Eid al-Ghadir in the Thought of Sayyed Hussain Badr al-Din al-Houthi
We continue in the second part of the research, which examines the thought of Sayyed Hussain Badr al-Din al-Houthi (ra) as we shed light on the concept of Ghadir and Wilayat.
Read Part 1 here
Wilayat (guardianship) is one of the most important issues emphasized by Islam, due to its impact on the faith and behavior of a person, whether related to the oneness of absolute servitude to Allah, or related to His saints, prophets, messengers, imams, and leaders, and disavowal of their enemies, represented today by the U.S.A. and “Israel.”
What we need today as a Muslim nation is not verbal or spiritual faith, but practical faith in the principle of Wilayat. If we were to elaborate on the evidence of the nation’s deviation from the principle of Wilayat to Allah and His Messenger, whether out of ignorance, negligence, or hatred, we would not have enough space in a brief discussion.
On the day of Wilayat, Eid al-Ghadir, Allah commanded His Messenger to acknowledge the guardianship of Imam Ali (peace be upon him) before the people:
“O Messenger, announce that which has been revealed to you from your Lord. And if you do not, then you have not conveyed His message. And God will protect you from the people. Indeed, God does not guide the disbelieving people.” (5: 67)
Undoubtedly, the issue of establishing the Wilayat of Imam Ali (peace be upon him) is one of the most obvious matters, clearer than the sun at noon. Indeed, it is one of the essentials of the religion, and only a spiteful and malicious person would dispute it.
Martyr Sayyed Hussain Badr al-Din al-Houthi (ra) affirms that merely believing in the guardianship of Imam Ali (peace be upon him) is not sufficient. Faith that is not supported by action is worthless. True servitude to Allah requires submission to Him, His commands and prohibitions, confronting tyrants, and liberation from the humiliating idolatry of those who are not Allah’s saints.
Among the requirements of belief in the Wilayat of Imam Ali is absolute emulation and guidance from him, along with reading his biography as a Qur’anic model as mentioned in the Holy Qur’an: “Your guardian is only Allah, His Apostle, and the faithful who maintain the prayer and give the zakat while bowing down.” (Qur’an 5:55).
The one who “gives the zakat while bowing down” is a direct historical reference to Imam Ali, when he gave his ring as charity while bowing in prayer to a poor person.
Sayyed Hussaein Badr al-Din al-Houthi (ra) accentuates: “As Shi’as of Imam Ali, we must return to studying his history and biography, to know how to emulate him, how to follow in his footsteps, how to adhere to his approach, how to follow the path he trod, how to make our outlook on things resemble his, because he is certainly the companion of the Qur’an.”
It is well known that sound beliefs and knowledge can only be achieved through extensive reading. A believer in the Wilayat of Imam Ali (peace be upon him) should not wait for a school to teach him the history and biography of Imam Ali. Rather, he must feel the responsibility of fully understanding the biography of Imam Ali (peace be upon him).
Martyr Sayyed Hussain Badr al-Din al-Houthi (ra) recommends us to “Read the history of Imam Ali, read the sayings of Imam Ali, become familiar with the biography of Imam Ali, and learn many lessons from his personal life, from his courage, his wisdom, his knowledge, his leadership ability, and his political acumen.”
It is important that the honourable biography of Imam Ali (peace be upon him) and his stances be transformed into methodologies that are incorporated into the content of educational curricula at various levels: faith, education, social, economic, cultural, jihadi, media, political, etc.
Martyr Sayyed Hussain Badr al-Din al-Houthi (ra) says: “It is a strange irony that the eighteenth of Dhu al-Hijjah, the great anniversary of Ghadir, comes while the Islamic Ummah, and the Arabs in particular, are about to impose a different kind of Wilayat: a Jewish Wilayat, a Zionist Wilayat.”
His Eminence explains that the nation has reached this point because of its rejection of “the Wilayat of the most virtuous, pure, and perfect person after its Prophet. Today, it stands helpless, waiting for the American administration to appoint a Jewish guardian over it. This is a true tragedy.”
He continues: “When we commemorate the announcement of the Wilayat of Imam Ali (peace be upon him), we affirm that religion – according to our understanding, vision, and belief – cannot be separated from politics. The Messenger did not depart this life until he had announced to the nation who would succeed him.”
