#islamicate

[huzni]

this is probably two questions but feel free to ask however. do you know any queer muslim or middle eastern centered literature? If not, any sci fi literature that incorporates Islam that's not Dune?

Hi!

Yes, I know of a few books on Queer Muslims from the SWANA region, though they are on the academic side of prose and many other fellow Muslims quite probably know about them as well: Female Homosexuality in the Middle East: Histories and Representations by Samar Habib; an essay compilation named Islamic Homosexualities: Culture, History, and Literature edited by Stephen O. Murray (now deceased) and Will Roscoe; and Before Homosexuality in the Arab-Islamic World, 1500-1800 by Khaled el-Rouayheb.

The second one (now perceivably dated, it was published in the late 1990s) isn't a very rewarding reading though, as the editors' understanding of Queerness is a Western modern one, with all of its intersections with Liberal identity politics, orientalist subjecting exoticisation, and expression as an end-in-itself; which is especially noticeable by the treatment given to Lesbian sexualities perhaps coming off as disingenuous for Lesbian Muslimas when compared to how relatable Samar Habib's book might be (and I say "might" because I'd also prefer to read a Lesbian Muslima's take on it to be sure whether I understood it well or not). You could still read it just for the sake of criticism though.

el-Rouayheb's book is the most thorough one out of these three, it draws from many literary genres; but Habib's book is a very worthy (I'd even say necessary) read because of its non-male gazing focus.

I also know about a fiction book, though I know about it only through reviews (it wasn't yet available in digital formats when I first learned about it and haven't looked it up ever since, though I should) and it's not Sci-fi in genre, as I'm admittedly not very knowledgeable about Sci-fi literature generally 😅 It's You Exist Too Much by Palestinian author Zaina Arafat.

The closest to Islamically-themed Sci-fi I could suggest are the Assassin's Creed novel renditions set in SWANA after the Prophet Muhāmmad's ﷺ lifetime, and only insofar as they borrow from Īsma3īlī Shī3īsm: The Secret Crusade, Revelations, The Golden City, and Mirage — Daughter of No One.

When it comes to Islamically-themed Sci-fi fiction, whether containing Queer characters or not in vindicating ways, you're better off assuming there's just about everything to be attempted, due to how much censorship and gate-keeping Islamic media is usually subjected to by both Islamic and non-Islamic institutions unless it helps furthering contemporary imperialism in one way or another. I wouldn't say there is nothing out there (I've got no way to prove it) but that, whatever has actually been released and distributed, is not very well-known due to that.

If anybody else's got anything to contribute to this, you're very much welcomed and encouraged to do so, ٱللَّٰهُمَّ بَارِك.

[pantherasox]

Islamicate Occultsim

As-salamu alaykum

Muslim magic isn’t exactly the right phrase to use here. While many practitioners would be definitely view these practices as modern magick, sihr is technically a no go. That is to say that these two paradigms are working under different definitions. In my definition, magick is the flow of energy around us to enact will. There is nothing about this definition that is inherently shirk. It’s all about how you practice and what you believe that separates you from the religion.

It would be easier to use the word occultism or esotericism when researching.

I will not be sharing my own practice today, as I am not religiously but culturally Muslim. I’m not a “Good Muslim” by any means, and it is my path to decide how I go about my beliefs. Instead, I’ll be sharing my research and key terms I’ve found so you can make your own judgements. As an American placed outside of the culture with maybe two muslim friends, it’s been incredibly hard finding research. Every google search will make you feel shame for your practice being a sin. Magick is all around you in your community, you just have to look with magickal eyes. Any protection you seek from Allah (swt) is magick, is esoteric, is occult.

In the medieval era, esotericism and science were tied together. It was simply understanding the world through Allah (swt). This is a great place to start your research!

If you want to get closer to the Source, look into Sufism. Hermeticism overlaps with Islam. Astrology is alive and well, and has a basis in historic practice. Alchemy is still of use to people as a spiritual practice. These practices are real, and you are not haram.

Need an overall deepdive? Read the works of Dr Liana Saif.  Read the Ghayat Al Hakim (Picatrix). For hands on work, read the Shams Al Ma’arif (Sun of Gnosis), which was partially translated in English not too long ago. Every time you are told to read a surat for specific things, that's magick.

Every day, we get more information as to what the old practices look like. You are not alone.

[hahahakeemu]

I’ve been researching the Mongols in Iran, the Ilkhanate, politics and cultures mixing for a few months now. After I’m done with my in-school work I’ll have to write some more on Khwaja Nasir al-Din al-Tusi. He’s a truly fascinating figure.

[vizu-al]

1969. Kosovo. Prishtina captured by the lense of the australian photographer Ludo Kuipers.

1 - An old bridge and a mosque in a back street of Prishtina. 2- The 15th Century Xhamia e Mbretit (“King's mosque”), also known as the Fatih Mosque or Xhamia e Madhe (“Big Mosque”) in the old city of Prishtina. 3- Washing hands and face, an Islamic requirement before going for prayers in the Big Mosque in Prishtina. 4- A boy on his donkey with the Xhamija e Mbretit (King's mosque) at the end of a narrow street in the old town of Prishtina. 5- A boy rides a donkey along a street in Prishtina, Kosova's capital 6- A crossroad with horses in the old town of Prishtina. 7- A Romani (Gypsy) couple in the old town of Prishtina. 8- A rural scene in the old city of Prishtina. 9- An old Shqiptar (Albanian) man lying on his cart with wood in the old town of Prishtina. 10- Men doing their ablutions before prayers at the fountain in the 15th Century Xhamia e Mbretit (“King's Mosque”), also known as the Fatih Mosque or Xhamia e Madhe (“Big Mosque”) in Prishtina.

[balkanmuslim]

Mitrovice, 1999. Burned Coran salvaged from Haji Vesseeli mosque , set of fire by Serbs. A. Abbass

[pantherasox]

Posted this today. Hope it will be a useful resource to those that need it.

[hahahakeemu]

Medieval Chinese Historian Describes Islam (and their Buddha "Ma Hia Wu") // "Zhu Fan Zhi" (1225)

The first 1000 people to use the link will get a free trial of Skillshare Premium Membership: https://skl.sh/voicesofthepast02211This video was sponsored by ...

I’ve been meaning to look into Islamicate-Chinese interactions (part of what stemmed my research of Muslims under the Mongols), so this video was fascinating. As a side note, it always gives me a chuckle hearing/reading the different ways “Muhammad” might be pronounced.