Mecca and other Cosmological Centres in the Sufi Universe

O'Meara, Simon

Abstract

Cosmological centres are places where different levels of cosmic reality are said to converge and become accessible to the human being. In the Sufi universe, Mecca is the principal place of convergence, but others exist, too, including Medina and Jerusalem. This chapter demonstrates that such places have been ritually replicated in this universe, most especially Mecca.

Citation

O'Meara, S. (2023). Mecca and other Cosmological Centres in the Sufi Universe. In C. Lange, & A. D. Knysh (Eds.), Handbook of Sufi Studies. Vol. 2: Sufi Cosmology (205-233). Brill. https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004392618_012

• Publication Date: Jan 5, 2023
• Deposit Date: Aug 9, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Aug 9, 2021
• Pages: 205-233
• Series Title: Handbook of Oriental Studies. Section 1 The Near and Middle East
• Series Number: 154/2
• Book Title: Handbook of Sufi Studies. Vol. 2: Sufi Cosmology
• ISBN: 9789004389823
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004392618_012
• Keywords: Kaʿba; Mecca; Medina; Jerusalem; Prophet’s tomb; saint’s tomb; Dome of the Rock; cosmogony; pilgrimage; Hajj; ziyāra; navel; omphalos; axis mundi; space; place; sacred and profane; Eliade; arkān; replica.