On this day in the tenth year, after Prophet Mohammad returned from the Farewell Pilgrimage with tens of thousands of Muslims, he stood in the Valley of Khumm to deliver a sermon: “‘O people, God is my Master, and I am the Master of the believers—more worthy of them than they are of themselves—so whoever I am his Master, then Ali is his Master. O God, befriend whoever befriends him, be hostile to whoever is hostile to him, support whoever supports him, and let down whoever lets him down.’”
“He addressed the people: ‘O people, God is my Master.’ This is the way of the prophets, especially with those nations that do not listen or comprehend. He is the most eloquent of God. This is God’s command, this is God’s decree, this is God’s choice, this is God’s obligation, this is God’s completion of His religion, and this is also a manifestation of God’s mercy toward His servants.’”
His Eminence (ra) demonstrates that every Muslim who believes in Prophet Mohammad owes him full adherence to the Wilayat of Imam Ali (peace be upon him).
He then highlights the demonstrative pronoun “this” in Hadith of Ghadir, with which Prophet Mohammad specified his successor, but unfortunately, the nation today is ruled by “this” assigned by the United States of America: “Isn’t everyone now waiting for whom America will assign to rule Iraq? Didn’t they say before, ‘This is the ruler of Afghanistan’?’ And later they will say, ‘This is the ruler of Yemen, this is the ruler of the Hijaz, this is the ruler of Egypt, this is the ruler of Syria, and so on.’”
His Eminence (ra) continues: “Unfortunately, this nation has lost its faith in who has the right to appoint ‘this’ to, even though the Messenger of Allah made it clear that the only one who has the right to say ‘This or this is your guardian,’ is the Almighty.”
Martyr Sayyed Hussain (ra) regrets that we have reached a stage where Washington and Tel Aviv determine who takes charge of the nation’s affairs, not “what is appropriate for this nation, which is intended to be a great nation.”
His Eminence specifies that the one who is most appropriate to be an imam, guide, teacher, mentor, and leader is the one who leads the nation to perform great and important tasks.
“Is it expected of America, is it expected of Tel Aviv, to say to the nation ‘this’ except in reference to a man who cares only for their interests?”
He adds: “America wants us all to understand, to have it firmly rooted in our feelings and minds, that it is the one who has the power to tell us, ‘This is your ruler.’”
Martyr Sayyed Hussain (ra) warns: “Throughout the history of the nation, many have seized the opportunity to assume its leadership and leapt upon its shoulders, generation after generation. If they deem themselves unworthy of being the leaders of this nation, they take an easier approach: to tame the nation into accepting their leadership by indoctrinating it with a false culture, such as describing Muawiyah and Yazid as leaders of the faithful, whose obedience is obligatory and against whom rebellion is not permissible.”
His Eminence expounds that when the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him and his pure family) referred to Imam Ali, he was referring to the attributes of the guardian of the nation, the preserver of its values, principles, goals, and objectives, such that no greedy person, opportunist, immoral person, criminal, or oppressor could attain them:
“God says to His Prophet Abraham (as) after he requested Wilayat for his descendants: ‘When his Lord tested Abraham with certain words and he fulfilled them, He said, “I am making you the Imam of mankind.” Said he, “And from among my descendants?” He said, “My pledge does not extend to the unjust.”’ (Qur’an 2:124).”
Martyr Sayyed Hussaein (ra) emphasizes that the Messenger specified those who possess the attributes of Wilayat, refuting the limitations of the court scholars who persist in sabotaging the nation. This is what made it a victim not only of being led by an ignorant, unjust person, but also of being ruled by a Zionist Jew, one of its most bitter enemies:
“The nation is in dire need of understanding what is Wilayat according to Islam and Qur’an. If we do not understand, the Americans and their tools will make us understand and tell us, and we will end up seeing a Jew ruling our affairs.”
His Eminence (ra) adds: “The nation’s ignorance of the past of Wilayat and its importance is what made it a victim of the oppressive American and ‘Israeli’ sultans. The nation is in dire need of a sound culture, in every sense of the word. It needs the culture of the Hadith of Ghadir to protect itself from a Jewish guardianship.”
