shake hands with them, fraternize with them, and send them presents
• Repeatedly invoke blessings upon the Holy Prophet and his Household (S)
• Pay greater attention to acts of worship and obedience to Almighty Allah21
The Day of Spreading the Earth
The 25th of Dhu’l-Qa’dah is celebrated as the Day of Spreading the Earth because Imam al-Ridha (‘a) is validly reported to have said: On the twenty-fifth of Dhu’l-Qa’dah, Prophet Abraham, peace be upon him, was born, and Prophet Jesus son of Mary (peace be upon them both) was born, and the earth was spread on the water where the Holy Ka’bah is now situated. Hence, if one observes fasting on this day, he will earn the reward of fasting for sixth months.22
On this day, it is reported that the Holy Ka’bah descended from the heavens down to earth and Divine mercy descended on Prophet Adam (‘a).
Thus we can recognize the significance of this day, which signifies the creation of the earth and the Much-Frequented House and the descending of Divine mercy down to the earth. Moreover, on this day, Prophets Abraham and Jesus, peace be upon them, were born.
In books of devotional acts and supplications, a set of acts is mentioned for this day:
• Fast
• Bathe
• Offer a special prayer of two units in each of which Surah al-Fatihah is recited once and Surah al-Shams repeated five times. After completing this prayer before noon, a special supplication is read.
• Read a supplication that is specified for this day and reported by Shaykh al-Tusi in Misbah al-Mutahajjid
• Perform or read the ziyarah of Imam al-Ridha (‘a), as maintained by Sayyid al-Damad in his epistle entitled al-Arba’at Ayyam
• Perform acts of worship and remember Almighty Allah as much as possible. The same acts are recommended for the night before the Day of Spreading the Earth.23
The Day of ‘Ashura’
The 10th of Muharram, the Day of ‘Ashura' is the day on which Imam al-Husayn ibn ‘Ali (‘a), the Holy Prophet’s grandson and the son of the Veracious Lady Fatimah al-Zahra' (‘a), was slain. The Imam (‘a) was martyred in such an astounding way that it’s like cannot be found in the history of humankind.
The Imam (‘a), eighteen family members, and approximately seventy companions—among whom were old men, master scholars, grand Sahabah (companions of the Holy Prophet (S)), Tabi’un (followers of the Holy Prophet’s companions), as well as children, women, boys, youth, adolescents, and an infant son of Imam Husayn (‘a). They were all slain after they were besieged and prevented from obtaining water to drink such that they departed this life thirsty—and this for no crime other than their refusal to swear allegiance to Yazid, the notorious tyrant.
Along with his family members and companions, Imam al-Husayn (‘a) fought bravely, showing the highest degree of resoluteness, steadfastness, endurance, maintenance of principles, and high moral standards in dealing with events, sparing no efforts in making clear the truth and goals for which they were ready to sacrifice their lives. As a result, they left a great impact on the progress of Islam and humanity.
We have already discussed the results of this event and explained the rites related to it.
To the followers of the Ahl al-Bayt and the individuals of the virtuous community, ‘Ashura' is seen as a day of expressing grief and sorrow. Following the example of the Holy Imams of the Ahl al-Bayt (‘a), all the individuals of the virtuous community, like no other day, participate in such rites and hold large meetings.
There are certain etiquettes and rites for this day. The most important of these are the following:
• Perform ziyarah of Imam al-Husayn (‘a). An earlier indication has been made to the special formula of ziyarah on this day.
• Hold sessions commemorating Imam al-Husayn’s martyrdom, express sorrow and weep for him, read the story of his martyrdom, and practice other acts of condolence previously referred to.
• Refrain from striving for any worldly benefit. In this respect, Imam al-Ridha (‘a) is reported to have said: If one refrains from striving for any worldly benefit on the tenth of Muharram, Almighty Allah will grant him all his needs for this world and the world to come. If one considers the tenth of Muharram a day of sadness and weeping, Almighty Allah will make the Day of Resurrection a day of delight and happiness; and he will be delighted with us in Paradise. If one considers the tenth of Muharram to be a blessed day and stores up any annual nutriment on this day, Almighty Allah will not bless that which he stored up and will add him to the gang of Yazid, ‘Ubaydullah ibn Ziyad, and ‘Umar ibn Sa’d—may Allah curse them all.24
• Exchange such words of condolence with believers: “May Allah magnify our rewards for suffering the misfortune of Imam al-Husayn’s martyrdom, and may He include you and us with the group of those who demand vengeance for him with his heir, Imam al-Mahdi (‘a), successor of the Household of Prophet Muhammad (S).”
