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The charm of graves : perceptions of death and after-death among the Negev Bedouin / Gideon M. Kressel, Sasson Bar-Zvi and 'Aref Abu-Rabi'a.

DS113.75 .K74 2014

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Format:: Book
Author/Creator:: Kressel, Gideon M., 1936-
Language:: English
Subjects (All):: Bedouins--Funeral customs and rites--Israel--Negev.; Bedouins.; Bedouins--Israel--Negev--Psychology.; Death--Social aspects--Israel--Negev.; Death.; Funeral rites and ceremonies--Israel--Negev.; Funeral rites and ceremonies.; Mourning customs--Israel--Negev.; Mourning customs.; Death--Social aspects.; Psychology.; Negev (Israel)--Social life and customs.; Negev (Israel).; Israel--Negev.; Israel.
Physical Description:: xix, 228 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm
Place of Publication:: Chicago : Sussex Academic Press, 2014.
Summary:: The authors provide a comprehensive picture of burial, mourning rituals, commemoration practices and veneration of the dead among the Negev Bedouin. A primary emphasis is the pivotal linkages between the living and the dead embodied in the intermediary role of healers, sorcerers, seers and other arbitrators between heaven and earth, who supplicate - publicly and privately - at the gravesite of the chosen awliyyâ (legal guardian). The Charm of Graves brings together integrated findings of three scholars, based on decades of field work that combine close to 65 years of scrutiny. It maps out the locations and particularities of venerated tombs, the identity of the occupants and their individual abilities vis-à-vis the Almighty. Attitudes, beliefs and customs surrounding each gravesite, when combined on a longitudinal scale, reveal changes over time in beliefs and practices in grave worship and burial, mourning and condolence customs. Analysis of the data reveals that the dynamic of grave worship among the Negev Bedouin throws light on ancient traditions in a complex relationship with mainstream Islamic doctrine and the impact of modernity on Bedouin conduct and belief. The authors' observations and interviews with practitioners about their beliefs are compared and augmented with references that exist in the professional literature, including grave worship elsewhere in the Arab world. Author biographies are provided within the book. Book jacket.
Contents:: 1 Death in the Bedouin Tradition 11; The Perception of Death in the Bedouin Tradition 11; Remnants of Canaanitc Beliefs and Rituals: The Sea as a Source of Death and Rebirth 14; Mourning: Bedouin Traditions and Newly Forming Shari'a Conventions 16; When a Death Occurs 17; Funeral Protocols and Practices 18; Mourning Practices upon Returning from the Burial 25; Norms and Practices during Forty Days of Mourning 29; Consoling Mourners 30; 2 Awliyya Graves in the Negev: An Anthropology of Oral Traditions 39; The Grave of'Ali al Muntâr: The Focal Point for Seasonal Gatherings 40; The Graves of Siyâl and al Ma'fat: Foundation Stones for Oath-Taking 42; The Grave of al Fâlûji: The Wall as a Judge 45; The Grave of Sultân 'Abd al Qâder: Repute and Geopolitics 48; The Grave of Sheikh Zuwêd: Universal vs. Tribal Persona 49; The Grave of al Sayid Ahmad al Badawi: The Power to Return Stolen Goods 50; The Grave of Sheikh Nurân: Patron of the Dead Children 51; The Grave of Abu Hurêra: Matchmaker and Patron of the Weak 52; The Grave of al A'sam: Protecting the Well-being of Herds and Peacemaking 55; The Grave of Salmân Abu Sahne: Restorer of Good Health 62; The Grave of al Iberqên: A Destination for Troubled Individuals 64; Sheikh Ibrâhîm Abu Riydsh: A House Invested with Divine Power 65; The Grave of 'Attiya, Maternal Father of al Tarabîn: Blessing of Offspring 67; The Grave of Zana: A Unique Case of Feminine Powers 69; Maq'ad Fatmah Bint al Nabi: A Place Influenced by Feminine Secretive Powers 71; The Grave of al Nabbari: An Avenue to Territorial Rights 72; The Grave of Wall al Nwêmel: Bogus Graves as a Form of Leverage 74; The Grave of Sheikh Hmîd: Endowing Men with Bravery 75; The Grave of Sheikh Mûsi: A Case Where the Narrative Leads 79; The Grave of 'Abd al