Voices of Sorrow and Joy : Cultivating Relations with the Unseen in Muslim Devotion
(2022) In Cultural Anthropology 37(4). p.625-652- Abstract
- The Family of the Prophet Muhammad holds a central position in Shiʿi Muslim religiosity. As immaterial beings able to intercede in this world, they are said to be witnessing and co-present in the lives of Muslims. Anthropology has neglected relations with immaterial more-than-human beings like these. Instead of regarding them merely as symbols or moral exemplars, this essay focuses on the cultivation of relations of intimacy with them through the devotional practice of vocal recitation. In eastern Turkey, gatherings of celebration and mourning are held throughout the year to commemorate the earthly deaths and birthdays of these figures. The climax of such occasions is marked by the recitation of various genres of lament or praise. This... (More)
- The Family of the Prophet Muhammad holds a central position in Shiʿi Muslim religiosity. As immaterial beings able to intercede in this world, they are said to be witnessing and co-present in the lives of Muslims. Anthropology has neglected relations with immaterial more-than-human beings like these. Instead of regarding them merely as symbols or moral exemplars, this essay focuses on the cultivation of relations of intimacy with them through the devotional practice of vocal recitation. In eastern Turkey, gatherings of celebration and mourning are held throughout the year to commemorate the earthly deaths and birthdays of these figures. The climax of such occasions is marked by the recitation of various genres of lament or praise. This essay uses audio examples and focuses on these recitations to demonstrate how their vocal and discursive features offer ways for Muslims to cultivate love and intimacy to live life alongside these immaterial more-than-human beings. (Less)
- Abstract (Swedish)
- Abstract in Turkish
Hazreti Muhammed’in ailesi (Ehl-i Beyt), Şii mezhebi inancında merkezi bir konuma sahiptir. Bu dünyada şefaat edebilecek gayri maddi varlıklar olarak, Müslümanların hayatlarına tanık oldukları ve onlarla birlikte bulundukları söylenir. Ne yazık ki antropolojide, bu gibi gayri maddi ve insan-ötesi varlıklarla ilişkiler ihmal edilmektedir. Bu makale, insan-ötesi varlıkları sadece birer simge veya ahlâki model olarak görmek yerine, onlarla ilahi ve mersiye okumanın aracılığıyla kurulan yakınlık ilişkilerine odaklanmaktadır. Türkiye’nin Doğu Anadolu Bölgesi’nde, Ehl-i Beyt İmamların şehadet ve doğum günlerini anmak için yıl boyunca kutlama ve eza meclisleri düzenlenmektedir. Bu tarz merasimlerin zirvesi ise... (More) - Abstract in Turkish
Hazreti Muhammed’in ailesi (Ehl-i Beyt), Şii mezhebi inancında merkezi bir konuma sahiptir. Bu dünyada şefaat edebilecek gayri maddi varlıklar olarak, Müslümanların hayatlarına tanık oldukları ve onlarla birlikte bulundukları söylenir. Ne yazık ki antropolojide, bu gibi gayri maddi ve insan-ötesi varlıklarla ilişkiler ihmal edilmektedir. Bu makale, insan-ötesi varlıkları sadece birer simge veya ahlâki model olarak görmek yerine, onlarla ilahi ve mersiye okumanın aracılığıyla kurulan yakınlık ilişkilerine odaklanmaktadır. Türkiye’nin Doğu Anadolu Bölgesi’nde, Ehl-i Beyt İmamların şehadet ve doğum günlerini anmak için yıl boyunca kutlama ve eza meclisleri düzenlenmektedir. Bu tarz merasimlerin zirvesi ise çeşitli ağıt veya ilahi türlerinin okunmasıyla gerçekleşir. Bu makalede sesli örnekler kullanılmaktadır ve kayıtlara odaklanılmıştır. Bunların yanı sıra mersiyelerin ses ve söylemsel özelliklerinin, Müslümanların Ehl-i Beytin yanında yaşamak, onlarla sevgi ve yakınlık ilişkileri geliştirmek için ne tarz yollar açtığı tartışılmaktadır. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/1dc070c6-de93-4c4c-909e-4a51930301a7
- author
- Williamson Fa, Stefan LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2022-12-12
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- sound, voice, Shi'a, Islam, religion, More-than-human, Turkey, Middle East
- in
- Cultural Anthropology
- volume
- 37
- issue
- 4
- pages
- 28 pages
- publisher
- American Anthropological Association
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:85142223916
- ISSN
- 0886-7356
- DOI
- 10.14506/ca37.4.02
- project
- Alterumma - Creating an Alternative umma: Clerical Authority and Religio-political Mobilisation in Transnational Shii Islam
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 1dc070c6-de93-4c4c-909e-4a51930301a7
- date added to LUP
- 2022-11-09 16:12:51
- date last changed
- 2023-08-14 11:47:25
@article{1dc070c6-de93-4c4c-909e-4a51930301a7,
abstract = {{The Family of the Prophet Muhammad holds a central position in Shiʿi Muslim religiosity. As immaterial beings able to intercede in this world, they are said to be witnessing and co-present in the lives of Muslims. Anthropology has neglected relations with immaterial more-than-human beings like these. Instead of regarding them merely as symbols or moral exemplars, this essay focuses on the cultivation of relations of intimacy with them through the devotional practice of vocal recitation. In eastern Turkey, gatherings of celebration and mourning are held throughout the year to commemorate the earthly deaths and birthdays of these figures. The climax of such occasions is marked by the recitation of various genres of lament or praise. This essay uses audio examples and focuses on these recitations to demonstrate how their vocal and discursive features offer ways for Muslims to cultivate love and intimacy to live life alongside these immaterial more-than-human beings.}},
author = {{Williamson Fa, Stefan}},
issn = {{0886-7356}},
keywords = {{sound; voice; Shi'a; Islam; religion; More-than-human; Turkey; Middle East}},
language = {{eng}},
month = {{12}},
number = {{4}},
pages = {{625--652}},
publisher = {{American Anthropological Association}},
series = {{Cultural Anthropology}},
title = {{Voices of Sorrow and Joy : Cultivating Relations with the Unseen in Muslim Devotion}},
url = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/154426387/Voices_of_Sorrow_and_Joy.pdf}},
doi = {{10.14506/ca37.4.02}},
volume = {{37}},
year = {{2022}},
}