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54 The Lord Hath Ordained That Those Of You Who Are Able Shall Make Pilgrimage To The Sacred House #32

Categories: NOTES
Sources: The Kitab-i-aqdas

Two sacred Houses are covered by this ordinance, the House of the Bab in

Shiraz and the House of Baha'u'llah in Baghdad. Baha'u'llah has

specified that pilgrimage to either of these two Houses fulfils the

requirement of this passage (Q and A 25, 29). In two separate Tablets,

known as Suriy-i-Hajj (Q and A 10), Baha'u'llah has prescribed specific

rites for each of these pilgrimages. In this sense, the performance of a

pilgrimage is more than simply visiting these two Houses.



After the passing of Baha'u'llah, 'Abdu'l-Baha designated the Shrine of

Baha'u'llah at Bahji as a place of pilgrimage. In a Tablet, He indicates

that the Most Holy Shrine, the Blessed House in Baghdad and the

venerated House of the Bab in Shiraz are consecrated to pilgrimage,

and that it is obligatory to visit these places if one can afford it

and is able to do so, and if no obstacle stands in one's way. No rites

have been prescribed for pilgrimage to the Most Holy Shrine.



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