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Karamah (‘marvel’) : an exploration of the literal and ethnographic meaning of miracles among Shi`a female artists in Kuwait

Al-Hudaid, Nada LU (2020) In World Art 10(1). p.145-159
Abstract
This position paper examines new forms of painted artworks made by pious Shi`a female artists in Kuwait, which treat imagery and experience known as Karamah (sing.) and Karamat (pl.), commonly understood as ‘miracle'. I examine current anthropological considerations of ‘miracle' and I find that the most suitable translation of the Arabic word Karamah may be ‘marvel', rather than ‘miracle', although how Shi`a use and understand ‘Karamah' may differ regionally. Fieldwork interviews and ethnography reveal that the paintings objectify the relationship between people and the family members of the Prophet Mohammed known as Ahl Al-Bayt. I argue that the new forms and, increasingly, exhibitions comprise important forms of ‘service’ dedicated to... (More)
This position paper examines new forms of painted artworks made by pious Shi`a female artists in Kuwait, which treat imagery and experience known as Karamah (sing.) and Karamat (pl.), commonly understood as ‘miracle'. I examine current anthropological considerations of ‘miracle' and I find that the most suitable translation of the Arabic word Karamah may be ‘marvel', rather than ‘miracle', although how Shi`a use and understand ‘Karamah' may differ regionally. Fieldwork interviews and ethnography reveal that the paintings objectify the relationship between people and the family members of the Prophet Mohammed known as Ahl Al-Bayt. I argue that the new forms and, increasingly, exhibitions comprise important forms of ‘service’ dedicated to Ahl Al-Bayt. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
miracles, karamat, shia, Islamic art, materiality of Ahl al-Bayt, religious art
in
World Art
volume
10
issue
1
pages
145 - 159
publisher
Routledge
external identifiers
  • scopus:85155709243
ISSN
2150-0908
DOI
10.1080/21500894.2020.1735502
project
Alterumma - Creating an Alternative umma: Clerical Authority and Religio-political Mobilisation in Transnational Shii Islam
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
fa92e0e4-e8fd-484b-ae36-e9939866e52b
date added to LUP
2022-05-24 00:37:42
date last changed
2023-07-12 04:00:10
@article{fa92e0e4-e8fd-484b-ae36-e9939866e52b,
  abstract     = {{This position paper examines new forms of painted artworks made by pious Shi`a female artists in Kuwait, which treat imagery and experience known as Karamah (sing.) and Karamat (pl.), commonly understood as ‘miracle'. I examine current anthropological considerations of ‘miracle' and I find that the most suitable translation of the Arabic word Karamah may be ‘marvel', rather than ‘miracle', although how Shi`a use and understand ‘Karamah' may differ regionally. Fieldwork interviews and ethnography reveal that the paintings objectify the relationship between people and the family members of the Prophet Mohammed known as Ahl Al-Bayt. I argue that the new forms and, increasingly, exhibitions comprise important forms of ‘service’ dedicated to Ahl Al-Bayt.}},
  author       = {{Al-Hudaid, Nada}},
  issn         = {{2150-0908}},
  keywords     = {{miracles; karamat; shia; Islamic art; materiality of Ahl al-Bayt; religious art}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{03}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{145--159}},
  publisher    = {{Routledge}},
  series       = {{World Art}},
  title        = {{Karamah (‘marvel’) : an exploration of the literal and ethnographic meaning of miracles among Shi`a female artists in Kuwait}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/121228410/RWOR_A_1735502.pdf}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/21500894.2020.1735502}},
  volume       = {{10}},
  year         = {{2020}},
}