ziyra

Ziyra, also transliterated as ziyārah, ziyarat, or ziyarah, is a term used in Islamic contexts to denote the act of visiting a sacred place, especially a shrine, tomb, or holy site. The word is derived from the Arabic root ز-ي-ر, meaning to visit or to come to see someone.

In practice, ziyara encompasses both personal acts of devotion and organized pilgrimages to sites associated with prophets, imams, saints, or other revered figures. It is distinct from the obligatory Hajj to Mecca and from Umrah; ziyarat are often local or regional and may be performed at times chosen by the devotee or religious authorities. The scope and acceptability of ziyara can vary across traditions and communities.

Across different Muslim perspectives, there are various texts and practices associated with ziyarat. In Shia Islam, pilgrims may recite prescribed ziyarat prayers when visiting the shrines of Imams and other figures. There are also customary etiquettes, schedules, and rituals connected to visiting sacred sites, with practices differing by country, school of thought, and local tradition.

Transliteration varies by language, leading to spellings such as ziyara, ziarat, or ziyarah. The concept has influenced place names and religious institutions across the Islamic world, and the term appears in historical and contemporary usage in Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Urdu, and other languages.