Baháʼu'lláh decreed pilgrimage in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas to two places: the House of Baháʼu'lláh in Baghdad, and the House of the Báb in Shiraz. In two separate tablets, known as Suriy-i-Hajj, he prescribed specific rites for each of these pilgrimages.[1] It is obligatory to make the pilgrimage, "if one can afford it and is able to do so, and if no obstacle stands in one's way". Baháʼu'lláh has "exempted women as a mercy on His part", though the Universal House of Justice has clarified that women are free to perform this pilgrimage. [3] Baháʼís are free to choose between the two houses, as either has been deemed sufficient. Later, ʻAbdu'l-Bahá designated the Shrine of Baháʼu'lláh at Bahjí (the Qiblih) as a site of pilgrimage. No rites have been prescribed for this.[1]
The designated sites for pilgrimage are not accessible to the majority of Baháʼís, as they are in Iraq and Iran respectively, and thus when Baháʼís currently refer to pilgrimage, it refers to a nine-day pilgrimage that occurs at the Baháʼí World Centre in Haifa and Akká in Israel.[1] This nine-day pilgrimage does not replace pilgrimage to the designated sites for pilgrimage, and it is intended that pilgrimage to the House of the Báb and the House of Baháʼu'lláh will occur in the future.
The House of Baháʼu'lláh in Baghdad, also known as the "Most Great House" (Bayt-i-Aʻzam) and the "House of God," is where Baháʼu'lláh lived from 1853 to 1863 (except for two years when he left to the mountains of Kurdistan, northeast of Baghdad, near the city of Sulaymaniyah). It was located in the Kadhimiya district of Baghdad, near the western bank of the Tigris river.[4] It is designated in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas as a place of pilgrimage and is considered a holy place by Baháʼís.[5]
In 1922[6] the house was confiscated by Shí'ih authorities, who were hostile to the Baháʼí Faith. The Council of the League of Nations upheld the Baháʼí's claim to the house, but it has not yet been returned to the Baháʼí community.[5][7]
In 1942-3 it was damaged by fire in an attack by enemies of the Baháʼí Faith, and in 1955 it was destroyed, but later again restored. In 1979 it was destroyed once more during the Iranian Revolution. In 1981 the site was made into a road and public square.[9]
Current nine-day pilgrimage
Baháʼí pilgrimage locations
The places that Baháʼís visit on the current nine-day pilgrimage at the Baháʼí World Centre include the following.[10] (Baháʼí World Centre buildings contains additional information.)
The nine-day pilgrimage is open only to Baháʼís and their spouses who have applied to go on pilgrimage.[10][30] Due to limited space at the Baháʼí holy sites, a maximum of 500 Baháʼís at one time are allowed to visit Haifa. Baháʼís have to wait up to six years to come and are only allowed to visit again after another five-year wait.[31]
Notes
^ abcdSmith, Peter (2000). "Pilgrimage". A concise encyclopedia of the Baháʼí Faith. Oxford: Oneworld Publications. p. 269. ISBN1-85168-184-1.
^Linda Kay, Davidson; Gitlitz, David (2002). Pilgrimage, from the Ganges to Graceland: an Encyclopedia ABC-CLIO, Santa Barbara. ISBN1-57607-004-2. pp. 48-50.
^Baháʼuʼlláh (1993). The Kitáb-i-aqdas: the Most Holy Book (1st ed.). Wilmette, Ill.: Baháʼí Pub. Trust. p. 193. ISBN0-87743-240-6. OCLC 28181973.
^ abSmith, Peter (2000). "Baghdad: the House of Baháʼu'lláh". A concise encyclopedia of the Baháʼí Faith. Oxford: Oneworld Publications. pp. 66–67. ISBN1-85168-184-1.
^Toynbee, Arnold J. (1935). Survey of International Affairs 1934. London: Oxford University Press. pp. 120–122.
^"Sacred site in Baghdad destroyed". Baháʼí World News Service. 28 June 2013. Retrieved 28 June 2013.
^ abSmith, Peter (2000). "Shiraz: the House of the Báb". A concise encyclopedia of the Baháʼí Faith. Oxford: Oneworld Publications. pp. 314. ISBN1-85168-184-1.
^ abBaháʼí World Centre (2007). "What is pilgrimage?". Baháʼí World Centre. Retrieved 10 August 2008.
^Baháʼí World Centre (2007). "Shrine of Baháʼu'lláh". Baháʼí World Centre. Retrieved 10 August 2008.
