Excellent4.8 out of 5On Trustpilot
  1. Theology Books/
  2. World Religions

Shurat Legends, Ibadi Identities

Martyrdom, Asceticism, and the Making of an Early Islamic Community

by Adam Gaiser

  • Hardback
  • 232 pages
  • Publisher: University of South Carolina Press
  • 15 x 22.7 x 2.1 cm

£52.00

Free UK Delivery

Out of stock.

Buying for a school or church? Upgrade to a FREE Eden Advance Account

Free delivery on orders over £10

In Shur't Legends, Ib Identities, Adam Gaiser explores the origins and early development of Islamic notions of martyrdom and of martyrdom literature. He examines the catalogs or lists of martyrs (martyrologies) of the early shur't (Kh?rijites) in the context of late antiquity, showing that shur't literature, as it can be reconstructed, shares continuity with the martyrologies of earlier Christians and other religious groups, especially in Iraq, and that this powerful literature was transmitted by seventh century shur't through their successors, the Ib iyya. Gaiser examines the sources of poems and narratives as quasi-historical accounts and their application in literary creations designed to meet particular communal needs, in particular, the need to establish and shape identity.Gaiser shows how these accounts accumulated traits such as all-night prayer vigils, stoic acceptance of death, and miracles- of a wider ascetic and apocalyptic literature in the eighth century, including martyrdom narratives of Eastern Christianity. By establishing focal points of piety around which a communal identity could be fashioned, such accounts proved suitable for use in missionary activity in North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. Gaiser also documents the reshaping of these narratives for more quietist purposes: emphasizing moderated rather than violent action, diplomacy, and respect for other Islamic sects as also being monotheistic, rather than condemning them as sinful.Along with refashioning narratives, Gaiser details the Ib efforts to compile collections into genealogies, both biographical dictionaries and lineages of the true faith linking individuals and communities to local saints and martyrs. He also shows how this more nuanced history led to the formation of rules and authorities governing the shur?t. Employing rarely examined manuscript materials to shed light on such processes as identity formation and communal boundary maintenance, Gaiser traces the course by which this martyrdom literature and its potentially dangerous implications came to be institutionalized, contained, and controlled."

  • Author

    Adam Gaiser

  • Book Format

    Hardback

  • Publisher

    University of South Carolina Press

  • Published

    October 2016

  • Weight

    340g

  • Page Count

    232

  • Dimensions

    15 x 22.7 x 2.1 cm

  • ISBN

    9781611176766

  • ISBN-10

    161117676X

  • Eden Code

    4457042

Over 14,000 churches and schools have upgraded to an Advance Account and we‘d love to welcome you into this free program. We know that church volunteers and school teachers often use their own money, then have claim it back on on an expense form. We can take all of that hassle away by invoicing your church or school directly and delivering your order straight away.

Opening an account is quick and easy, with most accounts being approved and setup within a few hours of filling in the form below (on weekdays, not weekends). As soon as we‘ve approved the application we‘ll send you an email to let you know that its done.

Upgrade to a FREE Eden Advance Account
Write a review
      Ask a question