Sacred Space

O'Meara, Simon

Abstract

This exploratory chapter proposes that the term sacred space is a misnomer in the Islamic context, since the binary concept of sacred and profane does not exist in premodern and earlier Islamic culture. Instead, the chapter argues, one should talk of opened space: space that is opened by rewardable, ritualised actions. This opened space draws the ritual actant into momentary engagement with the divine other world for the potential accrual of rewards. Lastly, the chapter discusses ritualised actions meant exclusively for the pilgrimage in Mecca but performed elsewhere, too, because of their presumed efficacity in opening space in this potentially rewarding way.

Citation

O'Meara, S. (2022). Sacred Space. In O. Leaman (Ed.), Routledge Handbook of Islamic Ritual and Practice. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003044659-30

• Acceptance Date: Mar 21, 2025
• Publication Date: Jun 9, 2022
• Deposit Date: Aug 9, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 1, 2022
• Publisher: Routledge
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Book Title: Routledge Handbook of Islamic Ritual and Practice
• ISBN: 9780367491239
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003044659-30