8. 1. Disciplining the body
Internalizing (scriptural) norms
=> (Super)Ego becomes instance of control
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SCRIPTURAL ISLAM AND LOCAL CONTEXT
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10. 1. Disciplining the body
Internalizing (scriptural) norms
=> (Super)Ego becomes instance of control
11. 1. Disciplining the body
Paradigm of sexual morality
Emphasis on morality [over spirituality & external law]
=> ‘Moralization’ of what Islam ‘means’
28. 2. Simplifying the corpus
Greater practical importance of Qur’an & Sunna
Growing importance of the Prophet
Erosion of fiqh / madhhab system
Simplification
Individual decision & responsibility
Right to judge teacher by shari‘a
Later: “Islamic reform”, politicization, “Islamic
economy”, “Islamic science”…
30. 3. Re-
constructing
the comm-
unity
Individual voluntary association
(as opposed to communities into which one is born)
Faith-based supersedes ethnically-based
31. 3. Re-
constructing
communities
New names/types/
self-definitions/
horizons, e.g.:
Tariqa (Muhammadiyya)
34. 3. Reconstructing communities
New names/types/self-definitions/horizons, e.g.:
Tariqa (Muhammadiyya)
Ikhwan, Jama’a, Umma, “Muslim”, “Life Makers”, …
Voluntary, individual religious adhesion
rather than ethnic affiliation
Success often first among peripheral groups,
whose weight they strengthen
different educational background
often younger
often from social/geographical peripheries
‘Creolized’, intermediate communities of discourse
35. 3. Reconstructing communities
New names/types/self-definitions/horizons, e.g.:
Tariqa (Muhammadiyya)
Ikhwan, Jama’a, Umma, “Muslim”, “Life Makers”, …
Voluntary, individual religious adhesion
rather than ethnic affiliation
Success often first among peripheral groups,
whose weight they strengthen
different educational background
often younger
often from social/geographical peripheries
‘Creolized’, intermediate communities of discourse
36. 3. Reconstructing communities
New names/types/self-definitions/horizons, e.g.:
Tariqa (Muhammadiyya)
Ikhwan, Jama’a, Umma, “Muslim”, “Life Makers”, …
Voluntary, individual religious adhesion
rather than ethnic affiliation
Success often first among peripheral groups,
whose weight they strengthen
different educational background
often younger
often from social/geographical peripheries
‘Creolized’, intermediate communities of discourse
37. 3. Reconstructing communities
New names/types/self-definitions/horizons, e.g.:
Tariqa (Muhammadiyya)
Ikhwan, Jama’a, Umma, “Muslim”, “Life Makers”, …
Voluntary, individual religious adhesion
rather than ethnic affiliation
Success often first among peripheral groups,
whose weight they strengthen
different educational background
often younger
often from social/geographical peripheries
‘Creolized’, intermediate communities of discourse
44. INDIVIDUALS
EN MASSE
BODY internalization of norms into the
super-ego of every individual
CORPUS direct, individual access to what
every Muslim needs to know
COMM- individual, voluntary association to
UNITY faith-based communities
45. Internalization of
scriptural norms
18th/19th c. Sufi preaching: growing role of
individual as instance of behavior & belief
control
Obligation to understand primary normative
sources & act accordingly
Right to judge secondary authorities
(Later:) Obligation to judge others as well
46. Rise of the individual (19th c.)
Internalized norm control
Criticism of shaykh if not conforming to
sharia
Fragmentation of authority with individual to
judge & choose
Voluntary adhesion (to shaykh), not group
affiliation (to faki)
47. Individuality (today)
Ever more urgent & conscious attempt to
break free of authoritarian structures
Pursuit of self-expression, individuality,
rational order, “My Islam”
Chatting & discussion of ‘taboo’ topics (sex,
religion, politics), fatwas & councelling, blogs,
personals, …
Market logic; loss of social self-evidence
49. MY Islam
“Don’t blame me by saying <I couldn’t believe that one of “us”
would see this the same way>, because I am simply following
the EXACT rules of Islam. The TRUE Islam as in the message by
prophet Mohammad, not the Islam of the Taliban, Khomeini or
the Brotherhood. The DOCUMENTED Hadeeth (7adeeth sa7ee7)
mentioned the prophet saying support your brother when he is
right or wrong. This is the part you are speaking of, but
DISREGARDING that it has a continuation. When he was asked,
he continued that supporting him when wrong is by stopping and
opposing him and preventing him from his evil. Islam NEVER said
that I support a Moslem in his evil doings. At least MY Islam
never said that.”
“Sameh Arab” <s-arab@menanet.net>, Focus on Egypt, 14 Sep 2001
50. MY Islam
“You mentioned Sh. Qardawy’s statement. Who is Sh. Qardawy?
Isn’t he one like many others, since we have no clergy in Islam?”
“Sameh Arab” <s-arab@menanet.net>, Focus on Egypt, 15 Sep 2001
51. THIS IS MY ISLAM !!!
“what is real islam
salah we soom we zakaah?
da2n we gallabeyya we sewak?
dah el zaher bass
lakin min gowwa eeh ???
islam to me is:
- enn beta3 el fool ya3’sel eedo abl ma ya3mil akl lel nas …
- enn el mowazzaf ma ye2olshy ta3ala bokra 3ashan ye2ra
el gornan…
- enn doctor el gam3a yesalla7 wara2 el talameez be nafso
we ma yeddehoosh lel mo3edeen …”
Wael Abbas <waelabbas@hotmail.com>, 25 Feb 2003
53. New media…
reach new audiences (bodies)
reshape the corpus
create new communities
54. Explosion of writing since 18th c.
Use of vernacular => include periphery
Printing => re-construction of canon
Printed fiction => self-consciousness
Newspapers, radio, cinema, TV, cassettes =>
reshape mass audiences’ culture
Islamic booklets => mass mission
SatTV => erodes state control
Cellphones => independence
Internet => individualization of access
55. Individualization:
Long-term development
with accelerated dynamic
For 250 years at least, “intermediate” cultural
brokers reworked Islamic heritage &
preached it to ever more people
Focus on individual’s responsibility
Media: Acceleration & true mass spread
Synergy
Media & market logic
56. Individualization of understanding
generalization of order
Imitatio Mohammedi = precondition for
individualization of access to & interpretation
of Islamic order
Personalized model of Mohammedan order
Authority subjected to common order
accessible to all
