A Shia Muslim scholar says Islam’s Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) used the Ghadir Khumm event to enlighten people about the characteristics of a qualified leader that can be trusted with the management of a society, and thus the joyous occasion belongs to everyone in the world, not just Shias or other Muslims.

Eid al-Ghadir belongs to everyone in the world, not only Muslims, not only Shias. It’s a festivity, it’s an Eid, that all mankind should celebrate, Mehdi Taeb, the founder of al-Qaim Seminary from Qom, told Press TV’s Spotlight program on Wednesday.

Eid al-Ghadir, held on the 18th of the Muslim month of Dhu Al-Hijjah, is amongst the most significant feasts of Shia Muslims. On this occasion, almost 1400 years ago, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) appointed Imam Ali (AS) as his successor.

If we want to understand the significance of the message of this occasion, we have to look at our lives today. One of the major problems that we are suffering from, that everybody in the world is suffering from right now, is the mismanagement in the world, is having corrupt leaders in the world, he said.

Taeb argued that even the so-called superpowers in the world are rife with mismanagement and misleading their nations, as politicians and the rich exploit resources for their own benefits.

On the day of Ghadir, the Prophet of God, by the order of God, made something clear for people; that leadership has qualifications, has qualities that have to be there for a leader to be eligible and qualified to be chosen as a leader, he said.

The Shia cleric noted that one cannot just simply follow someone because he is popular or famous.

You cannot just follow someone because he is rich or from the party of the rich, he said. You have to find qualities and conditions in a person to be able to choose him as a leader.

And if you choose a leader who is not qualified for leading the people, you will end up losing everything; you won’t be able to have a peaceful life, and you won’t be able to achieve the goals that are there for you to achieve in this life, Taeb added.

Imam Ali’s religious authority a role model for all world

Morteza Agha-Mohammadi, a researcher in strategic studies from Johannesburg, also spoke about the significance of the occasion, saying, What is important is that all people, Muslims and non-Muslims, can benefit from the religious authority of Amir al-Mu’minin (AS).

Actually, ‘Vali’ or ‘Guardian’ is the one who has two important faculties and calibers and capabilities with him, as Allah has these two, he said.

Agha-Mohammadi explained that one of the functions of Vali is that he is more knowledgeable about the well-being of mankind and helps people flourish.

Vali is the one who has the knowledge to lead you the best for developing and flourishing man’s potentialities, he added.