^Baháʼí World Centre (2007). "Mansion of Bahjí". Baháʼí World Centre. Retrieved 10 August 2008.
^Baháʼí World Centre (2007). "Shrine of the Báb". Baháʼí World Centre. Retrieved 10 August 2008.
^Baháʼí World Centre (2007). "Mount Carmel". Baháʼí World Centre. Retrieved 10 August 2008.
^Baháʼí World Centre (2007). "Universal House of Justice". Baháʼí World Centre. Retrieved 10 August 2008.
^Baháʼí World Centre (2007). "International Teaching Centre". Baháʼí World Centre. Retrieved 10 August 2008.
^Baháʼí World Centre (2007). "Centre of the Study of the Texts". Baháʼí World Centre. Retrieved 10 August 2008.
^Baháʼí World Centre (2007). "International Archives". Baháʼí World Centre. Retrieved 10 August 2008.
^Baháʼí World Centre (2007). "Monument Gardens". Baháʼí World Centre. Retrieved 10 August 2008.
^Baháʼí World Centre (2007). "Site of the Future Mashriqu'l-Adkhar". Baháʼí World Centre. Retrieved 10 August 2008.
^Baháʼí World Centre (2007). "House of the Master". Baháʼí World Centre. Retrieved 10 August 2008.
^Baháʼí World Centre (2007). "Resting place of Amatu'l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khanum". Baháʼí World Centre. Retrieved 10 August 2008.
^Baháʼí World Centre (2007). "Haifa Pilgrim House". Baháʼí World Centre. Retrieved 10 August 2008.
^Baháʼí World Centre (2007). "10 Haparsim Street". Baháʼí World Centre. Retrieved 10 August 2008.
^Baháʼí World Centre (2007). "4 Haparsim Street". Baháʼí World Centre. Retrieved 10 August 2008.
^Baháʼí World Centre (2007). "Ridván garden". Baháʼí World Centre. Retrieved 10 August 2008.
^Baháʼí World Centre (2007). "House of ʻAbbúd". Baháʼí World Centre. Retrieved 10 August 2008.
^Baháʼí World Centre (2007). "House of ʻAbdu'lláh Páshá". Baháʼí World Centre. Retrieved 10 August 2008.
^Baháʼí World Centre (2007). "Mansion of Mazrai'h". Baháʼí World Centre. Retrieved 10 August 2008.
^Baháʼí World Centre (2007). "Baháʼí pilgrimage Frequently Asked Questions and Answers". Baháʼí World Centre. Retrieved 10 August 2008.
^Saul, Jonathan (27 November 2006). "World's Baha'i connect with past in Israel". Reuters. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
Baháʼu'lláh (1873). The Kitáb-i-Aqdas: The Most Holy Book. Wilmette, Illinois, USA: Baháʼí Publishing Trust. ISBN0-85398-999-0.
Denis MacEoin (1994). Rituals in Babism and Baha'ism. UK: British Academic Press and Centre of Middle Eastern Studies, University of Cambridge. ISBN1-85043-654-1.
Walbridge, John (1996). Sacred Acts, Sacred Space, Sacred Time. Oxford, UK: George Ronald. ISBN0-85398-406-9.
Further reading
Akerdahl, Per-Olof (2000), "Pilgrimage and Religious Identity in the Bahá'í Faith", Lights of Irfan, vol. 1, Wilmette, IL: Irfan Colloquia, pp. 1–20
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Baháʼí institutions and facilities.
