The 9th of Rabi al-Awwal is a day of great status for the Household of infallibility
and purity, peace be upon them, as they consider this day one of the greatest Eids. This is
evident as the Imams, peace be upon them, used to hold celebration gatherings. Not only
that, but they used to order their Shia and their followers to take that day as Eid and
celebrate. The status of that day has reached a very high position that the Imams, peace
be upon them, has identified that day as ‘The second Ghadeer’, considering that Eid al-
Ghadeer is considered the greatest Eid.
To prove the greatness of that day, we will mention this one hadith reported by
the great scholar, Allamah Muhammad Baqir al-Majlisi, may Allah bless his soul:
“On the author of Muhammad ibn al-Alaa al-Wasiti and Yahya ibn Muhammad ibn
Jareeh al-Bagdadhi, they said: ‘We engaged in debates over the situation of Ibn al-
Khattab and became confused over this matter so all of us went to Ahmad ibn Ishaq al-
Qomi, a companion of Imam Abi Hassan al-Askari (Imam al-Hadi), peace be upon him,
in the city of Qom. We knocked on his door, and a young Iraqi girl answered the door.
We asked her about him, she responded: ‘He is busy, as today is a day of Eid.’
We said: ‘Subhan’Allah! The Shia have four Eids: al-Adha, al-Fitr, al-Ghadeer, and
Fridays.’
She said: ‘Ahmad ibn Ishaq narrates from his Master Abi Hassan, Ali Ibn Muhammad al-
Askar (al-Hadi), peace be upon them, that this day is a day of Eid, and it is among the
greatest of Eids for the Ahlulbayt, peace be upon them, and for their followers.’
We said: ‘Ask him for permission to enter his house, and tell him where we are’.
She then went inside and told him. He came out wearing nice clothes, wiping his face.We criticized him for this. He said to us: ‘Nothing is on you, I was doing ghusul as today
is a day of Eid.’
We asked: ‘Today is a day of Eid?’
He said: ‘Yes.’ And it was the 9th of Rabi al-Awwal. He welcomed us into his house and
sat us on a cushion.