• Serve food and water to the believers and participants of processions
• Curse and declare renunciation of those who slew Imam al-Husayn (‘a), and those who approved of their crime and imitated them up to the Day of Resurrection
• Repeat Surah al-Tawhid (al-Ikhlas, No. 112) as much as possible
The Umayyads and ‘Ashura'
The Umayyads used to deem blessed the tenth of Muharram, i.e. the Day of ‘Ashura', and regard it as a day of feast and celebration. They set themselves against the Ahl al-Bayt (‘a) to mislead the Muslims and divert them from the reality of the events that took place on the tenth of Muharram and the goals of Imam al-Husayn’s uprising against them.
They forged many lies against the Holy Prophet (S) in this connection and fabricated many sayings with regard to fasting on this day and getting its blessings. Al-Bukhari and Muslim reported Ibn ‘Abbas as having said, “I have not seen the Prophet (S) laying so much stress on fasting on any day like the day of ‘Ashura' or any month like the month of Ramadhan.”
They also reported Abu-Musa al-Ash’ari as saying, “The (Jewish) people of Khaybar used to fast on the day of ‘Ashura', taking it for a joyful day and ordering their women to put on the best of their jewelry and clothes. Seeing them, the Prophet (S) ordered us to fast on that day, too.”25
From the totality of the traditions reported in Sunni and Shi’ite reference books of Hadith in this regard, we can conclude that the tenth of Muharram was an exceptional day for the Arabs of the pre-Islamic era and the Jews who used to take it as a feast day. The Holy Prophet (S) also used to fast on this day, but when the obligatory fasting of the month of Ramadhan was revealed, he abandoned fasting on this day.
However, the Umayyads, after slaying Imam al-Husayn (‘a), revived this tradition and made it a day of feast, blessing, and celebration. To further solidify the matter, they seduced some Sahabah under promise of money to testify to such abandoned and abrogated traditions to wreak vengeance upon the Ahl al-Bayt (‘a) and conceal the grave crime they had committed.
Al-Bukhari, Muslim, al-Tirmidhi, and Ibn Dawud reported ‘A'ishah to have said, “In the pre-Islamic era, the people of Quraysh, as well as the Prophet (S), used to fast on the day of ‘Ashura'. When he settled in Madinah, he sometimes fasted on that day and sometimes overlooked it. When the fasting of the month of Ramadhan was decreed, the Prophet (S) abandoned fasting on the day of ‘Ashura'. Therefore, you may fast on it or forsake it.”26
Through a valid chain of authority, Shaykh al-Kulayni has reported that Najiyyah ibn al-Harith al-’Attar asked Imam al-Baqir (‘a) about fasting on the day of ‘Ashura'.
The Imam (‘a) answered: Fasting on this day has been repealed by the divine command of fasting in the month of Ramadhan. To perform an abrogated matter is considered innovation (bid’ah).
Najiyyah then asked Imam al-Sadiq (‘a) about the same issue and received the same answer given to him by Imam al-Baqir (‘a).
The Imam (‘a) then added: Verily, to take this day (of ‘Ashura') as a day of fasting is neither determined by any Divine Book nor accepted as a norm, except as invented by the Family of Ziyad on account of their slaying Husayn ibn ‘Ali, peace be upon him.27
According to another well-reported (hasan) tradition, Imam al-Sadiq (‘a) has said: If one fasts on the day of ‘Ashura', he will be rewarded nothing but the recompense of the son of Marjanah (i.e. ‘Ubaydullah) and the family of Ziyad.
The reporter asked, “What was their recompense on that day?”
The Imam (‘a) answered: Fire! May Allah save us from the Fire and from any act that advances one towards it.28
Shaykh al-Saduq, in ‘Ilal al-Shara'i’, has reported that ‘Abdullah ibn al-Fadhl al-Hashimi once asked Imam al-Sadiq (‘a) how it came about that the people regarded the Day of ‘Ashura' as a day of celebration.
The Imam (‘a) wept and then said: When Husayn, peace be upon him, was slain, the people of Sham tried to win the favor of and pay court to Yazid. They fabricated narrations to his benefit and, in return, received financial prizes from him. One of these fabricated matters was that they made up many things regarding this day, introducing it as a day of blessing so that the people would show joyful appearance, seek its blessings, and ready themselves for festivals instead of showing sorrow and weeping, and taking this day as an unfortunate day, and expressing sadness. May Allah judge between us.29
It is therefore necessary for every righteous Muslim individual to be on one’s guard against this perverted act that aims at misleading the Muslims and driving them away from the historical truth and the noble standing of this great day.
Other Specific Days
The Holy Imams of the Ahl al-Bayt (‘a) informed the individuals of the virtuous community of other blessed days significant because of incidents that took place thereon.