He (ra) calls on those who call themselves the rulers of this nation today to educate themselves in the authentic culture of Islam, otherwise they will be cursed by both the righteous and the wicked in this nation because of this deplorable situation.
Martyr Sayyed Hussain Badr al-Din al-Houthi (ra) forewarned that Jews always seek to present themselves as the saviours of the nation: “The Jews today have within every Arab country those working to destabilize the institutions of any Arab state, to undermine its institutions, to spread financial and administrative corruption within its institutions, until everyone fails and everyone appears helpless! Then, in turn, the Jew comes and manages the country’s affairs better.”
He links the issue of corruption in state institutions to expansionist and occupying ambitions: “These people are committing a grave crime if they leave these matters as they are, if they leave education in such a state of decline, the health sector in a state of collapse, and security and all state institutions suffering from financial and administrative corruption. When they appear to have failed in this matter, it will be easy for the Jews to replace them, and consequently, it will be easy for everyone to welcome these Jews and accept their rule.”
“Therefore, it is expected that the Shi’as alone are the most aware people, especially those who fully understand what Imam Ali means, what the Hadith of Wilayat means, and what Shiism means,” Martyr Sayyed Hussain Badr al-Din al-Houthi (ra) stateds.
Martyr Sayyed Hussein (ra) asserts that the Shi’as “are the ones who usually stand up against America and ‘Israel,’ against the Jews who want to impose their authority over us. As for the others, they will continue to watch us. This is the strange thing.”
He continues: “When we ask people to shout in the face of America and ‘Israel’: ‘God is Great’ / ‘Death to America’ / ‘Death to “Israel”’ / ‘Curse the Jews’ / and ‘Victory to Islam,’, it is because America intends for George Bush to be the Imam of the Muslims and the Commander of the Faithful.”
Martyr Sayyed Hussain (ra) laments that the nation “turns a blind eye to what Bush and Ariel Sharon want, but at the same time claim that the Shi’as are the danger.”
He wonders, “What is the danger of someone who does not possess an aircraft carrier, submarines, battleships, tens of thousands of well-trained soldiers, or military equipment?!”
“We Shi’as, our belief in the Wilayat is well-known. You turn to us and deny what is intended for us and for you! Bush is destined to become the Imam of the Ummah. But whenever someone comes to resist, you accuse him by saying, ‘This one wants the Wilayat.’”
Martyr Sayyed Hussain (ra) addresses the Ummah: “We are facing an Wilayat of a different kind. Stand with us all to fight it. It is the Wilayat of Bush. It is the Wilayat of the Jews. It is the Wilayat of the Children of Israel. It is a Jewish-Zionist Wilayat!”
Martyr Sayyed Hussain Badr al-Din al-Houthi (ra) continues: “Why do you close your eyes while you open your eyes to those whose logic is an application of what the Prophet said publicly, in full view and hearing of everyone on this day in the tenth year of the Hijra?”
He asks, “Have the Shi’as brought anything new? Are we bringing anything new that contradicts what the Qur’an suggests, and what the Prophet stated on the Day of Ghadir?”
Martyr Sayyed Hussain (ra) affirms, “We comprehend Wilayat as the only method that can protect the nation from being ruled by the Jews. As for other fabricated concepts, such as the saying ‘Obey the emir, even if he breaks your back, even if he does not follow guidance or practice the Sunnah,’ this only prepares the nation for the Jews to rule it.”
Commenting on the concept of democracy, His Eminence emphasizes that it “is incapable of protecting us from the imposition of American guardianship over us because, first, democracy is their creation, and second, it is a fragile system, devoid of standards or criteria derived from the culture of this nation, its religion, and its Islamic values.”
“Democracy places importance on citizenship, and its constitution pays no attention to any standards or criteria derived from the religion of this nation, from the religion of these Muslims. Rather, the one in charge of this region must be a citizen with an ID card, even if he is Jewish. Democracy itself cannot protect us from the imposition of Jewish authority. Only the culture of the Hadith of Ghadir—I repeat, only the culture of the Hadith of Ghadir—is capable of fortifying this nation so that it does not submit to those who seek to impose their authority upon it, namely the American Jews and Zionists.”
