Declaration – 11 Dhu al-Qa‘dah 1409 (1989-06-15)

Instruction from His Holiness Haj Sultan Husayn Tabandeh, Reza Ali Shah
To the Brothers and Sisters Traveling to Visit the Sacred Shrine in Bidokht

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To inform the faithful brothers and sisters, their attention is drawn to the following points, which they are asked to observe and implement with care:

1. Gentlemen among the fuqara and visitors traveling to Bidokht to visit the sacred shrine must observe all religious decorum with the utmost diligence. That holy place is designated for worship, and no behavior contrary to that should occur.
2. Both gentlemen and ladies must make every effort to preserve religious dignity and adhere strictly to the ordinances of sacred law, avoiding anything that contradicts the commandments of God, His Messenger (peace be upon him), and the purified Imams (peace be upon them). Their conduct should be exemplary and a model for others, earning the pleasure of God and His Messenger.
3. Sisters and women who visit the sacred courtyard and shrine must take great care in maintaining proper Islamic dress and veiling. Any failure in this regard could result in divine accountability, disrespect toward the sacred site, and public criticism. Wearing a chador brings added respect to the sanctity of the location.
4. Visitors, pilgrims, and those residing in the courtyards must keep their rooms and the entrance areas clean and orderly to avoid complaints. They must especially supervise their children.
5. The furnishings provided in the rooms are endowed to the shrine and must be protected. Upon departure, visitors must return all items to the custodian. If anything is broken or missing, they should replace it before leaving. If they borrowed anything from others, they must return it to the rightful owner to avoid dissatisfaction and dishonor.
6. The shrine custodians must treat visitors with respect and uphold their dignity. However, if any inappropriate behavior is observed, they should issue a warning to preserve the sanctity of the sacred place. If visitors ignore the warning, the shrine’s registrar—on my behalf—is authorized to notify them to stop the inappropriate conduct. If the behavior continues, they must be instructed to leave the shrine and courtyard promptly.