Ali Muhammad Bab and Hajj in Baha’ism creed

Bahaismiran: Zel-Qa’deh [the eleventh Arabic lunar month] and Zel-Hajjeh [the twelfth one] remind us the great and superb Hajj [pilgrimage to Mecca] and Muslim gathering which is a symbol of Islamic unity. There are many discussion regarding this annual gathering. Here is a discussion about Hajj definition in Baha’ism.

Baha’ism Hajj has been originated from Babism Hajj which is stated by Ali Muhammad Bab in the book “Bayan”. Seyyed Ali Muhammad Bab has appointed his house in Shiraz as Ka’ba for his followers and has stated that it was necessary for his followers to go on a pilgrimage. Bab says in his book: Hajj is necessary for men not women.

He says: Those who visit my house should visit the graves of the first disciples (Horouf Hayy) who were eighteen.

He also believes that it isn’t allowable for the lands near my house to be sold and to be expanded it won’t also allowable for anybody to occupy the nearby lands if the owners aren’t satisfied. A person who visits my Mesghal [unit of weight equal to about five grams] of Gold to my house server and guard as gift. The passengers who come to my house should enjoy and shouldn’t be sad. They should listen to happy music and live in pleasure.

It is Hajj or a journey with living in pleasure. Of course, it is interesting to be said that Bab has ordered for those who live in Islands and should travel to his house by Ship not to be obligatory.

Baha’ism hajj has been originated by Babism one. The difference is that when Mirza Hussein Ali Nouri’s (Bahaullah) house was in Baqdad and Turkey, his house in Baqdad was visited as Kaaba. He writes trip is obligatory for those men who can afford to do this and women have been exempt.

The nature of this kind of Hajj is different from that of monotheist religions. This kind of Hajj invited people to worship a person not to theism.

When Bahaullah died and his body was buried in Bahji palace in AKKA, Israel, this place became a place for Baha’is to visit as their Hajj. This hajj hasn’t any special time or season. Baha’is visit this house whenever they like. However, Bahaullah has ordered his followers to visit his house once a year.