…the House of the Báb in Shíráz and the House of Bahá’u’lláh
in Baghdád. Bahá’u’lláh 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 Súriy-i-Hájj (Q and A 10), Bahá’u’lláh 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 Bahá’u’lláh, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá designated
the Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh at Bahjí as a place of pilgrimage. In a Tablet, He
indicates that the “Most Holy Shrine, the Blessed House in Baghdád and the
venerated House of the Báb in Shíráz” 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.
- The Universal House of Justice (The
‘Notes’ section of the Kitab-i-Aqdas)
