Of course, the last year of the Prophet’s (sa) life was indeed a consequential one. One of the most notable events that took place that year was the Prophet’s public appointment of Imam Ali (a) as his heir and successor, at Ghadīr Khum.
What is particularly interesting about this event is what some individuals said to Ali at the time, and how some scholars of other schools interpreted those statements.
Here’s an example below.
There is a narration found in a book by al-Dhahabī,66 who is
known for his hostility towards the Ahl al-Bayt (a). In the biography of Abū Ḥ āmid al-Ghazalī, al-Dhahabī mentions in al-Ghazalī’s book Sirr al-ʿĀlamin wa Kashf Mā fī al-Dārayn. In this book, the following Prophetic words are recounted:
Whoever I am his master, then Ali is his master.
The book also says that ʿUmar said to Ali that day,
Congratulations! Congratulations! You have become the master of every male and female believer.
Abū Ḥ āmid commented:
This is acceptance and satisfaction. However, after this, he was overwhelmed by the desire for leadership, to make alliances, and to command and forbid as a caliph. These desires led them to act in contradiction to that statement, so they rejected it and turned their backs on it, selling it for a paltryprice. What a wretched bargain they made!
Al-Dhahabi wrote:
He narrated much of this deceitful talk which the
Imāmiyyah claim. I wonder what his excuse is for this?
Apparently, he recanted and followed the truth, for he is a man of vast knowledge, and Allah knows best.67 It is said that Abū Ḥ āmid al-Ghazalī’s book has been lost and no longer exists, and that he recanted his statement.