At a glance
- Era
- The Prophetic Era
- Region
- Arabia
- Review
- Draft Completeness 1/5 · Help complete it
In time
In space
Map: Natural Earth, public domain · places and route from the graph
Factions, splits and schismsSects and schools
Overview
Ghadir Khumm was a halt on the road back from the Farewell Pilgrimage, at which the Prophet spoke about Ali. It took place at Ghadir Khumm between Mecca and Medina. 1
Muslim's report
Muslim relates from Zayd ibn Arqam (may God be pleased with him) that the Prophet preached at a water called Khumm between Mecca and Medina. Among what he said was that he was leaving among the people "two weighty things", the first being the Book of God, then his household, and that he reminds them of God concerning his household. Zayd identified the household as those forbidden the alms after him. 1
What did he mean by "whoever I am his patron"?
- The people of the Sunna read his words "whoever I am his patron, Ali is his patron" as a declaration of Ali's rank and virtue, not as a text on the caliphate.
- The academic view: historians note that the event is related in both Sunni and Shi'i sources, and that the dispute concerns its meaning, not whether it happened. 2
- The Twelver Shi'a read the event as the designation of Ali as caliph and first imam.
The museum does not adjudicate between these readings. What is not covered here: the sources of the Sunni and Shi'i positions and other details of the report, which need an additional source.
Opinions on the question
The question: What did the Prophet mean at Ghadir Khumm by saying that whoever he was the mawla of, Ali is his mawla?
First opinion · Sunni tradition (the museum's frame)Main reference
More opinions (2)
Academic viewSecondary opinion
Shia (Twelver) viewOther opinion
Connections
- Occurred at
- Ghadir Khumm
- Had participant
- Muhammad· Ali ibn Abi Talib
- Part of
- The Prophetic Era
- Caused by
- The Farewell Pilgrimage
- Mentioned in
- Muslim 2408 — The Thaqalayn report at Ghadir Khumm
- Based on
- Muslim 2408 — The Thaqalayn report at Ghadir Khumm
People and things also explored
The Farewell Pilgrimage· Ahl al-Bayt· The three years of the secret call· Ali's expedition to destroy al-Fuls, the idol of Tayy'· Ali ibn Abi Talib's expeditions to Yemen (twice)· After Badr: the dead, the captives, the spoils, and the news in Mecca and Medina· The day of Badr: the lines, the duels and the victory· The build-up to Badr: Abu Sufyan's caravan, Mecca's muster and the Prophet's march
Sources
- Sahih Muslim , 2408
- Watt, Muhammad at Medina (1956)
- Ibn Ishaq / Guillaume, The Life of Muhammad (1955)
- Asma al-Matalib fi Sirat Amir al-Mu'minin Ali ibn Abi Talib, vol. 2
Cite this page
islam.museum contributors. “Ghadir Khumm”. islam.museum, https://islam.museum/en/event/ghadir-khumm/. CC BY-SA 4.0. Last updated 2026-10-22.