Ghadir as the Last Place of Public Announcement of Vicegerency of Amir al-Mumenin (AS)

Ghadir is the reminder of Imamate of Amir al-Mumenin Ali (AS) and his official appointment to this office. Like prophethood, Imamate is also a heavenly covenant signed by the Lord and no one would be honored to this title unless His Majesty has already willed it. From the earliest days of his prophecy, Prophet Muhammad (SAW) always did take the occasion to recall the people both communally and individually to the Imamate of His Holiness Ali (AS) and communicated this Divine Message to his nation in various phrases and words; until in Ghadir the Prophet (SAW) expressed all he had stated about the Imamate and Welayat of Ali (AS) here and there in one assembly. This essay discusses of sextuple stages of announcement of vicegerency of Imam Ali (AS) and regards Ghadir as the last one of these stages of public announcement of Vicegerency of His Holiness. Having related the Ghadir occasion, the essay turns to the phraseology of Ghadir Sermon particularly the term "Maula" and its application to Imam Ali (AS) and then answers some doubts casted by Sunnite scholars.