Shiʿi Materiality Beyond Karbala: Religion That Matters (FOUAD GEHAD MAREI, YAFA SHANNEIK, AND CHRISTIAN FUNKE, EDS.)

Abstract

In recent years, the field of Shiʿi studies has undergone a significant transformation, expanding beyond traditional religious, theological, and historical inquiries to encompass a more nuanced exploration of the material and sensory dimensions of Shiʿi religiosity. While earlier scholarship on Shiʿism focused heavily on its foundational texts, rituals, and political movements, there has been a growing recognition of the importance of material culture in shaping religious experience. Shiʿi Materiality Beyond Karbala: Religion That Matters marks a pivotal moment in this scholarly evolution, offering a fresh, interdisciplinary approach to understanding Shiʿi devotion through objects, spaces, substances, and sensory experiences. The volume moves beyond the familiar focus on Karbala and Ashura, turning attention to how materiality mediates the sacred, sustains communal identity, and facilitates encounters with the divine across diverse contexts. By engaging with fields such as Religious Studies, Material Religion, Anthropology of Religion, and Media Studies, this book provides a ground-breaking perspective on the multisensory and material aspects of Shiʿi life, reflecting a much-needed shift in the study of religion and material culture.