Bilâl: Fulcrum of Power and Honor for Bedouin of Black African Descent 80; The Grave of Sheikh Mas'ûd: Serving Instrumental and Worldly Objectives 84; Baikal Salman al Malâhi: The Case of Sanctified Dwelling 87; Sidrât Sidnd Mâlek, Sidrât al 'Aribât, and Sidrât al Maghâzi: The Sanctity of Jujube Trees 88; The Grave of Hasan Ibn 'Iyâde: Healer of Livestock 90; The Grave of Hasan 'Id Abu Jrcr: Unique Personality Traits for a Wali 91; Sheikh Abu Jrêr and his sister Sheikha Salima: How the Magic Touch Rubs Off 95; The Grave of Abu Ruwedi: Healer of Men 97; The Grave of Mhammad al Qbâb: Counseling Agnates Prior to Warfare 98; The Graves of Abu Kharuba and al Ghamâri: Protecting the Weak 99; The Grave of al Janiâ'in: How State Entities Weaken the Role of Grave Sites 100; The Grave of Sa'id al Kraishi: A Forgotten Territorial Marker 101; Lesser Hallowed Grave Sites: An Overview: 102; Sheikh 'Amâr; Swêlem, an Elder of al 'Azâzme; 'Etayîq Ibn 'Owde; Frêh Ibn Tûrki; Sheikh Nabhân; Sheikh Hamuda; Abu 'Ubayda; al Khader Abu al 'Abâs; Ahmad al Dajâni; al Nahrûr Abu Khati; al Qdâqbi; Sha'ab al Wali; Sheikh Sâleh; Sheikh Sâleh al 'Uqbi; al Sawâhîn; 3 The Power of Awliyyâ Sites to Help or Cause Harm: An Analysis 112; The Duality of Awliyyâ Perceptions 112; "Inherited" Antipathy 113; Champion of Group Solidarity 113; Defender of Social Status 114; Desecration of Wall Graves 114; The Dynamics of Reciprocity 115; 'Amri: The Embodiment of Evil Intent 116; Dealing with Iniquitous Impulses 116; The Sonne of Evil Intent: Incest 117; Possible Origins of 'Amri's Presence 119; "Threatening" Graves as Social Control 120; The Power of Amulets, Control of Ghosts, and Incantations 121; The Dynamics of Arbitration through the Dead 122; The Dynamics of Situational Veneration 123; Zana: Magnification of a Mystical Setting by a Mystifying Event 124; The House of Sheikh Ibrâhîm Abu Riyâsh 125; 4 Healing Processes and the "World of the Dead" 129; Role of the Danwish 129; Appearance of a Darwish Tradition in the Negev 130; Spiritual Powers and Treatment of Sickness 130; Hereditary Tendencies among Drâwîsh 133; Primary Drâwîsh of the Negev 134; The Psychosocial Essence of Healing 135; The Mechanics of Amulets 136; Use of Magical and Meaningless Words 136; Demons and Mental Illness 137; Treatment of Physical Ailments 137; Sorcery, Sexual Prowess, and Progeny 140; Intentional Acts Using the Evil Eye 142; Concepts of Communing with the "World" of the Dead" 143; Evil Forces: Ghosts, Demons, Satan, and the Angel of Death 144; Perceptions of Mental Disorders 148; Whisperers who Neutralize the Evil Eye 149; Appraisal of the Reputation of Drâwîsh 151; When Drâwîsh Operate as a Group 152; An Evening Together with a Band of Drâwîsh 154; Sanctity as an Inherited Trait 157; al 'Arâf: Master of Divinating the Future 161; Drâwîsh Who Collar Thieves 164; Inherited Mystique and Mentoring 166; Specificities of Negotiating with the World of the Occult 169; Four Specialties of the Occult Practitioners 170; North African vs. Palestinian Practices 171; 'Arâf (Fortune-tellers) and Dajâl (Frauds) 173; The Role of Social Status in Healer-Client Dynamics 174; Defamatory Stories and Rogue Drâwîsh 176; 5 Common Traits Shared by Awliyyâ Graves 180; The Geographical Factor 180; How Cemeteries Develop 181; Visit to a Sacred Grave En Masse (Ziyâra) 182; Gender and Grave Worship 184; Burial among Kin vs. Burial among Non-Agnates 185; The Phenomenology of Hilltop Shuyâh Graves 186; Ranking Graves by their Relative Importance 188; Personifying Awliyyâ Graves as "Brands" 189; Signs of Sanctification that Appear Post-Mortem 192; Shifts in Emphasis from Partisan to Inclusive Ascription 193; The Nature of Pleas that Explain Success or Failure 195; A Closing Note 196; Graveside Protocols 197; Present-day Mourning Customs 199.
Notes:: Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN:: 9781845195847; 1845195841
OCLC:: 841516864

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The charm of graves : perceptions of death and after-death among the Negev Bedouin / Gideon M. Kressel, Sasson Bar-Zvi and 'Aref Abu-Rabi'a.

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