Tombs
Definition
In popular Islam and some Sufi orders, tombs (قبر, Turkish: mezar) are sites where believers gather to request barakah (*, بركة), or blessing, from the deceased. Shrines (مقام, Turkish: türbe) are often built over the tombs of famous Sufi leaders and saints, who are believed capable of working miracles.
Structure and Associated Practices
Elaborate tombs, mosques, screens, mausoleums, and funerary sculptures often mark the graves of descendants of the Prophet Muhammad (Ahl al-Bayt, أهل البيت), Shia Imams, and government officials throughout the Islamic world. These shrines serve as pilgrimage sites and cultural landmarks, blending religious practice with local cultural expressions.
Controversies and Criticisms
Revivalist and reformist movements, particularly the eighteenth-century Wahhabis and the twentieth-century Salafis, condemn the veneration of tombs as a heretical innovation (bidah, بدعة). They argue that such practices deviate from the original monotheistic tenets of Islam and could lead to forms of idolatry (shirk, شرك).
Comparison with Standard Muslim Tombs
Contrary to the elaborate shrines associated with saints and significant figures, Muslim tombs are typically simple and unadorned. They often consist of flat grave markers that carry only personal details of the deceased or Quranic verses.
Etymology and Terminology
- Arabic: قبر (qabr) for “tomb”, مقام (maqam) for “shrine”
- Turkish: mezar for “tomb”, türbe for “shrine”
Further Reading
To gain deeper insights into the significance and controversies surrounding tombs in Islam, consider the following works:
- “The Cult of Saints among Muslims and Jews in Medieval Syria” by Josef W. Meri: This book explores the veneration of saints and their tombs in a historical and cultural context.
- “Islamic Radicalism and Global Jihad” by Devin R. Springer: Offers a perspective on the Wahhabi and Salafi movements’ views on tomb veneration.
- “The Mysticism of Sufi Shrines in India: Teachers, Sessions and Poetry” by Miraj Ahmad Sufi: Focuses on the practices around Sufi shrines and their cultural impacts.
Takeaways
- Cultural Significance: The veneration of tombs and shrines is a widespread practice in popular Islam and remains a vibrant part of Sufi traditions.
- Controversy: While revered by many, these practices are criticized by revivalist and reformist groups as bidah or heretical innovations.
- Diversity: The diversity in Muslim burial practices reflects broader theological and cultural dimensions within the Islamic world.
Conclusion
Tombs in Islam serve not just as burial places but also as sites of spirituality, barakah, and cultural significance. Their veneration is a vibrant, yet contested part of Islamic practice, reflecting broader debates about tradition and reform within the Muslim world.
