Author ORCID Identifier
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9456-7312
Abstract
Unsafe pilgrimage is defined a religious journey that may have life risks. From the outbreak of COVID-19, for instance, many people were infected and died, but despite the severe conditions all over the world including Iran, one of the most famous and biggest pilgrimage events was held in Mashhad, Iran. This study tries to explore the causes and motivations of unsafe pilgrimage over the period when COVID-19 was a threat. To do the research, ethnographic method for collecting the data and Colaizzi’s interpretive phenomenological method for analysing the experience of 38 pilgrims doing foot-pilgrimage were used. The results show that among the motivations of participating in the foot-pilgrimage event are: peace seeking, self-knowledge, experiencing a holy suffering, not being afraid of death, preferring pilgrimage to illness, experiencing heavenly sense by seeing the reward of pilgrimage superior to illness, religious unity and solidarity Muslims in difficult conditions, confronting COVID-19 as the enemies’ conspiracy, and believing that the holy shrine is safe from COVID-19. The results showed as well that the unsafe journey and pilgrimage, despite the dangers, provided the ground for increasing religious unity and loyalty among pilgrims; therefore, the desire for performing it in unsafe conditions increases.
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Recommended Citation
Sojasi Qeidari, Hamdollah and jafari, fahimeh
(2026)
"The Reasons and Motivations for Unsafe Pilgrimage During COVID-19: Analysis of Shiite Experiences of Pilgrimage in the Last Days of Safar in Iran,"
International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage:
Vol. 14:
Iss.
3, Article 5.
Available at:
https://arrow.tudublin.ie/ijrtp/vol14/iss3/5