Ziyarat

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Ziyarat is a pilgrimage to sites associated with the Islamic prophet Muhammad, his companions, or other venerated figures in Islamic history, such as Shi'a imams or Sufi saints. It literally means 'meeting'. Sites of pilgrimage include mosques, graves, battlefields, mountains, and caves.

Iranian Muslims use the word "ziyarat" for both the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca and pilgrimages to other sites. Such sites are called "Ziyaratgaah".conThe lesser pilgrimages are not required of Muslims; only the Hajj is required. However, the lesser pilgrimages have often been the only pilgrimage available to many Muslims. Some Muslims believe that if they cannot do the Hajj, a ziyarat to a celebrated shrine can substitute for the Hajj.

Etymology

"Ziyarat" comes from the Arabic word "zur" meaning "to visit". The word is actually pronounced "ziyarah" with a silent 't' at the end but as Arabic is not the first language of most Muslims, the word is commonly pronounced "ziyarat" rather than "ziyarah". It can also be transliterated from Arabic as "ziarah".

Pilgrimage sites

Different Muslim-majority countries, speaking different languages, use different words for these sites.

* Imamzadeh — in Iran, tombs of the descendants of Shi'a Imams
* Dargah (درگاہ, दरगाह) — in South Asia, Iran and Central Asia, tombs of Sufi saints
* Ziyaratkhana — in South Asia (less common)
* Derga or Ziyaret — in Turkey

Sufi places of worship and retreat may be built near the graves of famous Sufi saints; they are often called "khanqahs" or "tekkes".

Sites by country

Afghanistan

* Khwaja 'Abd Allah Ansari shrine, Gazargah
* The Rawze-e-Sharif (Blue Mosque), said to be the grave of Ali ibn Abi Talib; Mazar-i-Sharif
* Khwaja Abu Nasr Parsa shrine, Balkh
* Baba Hatim Ziyarat, Emam Sahib

Algeria

* Othmania Zawia, traditional zaouia established in memory of a saint; Tolga
* Sidi Okba, Tomb of Sidi Okba bin Nafei, the great muslim Commander of Umayyad Forces; Biskra

Bangladesh

*Dargah of Hazrat Shah Jalal, the Dargah (tomb) and Masjid (mosque) of the Turkish Sufi saint Hazrat Shah Jalal; Sylhet

China (People's Republic of)

* Qilghili Keldim of Uighuristan

India

The Ziyarat sites in India are owned and maintained by the waqf Boards of the respective states in which they are located.


*Hazrath Adam(A) landed from paradise to Adam mountain-(Boudh hill)-Sri Lanka-it is nearer to south India.
*Dargah (shrine) of Adam(A)&Hawwa beevi, Mannar-Srilanka-Near to South India
*Dargah (shrine) of Habeel ibn-Adam(A), Rameswaram-Chennai-Tamilnadu
* Dargah (shrine) of Prophet Nooh(A), Manik parvath(Al-joodi hill), Fiazabad, Utter Pradesh
* Dargah (shrine) of Prophet Shees(A), Son of Adam(A), (Al-joodi hill), Fiazabad, Utter Pradesh
* Dargah (shrine) of Prophet Davood(A), (Al-joodi hill), Fiazabad, Utter Pradesh
* Dargahs (shrines) of 40 prophets chalees Ambiya, Baros-Punjab-It revealed by Imam Rabbani
* Imam Rabbani Mujaddid Alfussani(R), Sirhind, Punjab
* Muhammed Maasoom(R), Sirhind, Punjab
* Muhammed Saifudheen(R), Sirhind, Punjab
* Noor Muhammed Badhayooni(R), Delhi
* Muhammed Baqi Billah(R), Delhi
* Shah Valiyullah Dahlavi(R), Delhi
* Khwaja Qutbuddin Bakhtyar Kaki’s shrine near Delhi
* Ali Hamadani(R), Charare-Shereef, Kashmir
* Dargah (shrine) of Ahmed Rida Khan, Bareilly
* Dargah of Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia, Delhi
* Tomb of Amir Khusro, Delhi
* Dargah of Khwaja Sahib, or Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, in Ajmer, Rajasthan
* Dargah of Hussain Tekri in Jaora, Madhya Pradesh
* Hazratbal shrine in Srinagar district, Jammu and Kashmir
* Dargah of Salim Chishti, at Fatehpur Sikri, Uttar Pradesh
* Dargah of Syed Ashraf Jahanghir Semnani, at Kichochashareef, Uttar Pradesh
* Mirsa jan jan& Abdullah janjanbade navas-gulburg
* Hazarath Syed Kareemulla Shah Khadari, Kasmur, Nellore Dist, Andhra Pradesh