Baháʼí Pilgrimage - Baháʼí World Centre
February 21, 2023
baháʼí, pilgrimage, currently, consists, visiting, holy, places, haifa, acre, bahjí, baháʼí, world, centre, northwest, israel, baháʼís, have, access, other, places, designated, sites, pilgrimage, shrine, báb, terraces, baháʼu, lláh, decreed, pilgrimage, kitáb,. A Bahaʼi pilgrimage currently consists of visiting the holy places in Haifa Acre and Bahji at the Bahaʼi World Centre in Northwest Israel Bahaʼis do not have access to other places designated as sites for pilgrimage 1 2 The Shrine of the Bab and its terraces Bahaʼu llah decreed pilgrimage in the Kitab i Aqdas to two places the House of Bahaʼu llah in Baghdad and the House of the Bab in Shiraz In two separate tablets known as Suriy i Hajj he prescribed specific rites for each of these pilgrimages 1 It is obligatory to make the pilgrimage if one can afford it and is able to do so and if no obstacle stands in one s way Bahaʼu llah has exempted women as a mercy on His part though the Universal House of Justice has clarified that women are free to perform this pilgrimage 3 Bahaʼis are free to choose between the two houses as either has been deemed sufficient Later ʻAbdu l Baha designated the Shrine of Bahaʼu llah at Bahji the Qiblih as a site of pilgrimage No rites have been prescribed for this 1 The designated sites for pilgrimage are not accessible to the majority of Bahaʼis as they are in Iraq and Iran respectively and thus when Bahaʼis currently refer to pilgrimage it refers to a nine day pilgrimage that occurs at the Bahaʼi World Centre in Haifa and Akka in Israel 1 This nine day pilgrimage does not replace pilgrimage to the designated sites for pilgrimage and it is intended that pilgrimage to the House of the Bab and the House of Bahaʼu llah will occur in the future Contents 1 House of Bahaʼu llah Baghdad 2 House of the Bab Shiraz 3 Current nine day pilgrimage 4 Notes 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External linksHouse of Bahaʼu llah Baghdad Edit A view of Baghdad in 1855 The House of Bahaʼu llah in Baghdad also known as the Most Great House Bayt i Aʻzam and the House of God is where Bahaʼu llah lived from 1853 to 1863 except for two years when he left to the mountains of Kurdistan northeast of Baghdad near the city of Sulaymaniyah It was located in the Kadhimiya district of Baghdad near the western bank of the Tigris river 4 It is designated in the Kitab i Aqdas as a place of pilgrimage and is considered a holy place by Bahaʼis 5 In 1922 6 the house was confiscated by Shi ih authorities who were hostile to the Bahaʼi Faith The Council of the League of Nations upheld the Bahaʼi s claim to the house but it has not yet been returned to the Bahaʼi community 5 7 The house was destroyed in June 2013 under circumstances that are currently unclear 8 The Universal House of Justice sent a letter to all the National Spiritual Assemblies on 27 June informing them of the house s destruction House of the Bab Shiraz Edit Location of the House of the Bab Shiraz Iran as it appeared in 2008 House of the Bab Shiraz Iran In this house in Shiraz Iran the Bab declared his mission to Mulla Husayn on 23 May 1844 9 In 1942 3 it was damaged by fire in an attack by enemies of the Bahaʼi Faith and in 1955 it was destroyed but later again restored In 1979 it was destroyed once more during the Iranian Revolution In 1981 the site was made into a road and public square 9 Current nine day pilgrimage Edit Bahaʼi pilgrimage locations The places that Bahaʼis visit on the current nine day pilgrimage at the Bahaʼi World Centre include the following 10 Bahaʼi World Centre buildings contains additional information Bahji Shrine of Bahaʼu llah 11 Mansion of Bahji 12 Haifa Shrine of the Bab 13 Bahaʼi Terraces 14 Arc Seat of the Universal House of Justice 15 International Teaching Centre Building 16 Centre for the Study of the Sacred Texts 17 International Archives 18 Monument Gardens 19 Site of the future House of Worship 20 House of ʻAbdu l Baha 21 Resting place of Amatu l Baha Ruhiyyih Khanum 22 Pilgrim Houses Eastern Pilgrim House 23 10 Haparsim Street 24 4 Haparsim Street 25 Akka Garden of Ridvan Akka 26 House of ʻAbbud 27 House of ʻAbdu llah Pasha 28 Mazra ih 29 The nine day pilgrimage is open only to Bahaʼis and their spouses who have applied to go on pilgrimage 10 30 Due to limited space at the