The Relationship between Indian Scholars, Hajj, and Holy Shrines (al-Haramayn al-Sharifayn)

Mecca and Medina, as the origin of the revelation and the most sacred places of worshipping and pilgrimage, have historically been visited by Muslims of different religions. In the present article, the relationship between the Shi'a and Sunni scholars of India and the Holy Shrines, which was carried out in the form of a journey to perform the Hajj and Umrah, to pilgrim the Prophet (S), and visit the scholars living in those two holy places are investigated and the results of these journeys are also discussed. In addition, in this article, the historical texts and some travelogues, especially the history of the Indian scholars, are discussed. Also, those Indian scholars who traveled to Mecca and Medina are identified and the way of their journey and their accomplishments are analyzed. The present article is a descriptive-analytic one and its data collection was conducted in libraries and by software. The result of the research suggests that most of the influential and prominent scholars of India, in spite of their different beliefs and ideologies, found it necessary to take a trip to Mecca and Medina one or more time during their life to perform the Hajj and pilgrimage, to get spiritual benefits, to collect the hadiths of the Prophet (S) and the authentic documents of the hadiths, to enjoy other scientific interests, and to take advantages of the scholars’ knowledge of the land of revelation. Most of the figures surveyed in this research (from the 7th to the 14th centuries) received permission to quote narratives and got the status of caliphate and guidance of people from the masters and scholars living in the Holy Shrines.