* Sheikh Jamaluddin Qutb’s shrine in Haryana
* Shrine of Ibrahim, Bhadreswar, Gujarat
* Jamaludheen Jana, Gujarat
* Valley of Saints, shrines of several Sufi saints and the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, Khuldabad, Maharashtra.
* Darghah of Haji Ali, Mumbai
* Dargah of Makhdoom Ali Mahimi, at Mahim in Mumbai
* Nath-har Ali Badhshah(R), Trichi-Trinapalli, Tamilnadu
* Tameemul Ansari(R), Chennai, Tamilnadu
* Ukkasha(R), Tamilnadu
* Dargah of Nagore, in Tamil Nadu we recommend you to visit [http://www.nagoredargha.com Click here to visit Nagore Dargha Website.]
* Hazrath Haja Sheikh Alavudeen(RA),Paapavoor,Tamilnadu
* Darghah of Sulthan Ibraheem Badushah, Ervadi, Tamilnadu
*Hazrath Hameed Aulia(RA),Kanchipuram,Tamilnadu
*Hazrath Usmaan Aulia(RA),Kanchipuram,Tamilnadu
* Hazrath Syed Moosa Sha Qadiri(RA), Dargah chennai, Tamilnadu
* Dargah of Hazarath Tawakkal Mastan, Bangalore, Karnataka
* Bababudangiri shrine, Chickmagalur, Karnataka
*Darghah of Tippu Sultan(R), Mysore, Karnataka
* Sayyid Muhammed Madani(R), Mangloor, Karnataka
* Sayyid Alavi Mouladdhaveela-MAMBURAM, Malabar, Kerala
* Muhammed Ibn-Alavudheen, Ediyangara, Calicut-Kerala
* Quthubul Aalam Muhammed Abeebacker(R), Madavoor-Calicut, Kerala
* qutubul qadriyya shiekh kamaludheen EK umrar haji al qadri, calicut, kerala
* shiekh jamaludheen EK ahmad haji al qadri muttichoor, thrisur, kerala
* shiekh shaheed aliyul bakari parambil (ra), calicut, kerala
* shiekh ashiq-u-rrasool kundoor abdul qadr musliar al qadri(ra), malappuram, kerala
* qutubul qadriyya shiekh saeed sirajudheen al qadri ailakkad(ra), malappuram, kerala
* kaniyamburam abdurrazak masthan (Ra), kerala
* Malik Ibn Habeeb, Kasargod, Kerala
* Shiekh Abdu Rahiman Naqshbandhi-Khalidi, Tanoor, Kerala
* Shiekh Muhammed Bappu Khalidi-Shaduli, Machingappara-Tirur, Kerala
* Raffi Rifayya-Old Masjid, Calicut, Kerala
* Zainudheen Maqdoom(R)-1, Ponnani, Kerala
* Zainudheen Maqdoom(R)-2, Mini Palli, Shompal
* Abdul Qader Sani-Suharwardhi,, Purathiyil-Kannur, Kerala
* Muhammed Moula- Buqari, Kannur, Kerala
* Sheikh Muhammed Haji Thangal Shaduli, Vadakara-Calicut, Kerala
* Faqeer Shah Baba Qadri Gwalior, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
* Pallipadi Auliya, Ernakulam, Kerala
* Sayyid Hamid Thangal Rifai, Kalamassery, Kerala
* Hazar Deewane- shah kapasan, m.p.
* Sayyid Moulal Bhukhari - Kannur City, Kannur, Kerala
* Valiyullahi (R) - Muttil Juma Masjid, Muttil, Kannur, Kerala
* Valiyullahi (R) - Oliyankara Juma Masjid, Cherukunnu, Kannur, Kerala
* Valiyullahi C M Abubacker Musliyaar (R) - Madavoor, Malabar, Kerala
* Umar Qazhi (R) - Veliyankode, Malabar, Kerala
* Tamim ul Dari (R), Parapalli, Calicut, Kerala

