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Baháʼí pilgrimage

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The Shrine of the Báb and its terraces.

A Baháʼí pilgrimage currently consists of visiting the holy places in Acre and Haifa at the Baháʼí World Centre in Northwest Israel. Baháʼís do not have access to other places designated as sites for pilgrimage.[1][2]

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.

Demolished pilgrimage sites

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House of Baháʼu'lláh, Baghdad

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Main article: Bayt-i-'Aẓam

House of the Báb, Shiraz

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Main article: Báb's house

Current nine-day pilgrimage

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Baháʼí pilgrimage locations

The places that Baháʼís visit on the current nine-day pilgrimage at the Baháʼí World Centre include the following.[4] (Baháʼí World Centre buildings contains additional information.)

Bahjí:

Haifa:

Akká:

The nine-day pilgrimage is open only to Baháʼís and their spouses who have applied to go on pilgrimage.[4][24] 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.[25]

Future pilgrimage sites

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Main article: Shrine of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá

A new shrine in Acre, Israel is under construction since 2019, where the remains of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá will be reinterred. This place will serve as a pilgrimage site for the Baháʼís in the future.

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b c d Smith, Peter (2000). "Pilgrimage". A concise encyclopedia of the Baháʼí Faith. Oxford: Oneworld Publications. p. 269. ISBN 1-85168-184-1.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ Baháʼuʼlláh (1993). The Kitáb-i-aqdas: the Most Holy Book (1st ed.). Wilmette, Ill.: Baháʼí Pub. Trust. p. 193. ISBN 0-87743-240-6. OCLC 28181973.
  4. ^ a b Baháʼí World Centre (2007). "What is pilgrimage?". Baháʼí World Centre. Retrieved 10 August 2008.
  5. ^ Baháʼí World Centre (2007). "Shrine of Baháʼu'lláh". Baháʼí World Centre. Retrieved 10 August 2008.
  6. ^ Baháʼí World Centre (2007). "Mansion of Bahjí". Baháʼí World Centre. Retrieved 10 August 2008.
  7. ^ Baháʼí World Centre (2007). "Shrine of the Báb". Baháʼí World Centre. Retrieved 10 August 2008.
  8. ^ Baháʼí World Centre (2007). "Mount Carmel". Baháʼí World Centre. Retrieved 10 August 2008.
  9. ^ Baháʼí World Centre (2007). "Universal House of Justice". Baháʼí World Centre. Retrieved 10 August 2008.
  10. ^ Baháʼí World Centre (2007). "International Teaching Centre". Baháʼí World Centre. Retrieved 10 August 2008.
  11. ^ Baháʼí World Centre (2007). "Centre of the Study of the Texts". Baháʼí World Centre. Retrieved 10 August 2008.
  12. ^ Baháʼí World Centre (2007). "International Archives". Baháʼí World Centre. Retrieved 10 August 2008.
  13. ^ Baháʼí World Centre (2007). "Monument Gardens". Baháʼí World Centre. Retrieved 10 August 2008.
  14. ^ Baháʼí World Centre (2007). "Site of the Future Mashriqu'l-Adkhar". Baháʼí World Centre. Retrieved 10 August 2008.
  15. ^ Baháʼí World Centre (2007). "House of the Master". Baháʼí World Centre. Retrieved 10 August 2008.
  16. ^ Baháʼí World Centre (2007). "Resting place of Amatu'l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khanum". Baháʼí World Centre. Retrieved 10 August 2008.
  17. ^ Baháʼí World Centre (2007). "Haifa Pilgrim House". Baháʼí World Centre. Retrieved 10 August 2008.
  18. ^ Baháʼí World Centre (2007). "10 Haparsim Street". Baháʼí World Centre. Retrieved 10 August 2008.
  19. ^ Baháʼí World Centre (2007). "4 Haparsim Street". Baháʼí World Centre. Retrieved 10 August 2008.
  20. ^ Baháʼí World Centre (2007). "Ridván garden". Baháʼí World Centre. Retrieved 10 August 2008.
  21. ^ Baháʼí World Centre (2007). "House of ʻAbbúd". Baháʼí World Centre. Retrieved 10 August 2008.
  22. ^ Baháʼí World Centre (2007). "House of ʻAbdu'lláh Páshá". Baháʼí World Centre. Retrieved 10 August 2008.
  23. ^ Baháʼí World Centre (2007). "Mansion of Mazrai'h". Baháʼí World Centre. Retrieved 10 August 2008.
  24. ^ Baháʼí World Centre (2007). "Baháʼí pilgrimage Frequently Asked Questions and Answers". Baháʼí World Centre. Retrieved 10 August 2008.
  25. ^ Saul, Jonathan (27 November 2006). "World's Baha'i connect with past in Israel". Reuters. Retrieved 29 November 2020.

References

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Further reading

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  • 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
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