Ethnographies of Islam: Ritual Performances and Everyday Practices (Exploring Muslim Contexts) - Softcover

Baudouin Dupret; Thomas Pierret; Paulo G. Pinto; Kathryn Spellman-Poots

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0748689842 ISBN 13: 9780748689842

Publisher: Edinburgh University Press, 2013

Synopsis

This book shows how ethnography can create a greater understanding of Islam in particular social contexts. Islam is stereotypically presented as a monolithic civilisation that has stifled the emergence of cultural pluralism and individual freedom. In contrast, this volume showcases the diversity and plurality of Muslim societies. The contributors reflect on how the ethnographic method allows the description, representation and analysis of the social and cultural complexity of Muslim societies in the discourse of anthropology. It shows the benefit of using ethnography as a method to engage with and relate to specific real-world examples. It includes case studies on rituals and symbols in Syria, Tunisia, Damascus, Algeria, Britain, Pakistan, Brazil and Lebanon. It covers practices such as veiling, students' religious practices, charitable activities, law and scholarship in Egypt, Jordan, Turkey and Yemen. *Published in Association with the Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilisations*

About this title

About the Author

Baudouin Dupret is Directeur de Recherche at the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) and Director of the Centre Jacques-Berque in Rabat, Morocco. He is also lecturer in Islamic law at the universities of Louvain and Strasbourg. Thomas Pierret is Lecturer in Contemporary Islam at the University of Edinburgh. Paulo G. Pinto is Professor of Anthropology and director of the Center for Middle East Studies at Universidade Federal Fluminense in Brazil. Kathryn Spellman-Poots is Associate Professor at the Aga Khan University's Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilisations (ISMC).

From the Back Cover

Established in London in 2002, the Aga Khan University, Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilisations aims to strengthen research and teaching about the heritages of Muslim societies as they have evolved over time, and to examine the challenges these societies face in today's globalised world. It also seeks to create opportunities for interaction among academics, traditionally trained scholars, innovative thinkers and leaders, in an effort to promote dialogue and build bridges. Exploring Muslim Contexts Series Editor: Abdou Filali-Ansary This series seeks to address salient and urgent issues faced by Muslim societies as they evolve in a rapidly globalising world. It brings together the scholarship of leading specialists from various academic fields, representing a wide range of theoretical and practical perspectives. 'A collective volume of rare intellectual and methodological coherence... This is a landmark volume that marks the coming of age for the study of Islam through ethnography.' Nile Green, /Anthropos/ (108) This volume explores the ways in which ethnography can create a greater understanding of Islam in particular social contexts. It does so by advancing a pluralistic use of ethnography in research about Islam in anthropology and the other social science disciplines. The contributors have used ethnography to engage with and relate to specific empirical realities in regions around the world. They argue that this approach allows for a more precise and complex understanding of the practices and discourses that constitute social realities constructed and perceived as 'Islamic' by those who live them. Furthermore, the book encourages ethnography in the study of Muslim practices that have seldom been approached in this way. Key Features *Counters political discourses and stereotypical media portrayals of Islam as a monolithic civilsation *Demonstrates the benefit of using ethnography to engage with and relate to specific empirical realities *Includes case studies on rituals and symbols in Syria, Tunisia, Algeria, Britain, Pakistan, Brazil and Lebanon *Covers veiling, students' religious practices, charitable activities, law and scholarship in Egypt, Jordan, Singapore, Turkey and Yemen Baudouin Dupret is Research Director at the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS). Thomas Pierret is a Lecturer in Contemporary Islam at the University of Edinburgh. Paulo G. Pinto is Professor of Anthropology and Director of the Center for Middle East Studies at the Universidade Federal Fluminense, Brazil. Kathryn Spellman-Poots is an Assocoate Professor at the Aga Khan University's Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilisations.

Edition details

• Publisher: Edinburgh University Press
• Publication date: 2013
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0748689842
• ISBN 13: 9780748689842
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 208
• Editor: Baudouin Dupret, Thomas Pierret, Paulo G. Pinto, Kathryn Spellman-Poots