Day of Mubahalah: Invoking Allah’s Curse upon the Lying Party
On the 24th of Dhu’l-Hijjah, the Holy Prophet (S) entered upon a mutual invocation of curse (i.e. Mubahalah)30 with the Christians of Najran saying that each party would invoke Almighty Allah’s curse upon the lying party so that the truthful party would be distinguished and the lying party cursed. Readying himself for this challenge, the Holy Prophet (S) put on a garment, covered Imam ‘Ali, Lady Fatimah al-Zahra', Imam Hasan, and Imam al-Husayn—peace be upon them—with it, and supplicated Almighty Allah, saying: O Allah, verily, each Prophet had family members who were the nearest to him. O Allah, these are my Household, so (please) remove uncleanliness from them and purify them with a thorough purification.
Immediately after that, Archangel Gabriel descended carrying the Verse of Purification (Ayat al-Tathir): Allah only desires to keep away the uncleanliness from you, O people of the House, and to purify you a thorough purifying. (33:33)
Subsequently, the Holy Prophet (S) accompanied this Household as his partners in the invocation of Almighty Allah’s curse upon the lying party. As soon as the Christians’ eyes fell on the Holy Prophet’s Household (S), they realized that those individuals were the most truthful and that chastisement would be the share of any one who opposed them. They, therefore, did not dare to participate in that invocation and, instead, they agreed to pay a tribute (jizyah) to the Holy Prophet (S).
Recording this great incident, the Holy Qur'an says, But whoever disputes with you in this matter after what has come to you of knowledge, then say: Come let us call our sons and your sons and our women and your women and our near people and your near people, then let us be earnest in prayer, and pray for the curse of Allah upon the liars. (3:61)
There are certain recommended acts to be carried out on this anniversary, such as bathing, fasting, offering a special prayer, and saying a special supplication.31 The method of this prayer can be seen in Shaykh al-Tusi’s book of Misbah al-Mutahajjid.
On this day too, Imam ‘Ali (‘a), while offering a prayer and, more precisely, in genuflection (bowing position), gave his ring as alms to a poor man who was begging in the mosque. Therefore, Almighty Allah revealed the following holy verses: Only Allah is your actual leader and His Messenger and those who believe, those who keep up prayers and pay the poor-rate while they bow down. And whoever takes Allah and His messenger and those who believe as guardians, then surely the party of Allah are they that shall be triumphant. (5:55-56)
The Twenty-Fifth of Dhu’l-Hijjah
On this blessed day, Surah al-Dahr (or al-Insan No. 76) was revealed praising the Ahl al-Bayt (‘a) for they had observed fasting for three consecutive days and given their fast-breaking food to a poor man, an orphan, and a captive, respectively, for three days. In view of this, the adherents of the Ahl al-Bayt (‘a) are required to imitate their leaders on these three days and give alms to the poor.
The Day of ‘Arafat; the Ninth of Dhu’l-Hijjah
The Day of ‘Arafat is one of the most significant days of the year. However, we will shed light on the rites of this day in a coming chapter on the Hajj Pilgrimage.
Conclusion
After this review of the most significant nights and days of the year, it seems proper to discuss the general trend that can be concluded from this review. In this connection, we may face a number of issues the most important of which are the following:
First Issue: These holy nights are generally spent in acts of worship, because the night enjoys the distinctive feature of privacy with Almighty Allah through confidential prayers which are one kind of devotional act. The other feature of such nights is physical and moral purity represented by bathing.
Second Issue: The joyful holy days emphasize bathing, perfuming oneself, and dressing up They are also marked by social activities that affect even the prayers on these days, such as the Friday and the ‘«d congregational prayers. On these days too, emphasis has been laid on exchanging visits, spending, and doing charitable acts, as well as other social activities.
Third Issue: These particular nights and days require us to express our loyalty to and love for the Ahl al-Bayt (‘a) as well as bond ourselves with them, pattern our acts after their examples, glorify their deeds, and declare renunciation of their enemies. Such deeds symbolize a general aspect that includes all the holy nights and days. This can be seen obviously through confirmations in the visitations of Imam al-Husayn (‘a) and Imam ‘Ali (‘a), invoking of Almighty Allah’s blessings upon the Holy Prophet and his Household (S), and joining these days and nights to anniversaries related to them.
Fourth Issue: Fasting, in its capacity as a devotional act, enjoys distinction on such holy days. Although it is forbidden to observe fasting on the two days of ‘«d, fasting on the other holy days is highly advised. As for Fridays, no special confirmation for fasting has been made in traditions except in special cases, such as when asking for having one’s request granted or completing a three-day fast that begins on Wednesdays.
