The Analysis of the Hajj Permission Request in the Safavid Era

Numerous significant advancements in various nations have always been rooted in religion and its historical aspects. Meanwhile, Hajj—one of the major obligations of Islam—has occasionally had a significant influence on a range of religious, political, social, and cultural issues in Muslim nations. Because Twelver- imām Shīʿism was made official in Iran during the Safavid era and Sunnis lived nearby during the governance of the Ottoman Turks, the political significance of the Hajj rituals and pilgrimage to the Holy Shrines increased. In addition to being a religious obligation, the Hajj pilgrimage by government officials involved political considerations and required authorization or consent from the kings. This library-based research, which follows a descriptive-analytical approach, aims to analyze the permissions for pilgrimage to the House of God and the Two Holy Shrines during the Safavid-era. It also provides an explanation of why these permissions were obtained or issued, as well as the impact they had on relations between the Iranian and Ottoman governments. According to the research, permission to perform the Hajj pilgrimage was sought from the emir or caliph as early as the first centuries of Islam. During the Safavid period, however, both Iranian and non-Iranian elders and officials sought permission from the kings or high government officials to perform the Hajj for a variety of reasons. Due to both political and non-political factors, the kings occasionally accepted these permissions, but other times they did not permit the voyages.