Animal Sacrifice and the Origins of Islam

Description

Islam is the only biblical religion that still practices animal sacrifice. Indeed, every year more than a million animals are shipped to Mecca from all over the world to be slaughtered during the Muslim Hajj. This multi-disciplinary volume is the first to examine the physical foundations of this practice and  the significance of the ritual. Brannon Wheeler uses both textual analysis and various types of material evidence to gain insight into the role of animal sacrifice in Islam. He provides a 'thick description' of the elaborate camel sacrifice performed by Muhammad, which serves as the model for future Hajj sacrifices. Wheeler integrates biblical and classical Arabic sources with evidence from zooarchaeology and the rock art of ancient Arabia to gain insight into an event that reportedly occurred 1400 years ago. His book encourages a more nuanced and expansive conception of “sacrifice” in the history of religion. Cover Half-title Title page Copyright information Contents Preface Introduction: William Robertson Smith and the First Camel Sacrifice Camel Sacrifice of St. Nilus Sacrifice and the Totem Meal Sacrifice in Leviticus Sacrifice and Social Differentiation Outline Notes 1 Animal Sacrifices in the Life of the Prophet Muhammad What Animal Sacrifices Did the prophet Muhammad Perform? Pre-Islamic Ḥajj and ʿUmrah Sources and Questions Notes 2 Burials of Camels at the Tombs of Warriors Camel Sacrifice and Funerals Camel Sacrifice and Burial Horse Sacrifice and Burials Sacrifice and Social Origins Camel as Epitome Notes 3 Pagan Origins of Muslim Ḥajj Sacrifice Acquisition Islamic Sacrifices and Hunting Rituals Quzah as a Storm God From Rain to Resurrection Notes 4 Abraham as the Originator of the Ḥajj Sacrifice Abraham and Islam Arab Abraham Abraham as Pastoral Culture Hero Conclusions Notes 5 Distribution of the Body of the Prophet Muhammad Gift of the Body Special Body of prophet Muhammad Substitution Distribution of Body Parts Conclusions Notes 6 Martyred Bodies and the Demarcation of Territory Tombs of Prophets Mecca as a Graveyard Martyrdom as Replication and Spread of Cosmogonic Self-Sacrifice Bodies in Enemy Lands Manning Garrisons Blood and Body Parts Leaving Bodies in the Land Bodies and Shields and Weapons Rushing into Enemy Ranks Martyrdom Is Not Suicide Ritual Repetition of the Prophet Muhammad's Sacrifice Conclusions Notes Conclusions: Sacrifice and Nostalgia for the Origins of Religion Combat and Self-Sacrifice What Is Sacrifice? Nostalgia and the Origins of Religion Practice of Sacrifice Notes Bibliography Index