Pilgrimage (ziyarah) among Muslims—similar to many other religions—is regarded as a devotional act and a means of attaining closeness to God, with the most prominent example being the Hajj. Within the Muslim community, it is particularly the Twelver Shi‘a who, by emphasizing the visitation of their religious leaders and saints, have given this practice distinctive importance.



Given the wide range of sacred sites available to a Shi‘a believer, a central question arises: what criteria and factors shape the choice of a pilgrimage destination? To address this, the present study, employing a descriptive-analytical method with a historical approach, examines and identifies the key components that determine the prioritization of pilgrimage sites.



The findings indicate that the selection of a pilgrimage destination is influenced by a combination of internal and external factors. Among the internal criteria are the spiritual status of the religious figure being visited and the perceived oppression or martyrdom associated with them. The external factors, on the other hand, consist of economic, geographical, and social considerations, such as financial capacity, distance and difficulty of travel, risks of the journey, and environmental insecurities. These external constraints, as acknowledged by religious texts, significantly affect the pilgrim’s decision-making process.



Furthermore, such limitations often direct pilgrims toward alternative forms of maintaining spiritual connection, including proxy pilgrimage (ziyarah by representation), remote pilgrimage, and virtual pilgrimage. These practices serve as adaptive mechanisms that allow believers to sustain devotional ties even when physical travel is restricted.