Bahaʼi holy sites a maximum of 500 Bahaʼis at one time are allowed to visit Haifa Bahaʼis have to wait up to six years to come and are only allowed to visit again after another five year wait 31 Notes Edit a b c d Smith Peter 2000 Pilgrimage A concise encyclopedia of the Bahaʼi Faith Oxford Oneworld Publications p 269 ISBN 1 85168 184 1 Linda Kay Davidson Gitlitz David 2002 Pilgrimage from the Ganges to Graceland an Encyclopedia ABC CLIO Santa Barbara ISBN 1 57607 004 2 pp 48 50 Bahaʼuʼllah 1993 The Kitab i aqdas the Most Holy Book 1st ed Wilmette Ill Bahaʼi Pub Trust p 193 ISBN 0 87743 240 6 OCLC 28181973 The House of Baha u llah a b Smith Peter 2000 Baghdad the House of Bahaʼu llah A concise encyclopedia of the Bahaʼi Faith Oxford Oneworld Publications pp 66 67 ISBN 1 85168 184 1 Bahaʼi International Community House of Baha u llah seized Toynbee Arnold J 1935 Survey of International Affairs 1934 London Oxford University Press pp 120 122 Sacred site in Baghdad destroyed Bahaʼi World News Service 28 June 2013 Retrieved 28 June 2013 a b Smith Peter 2000 Shiraz the House of the Bab A concise encyclopedia of the Bahaʼi Faith Oxford Oneworld Publications pp 314 ISBN 1 85168 184 1 a b Bahaʼi World Centre 2007 What is pilgrimage Bahaʼi World Centre Retrieved 10 August 2008 Bahaʼi World Centre 2007 Shrine of Bahaʼu llah Bahaʼi World Centre Retrieved 10 August 2008 Bahaʼi World Centre 2007 Mansion of Bahji Bahaʼi World Centre Retrieved 10 August 2008 Bahaʼi World Centre 2007 Shrine of the Bab Bahaʼi World Centre Retrieved 10 August 2008 Bahaʼi World Centre 2007 Mount Carmel Bahaʼi World Centre Retrieved 10 August 2008 Bahaʼi World Centre 2007 Universal House of Justice Bahaʼi World Centre Retrieved 10 August 2008 Bahaʼi World Centre 2007 International Teaching Centre Bahaʼi World Centre Retrieved 10 August 2008 Bahaʼi World Centre 2007 Centre of the Study of the Texts Bahaʼi World Centre Retrieved 10 August 2008 Bahaʼi World Centre 2007 International Archives Bahaʼi World Centre Retrieved 10 August 2008 Bahaʼi World Centre 2007 Monument Gardens Bahaʼi World Centre Retrieved 10 August 2008 Bahaʼi World Centre 2007 Site of the Future Mashriqu l Adkhar Bahaʼi World Centre Retrieved 10 August 2008 Bahaʼi World Centre 2007 House of the Master Bahaʼi World Centre Retrieved 10 August 2008 Bahaʼi World Centre 2007 Resting place of Amatu l Baha Ruhiyyih Khanum Bahaʼi World Centre Retrieved 10 August 2008 Bahaʼi World Centre 2007 Haifa Pilgrim House Bahaʼi World Centre Retrieved 10 August 2008 Bahaʼi World Centre 2007 10 Haparsim Street Bahaʼi World Centre Retrieved 10 August 2008 Bahaʼi World Centre 2007 4 Haparsim Street Bahaʼi World Centre Retrieved 10 August 2008 Bahaʼi World Centre 2007 Ridvan garden Bahaʼi World Centre Retrieved 10 August 2008 Bahaʼi World Centre 2007 House of ʻAbbud Bahaʼi World Centre Retrieved 10 August 2008 Bahaʼi World Centre 2007 House of ʻAbdu llah Pasha Bahaʼi World Centre Retrieved 10 August 2008 Bahaʼi World Centre 2007 Mansion of Mazrai h Bahaʼi World Centre Retrieved 10 August 2008 Bahaʼi World Centre 2007 Bahaʼi pilgrimage Frequently Asked Questions and Answers Bahaʼi World Centre Retrieved 10 August 2008 Saul Jonathan 27 November 2006 World s Baha i connect with past in Israel Reuters Retrieved 29 November 2020 References EditAllen Denny Lesley Taherzadeh 2006 Bahaʼi Pilgrimage Oxford UK George Ronald ISBN 0 85398 487 5 Bahaʼu llah 1873 The Kitab i Aqdas The Most Holy Book Wilmette Illinois USA Bahaʼi Publishing Trust ISBN 0 85398 999 0 Denis MacEoin 1994 Rituals in Babism and Baha ism UK British Academic Press and Centre of Middle Eastern Studies University of Cambridge ISBN 1 85043 654 1 Ruhe David 1983 Door of Hope Oxford UK George Ronald ISBN 0 85398 150 7 Walbridge John 1996 Sacred Acts Sacred Space Sacred Time Oxford UK George Ronald ISBN 0 85398 406 9 Further reading EditAkerdahl Per Olof 2000 Pilgrimage and Religious Identity in the Baha i Faith Lights of Irfan vol 1 Wilmette IL Irfan Colloquia pp 1 20External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bahaʼi institutions and facilities Bahaʼi Pilgrimage Bahaʼi World Centre Photos of the Bahaʼi Holy Places in Israel Map of Haifa Map of Akka Pilgrimage to the House of the Bab Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bahaʼi pilgrimage amp oldid 1114668675, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
