The Health of the Iranian Pilgrims During Land and Sea Trips Based on the Hajj Travelogues Written in the Qajar Era

Writing travelogues flourished throughout the Qajar era, particularly during Naser al-Din Shah’s rule. Writing about the journey of the Hajj was one of the most essential topics for travelogues. Keeping pilgrims healthy while they were performing the Hajj rituals and keeping them safe from getting sick were crucial during this time. Public health and hygiene during the journey did not receive enough attention over the long run. As a result, there was a higher chance of getting sick, spreading more viruses, and occasionally even pilgrims’ deaths while traveling for the Hajj. Therefore, the pilgrims encountered numerous difficulties on their journey. Enjoying travelogue sources and other publications, this article follows a historical-descriptive approach to discuss the Iranian pilgrims’ health while traveling by land and sea. The article reveals that the pilgrims’ major problems during the Hajj were health and treatment concerns. The lack of doctors and medical facilities for the pilgrims during the journey and in Mecca and Medina, along with irregularities and carelessness of personal hygiene, sometimes resulted in infectious and chronic diseases of the pilgrims. As a result, they either perished on the way or suffered from these endured illnesses.