Indonesia

* The tombs of the Wali Sanga
* Tomb of Tuan Guru Syeikh Abdurrahman Siddiq, Riau - frequented by Malays from Indonesia and Malaysia

Iran

Iran's Cultural Heritage Organization lists several hundred "ziyarat-gah" or places of pilgrimage in which a sage, Sufi, Imamzadeh, or Imam were buried in Iran. Some of the more popular ones include:

* Shrine of Bayazid Bistami, Bistam
* Darb-i Imam shrine, Isfahan
* Davazdeh Imam shrine, Yazd
* Fatimah al-Ma'sūmah Mosque, Qum
* Friday Mosque of Shiraz, Shiraz
* Harun-i Vilayat Mausoleum, Isfahan
* Imam Ridha Mosque - a large complex, developed on the burial site of the Eighth Shī`a Imām, 'Ali ar-Ridha, Mashad
* Imamzadeh Saleh, Tehran
* Imamzadeh Husayn, Ardestan
* Imamzadeh Ismail, Ardestan
* Imamzadeh Shah Hussein, Varamin
* Imamzadeh Rabi'a Khatun, Ashtarjan
* Ja'far Imamzadeh, Qum
* Masumzadeh shrine, Damghan
* Pir-e Vaqef shrine complex, Afushteh
* Pir-i Bakran, tomb shrine of Muhammad ibn Bakran, Linjan
* Qadamgah shrine, Qadamgah
* Shah Chiragh shrine complex, Shiraz
* Shah Nur ad-Din Ni'matullah Vali shrine, Mahan
* Shaikh Ishaq Safi shrine, Ardabil
* Shrine complex of Shaykh 'Abd al-Samad, Natanz
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
] , Qom
* Shah-Abdol-Azim shrine of Imamzadeh Hamzeh, Imamzadeh Tahir, and Shah-Abdol-Azim, Rayy

Iraq

* Imam Ali Mosque, the tomb of Ali ibn Abi Talib; Najaf
* Imam Husayn Mosque, the tomb of Husayn ibn Ali, Ali's son; Karbala
* The shrine of Abbas ibn Ali - Brother of Husayn; Karbala
* Al Kadhimiya Mosque, containing the tombs of the Seventh and Ninth Shī`a Imāms: Musa al-Kadhim and Muhammad at-Taqi, Kadhimayn
* Al Askari Mosque, containing the tombs of the Tenth and Eleventh Shī`a Imāms: `Alī an-Naqi and Hasan al-`Askarī; Samarra
* Shrine of Imam Muhammad al-Mahdi, Samarra
* Imam Awn al-Din Mashhad, tomb of Imam Ibn Hassan Awn al-Din; Mosul
* Nabi Jirjis complex, shrine dedicated to Nabi Jerjis (the saint George); Mosul
* Shrine of Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jelani, Baghdad

Israel and Palestinian territories

* Masjid al-Aqsa, built over the spot where Muhammad is said to have prayed before he ascended to the heavens; Jerusalem
* Masjid Sakhra (Dome of the Rock), built over the rock from whence legend holds Muhammad is to have ascended to the heavens; Jerusalem
* Tomb of Bibi Maryam, the mother of Prophet Isa, Jerusalem
* The Cave of Prophets ("ghar al-anbiya"), between Jerusalem and Damascus
* Tomb of Prophet Ezra, between Jerusalem and Damascus
* Tomb of Prophet Moses, 10 miles from Jerusalem
* Tomb of Prophet Abraham, Hebron
* Tomb of Sarah, wife of Prophet Abraham and mother of Prophet Isaac, Hebron
* Tomb of Prophet Isaac, son of Prophet Abraham, Hebron
* Tomb of Rifka, wife of Prophet Isaac, Hebron
* Tomb of Prophet Jacob, son of Prophet Isaac, Hebron
* Tomb of Lanika, wife of Prophet Jacob, Hebron
* Tomb of Prophet Joseph, son of Prophet Jacob, Hebron

