Sensing Islam: Engaging and Contesting the Senses in Muslim Religiosity, by Simon Stjernholm
摘要
“Sensing Islam, Engaging and Contesting the Senses in Muslim Religiosity,” which offers an innovative approach to studying Islamic religiosity by integrating sensory studies, ethnography, and media analysis to reveal how material culture and embodied experiences shape Islamic devotional practices beyond textual dimensions. Structured as four thematic essays, the book combines ethnographic observations of the Naqshbandi-Haqqani Sufi order with analyses of contemporary Muslim oratory in Scandinavian contexts. Stjernholm’s interdisciplinary methodology, grounded in sensory studies, explores how Muslims approach God through different prayer forms, engage with the Prophet Muhammad through devotional practices, relate to Islamic saints through hagiographies and pilgrimages, and utilize voice and listening in religious contexts. By foregrounding materiality and sensory engagement, Stjernholm successfully demonstrates how embodiment constitutes a central element of Muslim religiosity often overlooked in approaches that prioritize political or theological dimensions. The book makes a significant contribution by bridging traditional Islamic studies with research on Muslims in European minority settings, revealing how classical devotional practices continue to engage Muslims across contexts. Stjernholm’s work ultimately enhances our understanding of how sensory engagement shapes Islamic experiences and traditions, both historically and in contemporary practice.