Was Ali Designated as the Successor of the Prophet of Islam at Ghadir Khumm?

"Whoever I am their master, Ali is also their master." This statement by the Prophet of Islam made in the tenth year of Hijra at Ghadir Khumm has since been a decisive point of contention among Sunni and Shia Muslims. Sunnis and some Shia scholars argue that this statement does not imply the leadership and caliphate of Ali, the first Imam of the Shia. However, their opponents consider the mastership referred to by the Prophet as the infallible successor. This week, Abdul Fattah Khedmati, a Sunni religious scholar, and Hojjat al-Islam Zakariya Mashkoor Kabuli discuss this issue. Khedmati states that some argue that the hadith of Ghadir does not imply Ali's caliphate and succession. He emphasizes that to understand the cause of the Ghadir event, one must refer to the story before the pilgrimage. The Prophet (peace be upon him) sent Ali to Yemen to bring back war spoils to Medina. During this trip, companions of Ali, including Buraydah Aslami, had disputes with him. Buraydah claims he complained to the Prophet, who expressed his dissatisfaction with those complaining about Ali. After the pilgrimage, while returning to Medina, they stopped at a place called Ghadir Khumm, which was not a deliberate stop. Khedmati argues that this stop was like others made by the Prophet and that over a hundred thousand people were present during this event. He claims that the Prophet did not gather people to designate his successor but rather made a statement that does not refer to succession. In response, Mashkoor Kabuli challenges Khedmati's interpretation, stating that historical records indicate Ali's trip to Yemen occurred two years prior to the Ghadir event, making it implausible for the Prophet to have waited two years to clarify any accusations against Ali. He argues that no narrators of the Ghadir hadith have mentioned that the Prophet gathered people to address any allegations related to Yemen. The discussion continues with Khedmati questioning the meaning of the term "master" (mola) and asserting that it does not imply succession. Mashkoor Kabuli counters that many historical figures, including Ali and his descendants, have referenced the Ghadir event to assert Ali's leadership. The debate highlights differing interpretations of Islamic history and the significance of the Ghadir event in determining leadership within the Muslim community.