Kazakhstan

*Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasavi, Hazrat-e Turkestan (See volume by Privratsky in references.)

Malaysia

* Shrine of Syed Shahul Hamid, George Town, Penang
* Tomb of Ismail Nagore, George Town, Penang
* Tomb of Noordin Sahib, George Town, Penang
* Tomb of Syed Mustapha Idris a.k.a. Dato' Koyah, George Town, Penang
* Tomb of Wali Mohammed Salleh, Batu Uban, Penang - frequented by Naqshabandi Malays.

Mali

* Tomb of Askia, Gao

Morocco

* Complex of Sidi Bul Abbas, of one Marrakech's celebrated seven saints, Marrakech
* Zawiya and Mosque of Moulay Idris II, Fes

Pakistan

* [http://www.yabahu.com Darbar-e-Akbaria Lahore,punjab (Shrines of Hazrat Akbar Sultan R.A and Hazrat Chan Sultan Ameer Afzal R.A)]
* Dargah of Shah Shams Sarwari
* Tomb complex of Lal Mahra, Dera Ismail Khan
* Shrine complex of Mir Ishaq and Mir Aref, Thagas, Pakistan-administered Northern Areas
* Shrine of Sayyed Mohammad Astana, Khapalu, Northwest Frontier Province
* Data Durbar Complex, tomb of Hazrat Ali Hajweri
* Bibi Pak Daman, said to hold the graves of five ladies from the prophet Muhammad's household (Ahl Al-Bayt).
* Golra Sharif, shrine of Pir Meher Ali Shah, Islamabad.
* Mohra Sharif, Murree hills of Punjab.
* Tomb of Baba Shah Jamal, Ichhrah, Lahore.
* Tomb of Lal Shah Baz Qalandar, Sehwan Sharif.
* Peer Makki, Lahore.
* Mian Meer, Cantonment, Lahore.
* Madholaal Hussain, Lahore.
* Moula Kadham
* Baba Mauj Deen, Lahore.
* Baba Bulleh Shah, Kasur.
* Baba Bahauddin Auliya
* Shrine complex of Abdullah Shah Ghazi, Karachi
*Shrine and Mausoleum of Baba Farid-ud-din Ganj-e-Shakar (rz) at Pak-Pattan Sharif
*Shrine of Khwaja Sheikh Pak(RA), Derh PIndi, Lahore.
* [http://www.alrehman.com/origion.htm Shrine of Qalandar Baba Bukhari (Makhdoom Syed Safdar Ali Shah Bukhari (Kakyoon Waali Sarkar)),Lilla Town,Pakistan]

Saudi Arabia

* Prophet's Mosque in Madina; Muhammad is buried here.
* Jannatul Baqee' Cemetery in Madina - graves of: Hasan ibn Ali - the Second Shī`a Imām; Ali Zaynul 'Aabideen - the Fourth Shī`a Imām; Muhammad al-Baqir - the Fifth Shī`a Imām; and Ja'far as-Sadiq - the Sixth Shī`a Imām are buried here; It is also thought that the real grave of Fatimah, daughter of Muhammad, lies here as well.
* Jannatul Mualla Cemetery in Makkah - graves of: Abd Manaf, Hashim, Abdul Muttalib, Abu Talib and Lady Khadija among others, are buried here.
* Hira, the cave where the angel Gabriel is said to have first visited Muhammad.

