The Pond Festival (ʿĪd al-Ġadīr)

The Pond Festival is an extremely important Shia holiday and takes place on the 18th of Dhul-Hijjah. On this day, the Shiites commemorate the event of Ġadīr Ḫumm. Ghadir Khumm is a place between Mecca and Medina where a pond existed during the time of the Prophet. The event states that the Prophet Muhammad is said to have appointed his cousin ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib as his successor. This situation is reported by both Sunni and Shia sources; the Prophet is said to have stated, "For whomsoever I am his master [Mawlā], ʿAlī is his master." [reported by Tirmidhi] Sunnis, on the other hand, interpret this narration quite differently, as according to the Sunni view, the Arabic term Mawlā should be understood more as a friend and not as a master. The question of the legitimate successor to the Prophet Muhammad sparked a genuine political dispute, which ultimately led to the present division between Sunnis and Shiites. The Tishri Festival is generally celebrated in Islamic countries with a Shia majority. This includes, in particular, the countries of Iran and Azerbaijan. But also in certain regions of Yemen and especially in the Iraqi cities of Najaf and Karbala, both of great significance to Shia Islam, the pond festival takes place.