Eid al-Ghadeer Date in the current year: June 25, 2024

Before his death, Muhammad made the Farewell Pilgrimage, his last pilgrimage from Medina to Mecca. After giving the Farewell Sermon atop Mount Arafat, he descended and started back towards Medina. On his way back, he made a stop at the pond of Khumm and appointed Ali ibn Abi Talib, his cousin and son-in-law, the master of believers.

Interpretation of Ali's role is the main sticking point in Shia-Sunni relations. As a matter of fact, it is the reason Islam split into two denominations. Shia Muslims believe that Ali was indeed appointed as Muhammad's successor while Sunni Muslims claim that the Prophet simply praised Ali before his companions.

Sunnites do not believe that Eid al-Ghadeer is an established celebratory day therefore they do not observe it. Shias celebrate this day because they consider Ali the first Imam after Muhammad. It is customary for Shia Muslims to say a mass oath to reassert their commitment to Islam.

Eid al-Ghadeer is an official public holiday in Iran because Shia Islam is the official state religion in this country.