Singapore

* Shrine of Syed Shahul Hamid
* Tomb of Wali Habib Noh - frequented by Malays and Naqshabandis
* Shrine of Hazrath Habibullah Shah

South Africa

* Tomb ("kramat") of Sheikh Abdul Rahman, Cape Town - venerated by Cape Malays
* Tomb of Sheikh Jaafar, Cape Town - venerated by Cape Malays
* Tomb of Sheikh Mahmood, Cape Town - venerated by Cape Malays
* Tomb of Shaikh Yusuf Faure, Cape Town - venerated by Cape Malays

Sri Lanka

* Jailani, Katharagama - venerated by Sufi Muslims
* Ketchimale, Beruwala
* Devatagaha, Colombo

Syria

* Sayyidah Zaynab Mosque, the tomb of Zaynab, daughter of Ali and Fatimah, Damascus
* Sayyidah Ruqayya Mosque, the tomb of Sukayna, daughter of Husayn - the grandson of Muhammad, Damascus
* Hujr ibn Adi Mosque, the tomb of Hujr - a companion of Ali, in Adra (a small town near Damascus)
* Baab Sagheer Cemetery (also called "Goristan-e-Ghariban") - many famous historical figures, including Umm Kulthum bint Ali and Bilal al-Habashi are buried here, Damascus
* Nabi Habeel Mosque, the tomb of Abel, son of Adam, Damascus
* Araq Tomb, Damascus, dedicated to Suhayb al-Rumi
* Bab al-Hadid, Aleppo
* Bab al-Nasr, Aleppo
* Bab Antakeya, Aleppo
* Hilaliyya Zawiya, Aleppo. Mausoleum for Sheikh Mohammed Hilal Ram Hamdani
* Umayyad Mosque (Jaami al-Amawi), Damascus
* Salera Hill, Damascus

Turkey

* Tomb of Jalal al-Din Muhammad Rumi, Konya

Turkmenistan

* Shrine complex of Jamaluddin, Anau

Uzbekistan

* Saifuddin Bakharzi shrine, Bukhara
* Chupan Ata shrine, Samarkand
* Shah-i-Zinda shrine, Samarkand
* Imam Bukhariy shrine, Bukhara
* Abdukholiq Gijduvaniy shrine, Bukhara
* Orif Revgari shrine, Bukhara
* Anjir Fagnaviy shrine, Bukhara
* Ali Rometaniy shrine, Bukhara
* Boboi Samosiy shrine, Bukhara
* Sayyid Amir Kulol shrine, Bukhara
* Bakhouddin Nakshband shrine, Bukhara
* Shayxul Olam shrine, Bukhara
* Chashmai Ayub shrine, Bukhara
* Piridastgir shrine, Bukhara
* Bandikusho shrine, Bukhara
* Poraduz shrine, Bukhara

Controversies

The majority of the Sunnis believe that visiting the graves of saints should be classified as shirk, or idolatry, and bid'ah, or innovation except the visiting of the tomb of Muhammad in Medina which may be done during Hajj, the Islamic pilgrimage. However, it is not a requirement of Hajj. Even so, the Sunni scholars state that it would be a Shirk act if they communicate directly with the tomb of Muhammad. They point out to the following sayings of Muhammad as an evidence for their belief.

"'Sahih Bukhari Volume 2, Book 23, Number 425: Narrated 'Aisha:

When the Prophet became ill, some of his wives talked about a church which they had seen in Ethiopia and it was called Mariya. Um Salma and Um Habiba had been to Ethiopia, and both of them narrated its (the Church's) beauty and the pictures it contained. The Prophet raised his head and said, "Those are the people who, whenever a pious man dies amongst them, make a place of worship at his grave and then they make those pictures in it. Those are the worst creatures in the Sight of Allah."'

"'From the Sunnah, specifically in the study of the Sunnah called Sahih Bukhari, we find:

[9:93:470] Narrated Mu'adh bin Jabal: The Prophet said, "O Mu'adh! Do you know what Allah's Right upon His slaves is?" I said, "Allah and His Apostle know best." The Prophet said, "To worship Him (Allah) Alone and to join none in worship with Him (Allah). Do you know what their right upon Him is?" I replied, "Allah and His Apostle know best." The Prophet said, "Not to punish them (if they do so)." [4:55:654] Narrated `Umar: I heard the Prophet saying, "Do not exaggerate in praising me as the Christians praised the son of Mary, for I am only a Slave. So, call me the Slave of Allah and His Apostle."'

