Salafi Ritual Purity: In the Presence of God (Islamic Studies Series)

This in-depth ethnography of ritual and belief in contemporary Cairo contrasts the concepts and practices of three groups of Sunni Muslims--Sufis, practitioners of magic, and the varied religious groups known as "Islamists." There have been few anthropological studies of purity beliefs and associated ritual behavior in specific Muslim environments, and in this pioneering work Gauvain shows that in Cairene society, purity and practice neither uphold social division nor significantly oppress women. Instead, they represent a flexible fusion of social and moral forces that differ significantly according to the groups and individuals involved.Gauvain, Richard is the author of 'Salafi Ritual Purity: In the Presence of God (Islamic Studies Series)', published 2010 under ISBN 9780710313560 and ISBN 071031356X.