عنوان

The Islam of "Our" Ancestors:

Number

LA116188

.Language of Text, Soundtrack etc

انگلیسی

Title Proper

The Islam of "Our" Ancestors:

General Material Designation

[Article]

Other Title Information

An "Imagined" Morisco Past Evoked in Today's Andalusian Conversion Narratives

First Statement of Responsibility

Marta Dominguez Diaz

Place of Publication, Distribution, etc.

Leiden

Name of Publisher, Distributor, etc.

Brill

Text of Note

Spain has the highest rates of conversion to Islam in the European Union. A significant proportion of converts live in Andalusia, which was once part of medieval Muslim Spain (al-Andalus). The "Muslim past" is looked to with a burgeoning sense of nostalgia, yet little is known about this romantic longing. Some converts perceive al-Andalus as a glorious epoch marked by religious co-existence (convivencia) and the flowering of Arabic culture, remembering those medieval Muslims who were exiled from Spain or who stayed and practised Islam secretly, and viewing themselves as heirs of these medieval Muslims. Conversion for them is not conversion but a rediscovery of the "truly Muslim nature" of Andalusia. Fundamental to this Andalusian convert discourse is the claim that Islam is not an "imported" religion but a local, indigenous one. An analysis of these Andalusian converts' narratives will contribute to a more nuanced understanding of the current ideological battles over national and religious identity. Spain has the highest rates of conversion to Islam in the European Union. A significant proportion of converts live in Andalusia, which was once part of medieval Muslim Spain (al-Andalus). The "Muslim past" is looked to with a burgeoning sense of nostalgia, yet little is known about this romantic longing. Some converts perceive al-Andalus as a glorious epoch marked by religious co-existence (convivencia) and the flowering of Arabic culture, remembering those medieval Muslims who were exiled from Spain or who stayed and practised Islam secretly, and viewing themselves as heirs of these medieval Muslims. Conversion for them is not conversion but a rediscovery of the "truly Muslim nature" of Andalusia. Fundamental to this Andalusian convert discourse is the claim that Islam is not an "imported" religion but a local, indigenous one. An analysis of these Andalusian converts' narratives will contribute to a more nuanced understanding of the current ideological battles over national and religious identity.

Date of Publication

2013

Physical description

137-164

Title

Journal of Muslims in Europe

Volume Number

2/2

International Standard Serial Number

2211-7954

Subject Term

al-Andalus

Subject Term

conversion to Islam

Subject Term

Islam in Spain

Subject Term

Moriscos

Marta Dominguez Diaz

Call Number

10.1163/22117954-12341261

Electronic name

p

[Article]

275578

a

Y