In the shadow of the prophet martial arts and sufi mysticism in Malaysia

This is the first in-depth study of the Malay martial art, silat, and the first ethnographic account of the Haqqani Islamic Sufi Order. Drawing on 12 years of research and practice in Malaysia, Singapore, and England, social anthropologist and martial arts expert D.S. Farrer considers Malay silat th...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autor principal: Farrer, Douglas S. (-)
Formato: Libro electrónico
Idioma:Inglés
Publicado: New York : Springer 2009.
Edición:1st ed. 2009.
Colección:Muslims in global societies series ; 2.
Materias:
Ver en Biblioteca Universitat Ramon Llull:https://discovery.url.edu/permalink/34CSUC_URL/1im36ta/alma991009454804806719
Descripción
Sumario:This is the first in-depth study of the Malay martial art, silat, and the first ethnographic account of the Haqqani Islamic Sufi Order. Drawing on 12 years of research and practice in Malaysia, Singapore, and England, social anthropologist and martial arts expert D.S. Farrer considers Malay silat through the transnational Sufi silat group called Seni Silat Haqq, an off-shoot of the Haqqani-Naqshbandi Sufi Order. This account combines theories from the anthropology of art, embodiment, enchantment, and performance to show how war magic and warrior religion amalgamate in traditional Malay martial arts, where practitioners distance themselves from “becoming animal” or going into trance, preferring a practice of spontaneous bodily movement by summoning the power of Allah. Silat and Sufism are revealed through the social dramas of 40-day boot-camps where Malay and European practitioners endeavor to become shadows of the Prophet, only to have their faith tested through a ritual ordeal of boiling oil. The unseen realm and magical embodiment is further approached through an account of Malay deathscapes where moving through the patterns of silat summons the spirits of ancestral heroes. Those interested in Malaysia, Sufism, transnational Islam, and the study of religion, conversion, magic, sorcery, theatre and martial arts will find this book indispensable. "the eagerly awaited monograph on the practice of silat" Joel S. Kahn "No other work on silat has achieved this level of inside understanding" Roxana Waterson.
Notas:Description based upon print version of record.
Descripción Física:1 online resource (322 p.)
Bibliografía:Includes bibliographical references (p. 285-302) and index.
ISBN:9781282236967
9786612236969
9781402093562