International Conference

The 11th CISMOR Conference on Jewish Studies (CJS11)

“Pilgrimage in Islam”

Date: 2021/12/19 16:00-17:30 (JAPAN) //9:00-10:30 (Israel)
Place: Online (Zoom Platform)
Speaker:
  • Prof. Daniella Talmon-Heller (Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel)
Summary:
Pilgrimage to Mecca, a Qur'anic commandment incumbent on every Muslim who is capable of making the trip, is one of the five "pillars" of Islam. The visitation (ziyara) of other sacred sites – ranging from the tomb of the Prophet Muhammad in Medina to rural shrines dedicated to almost anonymous local saintly figures - became an extremely popular feature of religious life in Muslim societies, especially those under the influence of Sufism. While some Sunni scholars criticized these customs, attacking both their theological underpinning, dubious sources and specific practices, Shi`i scholars endorsed visits to the tombs of the imams and members of their families as venues for intense devotion to the house of Ali. The lecture will present various models of Islamic pilgrimage, as well as the literary genres that document it, encourage it or argue against it.

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