Note 54

54. The Lord hath ordained that those of you who are able shall make pilgrimage to the sacred House # 32

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.