A Study of the Circumstances, Sequence and Time of Revelation of Ghadir Verses in the Qur an

The occasion of Ghadir Khumm has been the most chanllenging issue between Shia and Sunni schools since 10 AH/632 AD. The circumstances of revelation of the Qur’anic verses which were revealed on the day of Ghadir has eversince been the focus of many studies within the two schools. Examining qualities of prophets of Allah، this study evaluates Imamah (guardianship of Imam Ali and eleven of his sons) as equivalent and counterpart of Risalah (prophethood) as used in the Qur’an. It then discusses the fundamental role of circumstances of revelation in interpreting the Qur’anic verses and reviews the disagreement over the circumstances of revelation of the last chapter and verse of the Qur’an. Based on these، the study aims to prepare a proper setting for interpreting the verses by presenting a systematic analysis and critique of the circumstances of revelation of Ghadir verses as accounted in interpretation، history and hadith sources of Shia and Sunni.