Fifth Issue: Such holy days and nights are distributed among the devotional seasons in most of the months of the year, including Rajab, Sha’ban, Ramadhan, Shawwal, Dhu’l-Qa’dah, Dhu’l-Hijjah, and Rabi’ I. If we combine the special anniversaries of the Ahl al-Bayt (‘a), the holy days and nights will cover almost the whole year.
Sixth Issue: The majority of these rites and recommended acts represent part of the general sketch the Holy Imams of the Ahl al-Bayt (‘a) have set forth for educating their followers spiritually and morally, building unwavering willpower within them, taking them towards self-perfection, and healing all their psychological and spiritual defects.
Seventh Issue: Noticeably, these special days and nights, are seen as extensions of Fridays, the two days of ‘«d, Thursday nights, and the Nights of Qadr. In plain words, the rites and activities of these days and nights form the origin from which the rites and activities of the other holy days have branched out. This leads us to the conclusion that the traditions of the Ahl al-Bayt (‘a) about the merits of these days and nights have been the outcome of their expansive knowledge of the Islamic law or their genuine and veritable view of Islamic law on the strength of Imam ‘Ali’s saying: The Messenger of Allah (S) taught me a thousand doors of knowledge each door of which opens before me another thousand doors.
7. - Shaykh ‘Abbas al-Qummi, Mafatih al-Jinan, pp. 29.
8. - Shaykh ‘Abbas al-Qummi, Mafatih al-Jinan, pp. 30.
9. - Shaykh ‘Abbas al-Qummi, Mafatih al-Jinan, pp. 30.
10. - Refer to al-Hurr al-’Amili, Wasa’il al-Shi’ah 5:222.
Although this tradition has been reported in connection with the night of ‘«d al-Fitr, it came to include the night of ‘«d al-Adhha, as maintained by the expression “the night of ‘«d”.
11. - Shaykh ‘Abbas al-Qummi, Mafatih al-Jinan, pp. 140-141.
12. - Al-Hurr al-’Amili, Wasa’il al-Shi’ah 5:238, H. 3.
13. - Al-Hurr al-’Amili, Wasa’il al-Shi’ah 5:238, H. 1.
14. - Shaykh ‘Abbas al-Qummi, Mafatih al-Jinan, pp. 165-170.
15. - Shaykh ‘Abbas al-Qummi, Mafatih al-Jinan, pp. 148 & 152.
16. - Shaykh ‘Abbas al-Qummi, Mafatih al-Jinan, pp. 296.
17. - Shaykh al-Kulayni, al-Kafi 1:292, H. 3.
18. - Al-Hurr al-’Amili, Wasa’il al-Shi’ah 7:323, H. 1.
19. - Al-Hurr al-’Amili, Wasa’il al-Shi’ah 7:323, H. 2.
20. - Al-Hurr al-’Amili, Wasa’il al-Shi’ah 7:327, H. 12.
Apart from the authenticity of these traditions as a whole or some of their details, the Day of Ghadir is still one of the holy days in which the Ahl al-Bayt (‘a) took special interest, regarding it as a joyful day to be celebrated by the Muslim nation and the virtuous community.
21. - Shaykh ‘Abbas al-Qummi, Mafatih al-Jinan, pp. 276-281.
22. - Al-Hurr al-’Amili, Wasa’il al-Shi’ah 7:322, H. 1.
23. - Shaykh ‘Abbas al-Qummi, Mafatih al-Jinan, pp. 248-250.
24. - Al-Hurr al-’Amili, Wasa'il al-Shi’ah 10:394, H. 7.
25. - Mansur ‘Ali Nasif, al-Taj al-Jami’ lil-Usul 2:90. Other traditions are found on pages 88-92 of the same book.
26. - Mansur ‘Ali Nasif, al-Taj al-Jami’ lil-Usul 2:89.
27. - Shaykh al-Kulayni, al-Kafi 4:146, H. 4.
28. - Al-Hurr al-’Amili, Wasa’il al-Shi’ah 7:340-341.
29. - ‘Allamah al-Majlisi, Bihar al-Anwar 44:270.
A tradition that is reported in Wasa’il al-Shi’ah 7:341, H. 7 demonstrates the same meaning.
30. - Mubahalah is a method of exchanging curses between two parties each of which claim truthfulness. Hence, a party challenges the other and they agree on imprecating the curse of Almighty Allah on the lying party. Following this method, the Holy Prophet (S) challenged the Christians after they had denied his saying that Prophet Jesus (‘a) was a mortal human being whom Almighty Allah created from dust, just like Prophet Adam (‘a). Due to their denial, the Holy Prophet (S) called them to enter upon a mutual invocation of curse with him so that the lying party would be cursed by Almighty Allah. This incident has been documented by the Holy Qur'an.
31. - Shaykh ‘Abbas al-Qummi, Mafatih al-Jinan, pp. 282.
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