ziyarah
Ziyarat (often rendered ziyārah) is an Arabic term meaning visitation. In Islamic usage it refers to pilgrimages or visits to sacred sites, especially the graves and shrines of prophets, revered figures in the Ahl al-Bayt (the Prophet’s family), and other saints or pious individuals, as well as places associated with their lives. Ziyarat is typically voluntary and distinct from the obligatory Hajj and Umrah; it is pursued for spiritual reflection, blessing, and a sense of connection to early Islamic heritage.
Forms and practices vary by tradition. Common elements include traveling to a shrine, praying, reciting Qur’anic
Significance and debates surround ziyarat within Islamic jurisprudence and spirituality. Proponents view it as a way
Notable sites associated with ziayarat include the shrines of Imam Ali in Najaf, Imam Husayn in Karbala,