Sufi Masters and the Creation of Saintly Spheres in Medieval Syria / Daphna Ephrat.

• Author: Ephrat, Daphna.
• Place / Publishing House: Leeds : : Arc Humanities Press, 2020.; ©2020.
• Year of Publication: 2021; 2020
• Edition: 1st ed.
• Language: English
• Series: Medieval Islamicate World Series
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (168 p.)

This study explores the creation of saintly spheres surrounding Sufi masters who functioned as embodiments of Islamic sainthood and imprinted their tangible mark on the land. Situated in the Syrian milieu of the counter-crusader period that was marked by intense religious excitement and re-sanctification of the landscape, the study centres on the role of Sufi saints as revivers of the prophetic legacy and as patrons of fellow believers, and their association with the glorious history of ancient Syrian cities and the expanding sacred landscape. Based upon a variety of literary sources, including hitherto unexplored saintly vitas, the investigation aims to contribute to an understanding of the process through which the religious and charismatic leadership of the venerated shaykhs was sustained and diffused, and their holiness emplaced and commemorated.

Table of Contents

Frontmatter -- CONTENTS -- ILLUSTRATIONS -- ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS -- A NOTE ON TRANSLITERATION, NAMES, AND DATES -- INTRODUCTION -- PART ONE CHARISMATIC MASTERS IN THEIR LOCAL SETTINGS -- Chapter 1 PUTTING DOWN ROOTS -- Chapter 2 SOURCES AND DISPLAYS OF SPIRITUAL AND CHARISMATIC AUTHORITY -- Chapter 3 SUSTAINMENT OF SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP AND LOYALTY: THE SHAYKH IN THE COMPANY OF HIS DISCIPLES -- Chapter 4 EXPANSION OF OPERATION: THE SHAYKH, THE PUBLIC SPHERE, AND THE LOCAL COMMUNITY -- PART TWO EMPLACEMENTS OF AUTHORITY AND HOLINESS -- Chapter 5 THE DEVELOPMENT AND SPATIAL LAYOUT OF PHYSICAL SETTINGS -- Chapter 6 FROM DWELLING PLACES INTO SAINTLY DOMINIONS AND LOCAL SPACES -- Chapter 7 THE GRAVESITE AND THE NEW SACRED LANDSCAPE -- CONCLUSION -- BIBLIOGRAPHY -- INDEX