* “May Allah’s curse be upon the Jews and Christians for taking the graves of their Prophets as places of worship.” [ Sahih Al-Bukhari (Eng. Trans.) vol.1, p.255, no.427 Sahih Muslim (Eng. Trans.) vol.1, p.269, no.1082, Sunan Abu Dawood (Eng. Trans.) vol.2, p.917, no.3221, Sunan an-Nass’ai vol.1, no.115 and others.]

* “...Beware that those before you took the graves of their Prophets as places of worship. Do not take graves as places of worship, for verily I forbid you to do so.” [Sahih Muslim (Eng. trans.) vol.1, p.269, no.1083]

* “The most evil of mankind are those who will be alive when the Last Day arrives and those who take graves as places of worship.” [ Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal (al-Fitan wal-Ashrat as-Sa’aat – the trials and signs of the Hour). See Ahkaamul-Janaa’iz, p.278 ]

* It is also reported in the most authentic books of Sunni Islam that Aa’ishah (wife of Muhammad) reported:

“Had it not been so, his (i.e. the Prophet’s) grave would have been in an open place, but it could not be due to the fear that it could be taken as a mosque.” [Sahih al-Bukhari (Eng. Trans.) vol.2, p.232, no.414, Sahih Muslim (Eng. Trans.) vol.1, p.268, no.1076 and Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal vol.6, no.156-198, vol.8, no.114.]

The Sunni Scholars declare that the purpose of visiting the graves and cemeteries is only to remind people of death and the transitory nature of life.

In many cases, such Muslims who have achieved political power over a country or a region have used that power to prevent ziyarat and even to destroy tombs near which people would pray and make supplications.

In Saudi Arabia, the Guardian of the Two Holy Mosques, attempts to prevent Shi'as and Sufis from performing ziyarat to the graves of nobles (except the tomb of Muhammad) while they are visiting Mecca and Medina during the Hajj. For an example, the Baqi Cemetery, is surrounded by large billboards proclaiming the sinfulness of shirk and grave-worshipping. Visitors are advised to visit the cemetery only to remind themselves of death and the Hereafter.

Note on "the poor man's Hajj"

Apparently there is a folk belief in South Asia that passing through the gate of the Dargah of Khwaja Sahib seven times is equivalent to doing the Hajj. According to the Tribune of India:

: "The “zannati darwaja” is opened only four times in a year during Khawaja’s Urs, on Id-ul-Fitar, Sixth of Id and Bakrid. It is considered by faithfuls that one who passes through the “zannati darwaja” gets his seat reserved in “Zannat” (heaven) after death. Moreover seven rounds of the “Darwaja” gives “sawab” equal to Haj pilgrim. Those who cannot afford to go for Haj come here when the “darwaja” traditionally remains open and pass through it seven times. This is called poor men’s Haj." [http://www.tribuneindia.com/2001/20010707/nation.htm#4]

ee also

*Imamzadeh
*Tablet of Visitation

References

*Privratsky, Bruce G. Muslim Turkistan: Kazak Religion and Collective Memory. Richmond, Surrey: Curzon. 2001.
*Subtelny, M. E. 1989. The cult of holy places: religious practices among Soviet Muslims. Middle East Journal, 43(4): 593–604.

External links

* [http://archnet.org/library/sites/sites.tcl?usage=shrine Archnet shrine directory, with pictures]
* [http://www.al-islam.org/hajj/index.htm Book: Your Personal Guide to UMRA, HAJJ, and ZIYARAT] (pdf file)
* [http://www.imamreza.net/eng/list.php?id=0113 Views held by The Shia on Ziyarat]
* [http://www.al-islam.org/ziyarat/ Listing of ziyarat sites]