the Holy Prophet (s) mean political authority or religious and mystical authority did in the event of Ghadir Khum
According to Shiites, there is no doubt that the Wilayah (guardianship/authority) of the Commander of the Faithful that was announced and stressed by the Holy Prophet (s) in the event of Ghadir and on many other occasions before and after Ghadir[1] includes all the cases where the Messenger of Allah (s) maintained wilayah (authority). Considering that the Prophet (s) established and led a government, we entertain no doubt that political authority or discretion over political affairs was one of the main aspects of his authority.
If we are to deal with your question in a more elaborate and detailed manner, we must say that in view of what happened after the Messenger of Allah (s) with the caliphate being denied to its principal owner, it was not justifiable for the general public in the succeeding generations to see the reign of government given to someone else in spite of all the explicit and implicit evidence which proved the right of the Commander of the Faithful, Ali (a.s.) to the caliphate. For this reason, the authors who were inclined to the predominant intellectual cult tried, as far as they could, to avoid mentioning the merits and privileges of the Commander of the Faithful, Ali (a.s) in their works. At times, they have sufficed to mentioning the selected parts, and if there was a mutawatir (narrator by many reporters) tradition which they could not deny, they would embark on justifying and interpreting them in a way such that would fit their own theological dogmas. The Ghadir tradition is one of the traditions mentioned partially in the authentic Sunni books because it was not possible for them to sensor it completely.[2] The explicit statements by the Holy Prophet (s) with reference to the wilayah of Imam Ali (a.s.) are some of the proofs that have been authenticated in most of these books. Obviously, studying a narration with such explicitness and clarity begs the question: Why was Imam Ali (a.s.) denied political leadership despite the Prophet’s sayings? That is where the justification comes to the scene with the wilayah in hadith interpreted as mystical authority or just as mere friendship and love. Such justifications have also been used in regards to other similar traditions. For instance, they say that the Prophet (s) introduced Ali (a.s) like Harun (Aeron). That is to say, Ali (a.s) is the Prophet’s vizier and there is a difference between vizier and successor! Therefore, Ali (a.s) is not the Prophet’s successor, rather he was his vizier during his lifetime and his viziership came to an end with the demise of the Prophet (s)!
Now, regardless of what Shiites believe, we shall, with reliance on Sunni books, discuss the Ghadir issue. In the event of Ghadir Khum, the Prophet (s) first asked Muslims: “Who is more appropriate for authority (awla) over you than yourselves?”
They replied: “God and His Messenger.”
Thereupon, the Prophet (s) declared that Ali (a.s) was like him in all terms. In other words, Ali had the same trait and authority that the Prophet (s) had. He addressed the Muslim gathering as such: “Of whomsoever I am a master, this Ali is his master.” It is interesting to know that following this event, Umar, the second caliph, came forward and said to Ali (a.s.): “Congratulations! You have become our master and the master of every believing man and every believing woman.[3]
Another incident that is also endorsed by Sunni scholars and has been related in their reliable books is the story related to the Battle of Tabook. “The Messenger of God took a journey to Tabook, and he appointed Ali to succeed him in Medina. Ali said to the Prophet: `Do you leave me with the children and the women (and deprive me of taking part in the Jihad)?’ The Messenger replied: `Are you not satisfied to be to me like Aaron to Moses, except that there shall be no Prophet after me?[4] In fact, if the Prophet intended mystical wilayah (authority) in Ghadir, he could not have meant anything but political wilayah.
[1] On Yawm al-Dar, the Day of Mubahalah, the Battle of Tabook, when some individuals objected to the way he led the contingent led to Yemen etc.
[2] See: Ahmad bin Hanbal, Al-Musnad, vol.1, pg. 118 – 119, Dar Sadir, Beirut, Ibn Majah Qazvini, Al-Sunan, vol.1, pp.43-45, Dar al-Fikr, Beirut and Sahih Tirmidhi, 1403 A.H., vol.5, pg. 297, Dar al-Fikr, Beirut.
[3] Ahmad bin Hanbal, Musnad, vol.4, pg. 281, Dar Sadir, Beirut.
[4] Bukhari, Sahih, 1401, A.H., vol.5, pg. 129, Dar al-Fikr, Beirut.