Anthropology of Islamic Practices and Beliefs
Summary
The anthropology of Islamic practices and beliefs examines the lived expressions of Islam across diverse cultural, social and political contexts. It foregrounds ritual performances, ethical dispositions and the negotiation of religious authority within wider processes of modernity, migration and globalisation. Key concerns include the embodiment of faith through commemorations, daily piety and forms of learning; the shaping of communal identities in diasporic and transnational settings; and the impact of state policies, media and digital technologies on religious knowledge. Ethnographic case studies reveal how Muslim communities reinterpret inherited traditions, forge new networks and engage with broader society. This field highlights the dynamic interplay between local customs and global imaginaries, as well as the role of religious actors—from grassroots preachers to online scholars—in sustaining, contesting or transforming Islamic norms. By exploring variations in gender relations, authority structures and spatial practices, anthropologists shed light on the adaptive capacities of Islam and its significance for social cohesion, political engagement and individual agency.
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Anthropology of Islamic Practices and Beliefs publication trend
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Technical terms
Ethnography: A qualitative research method involving immersive fieldwork to observe and interpret social practices and beliefs within their cultural context.
Piety: Expressions of religious devotion manifested through rituals, ethical conduct and lifestyle choices reflecting personal commitment to faith.
Glocal: A concept denoting the simultaneous interplay of global influences and local practices in shaping religious movements and identities.
Transnational networks: Social and organisational linkages that connect communities and religious authorities across national boundaries, facilitating exchange of ideas and practices.
References
- Ashura in Italy: The Reshaping of Shi’a Rituals. Religions (2019).
- Moral Ambivalence, Religious Doubt and Non-Belief among Ex-Hijabi Women in Turkey. Religions (2021).
- Islamic Religious Authority in Cyberspace: A Qualitative Study of Muslim Religious Actors in Australia. Religions (2022).
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