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