Muslim Pilgrimage in Europe

<p>In spite of Islam’s long history in Europe and the growing number of Muslims resident in Europe little research exists on Muslim pilgrimage in Europe. This collection of eleven chapters is the first systematic attempt to fill this lacuna in an emerging research field. </p><p></p><p>Placing the pilgrims’ practices and experiences centre stage scholars from history anthropology religious studies sociology and art history examine historical and contemporary <i>hajj</i> and non-<i>hajj</i> pilgrimage to sites outside and within Europe. Sources include online travelogues ethnographic data biographic information and material and performative culture. The interlocutors are European-born Muslims converts to Islam and Muslim migrants to Europe in addition to people who identify themselves with other faiths. Most interlocutors reside in Albania Bosnia-Hercegovina Italy France the Netherlands Great Britain and Norway. </p><p></p><p>This book identifies four courses of developments: Muslims resident in Europe continue to travel to Mecca and Medina and to visit shrine sites located elsewhere in the Middle East and North Africa. Secondly there is a revival of pilgrimage to old pilgrimage sites in South-eastern Europe. Thirdly new Muslim pilgrimage sites and practices are being established in Western Europe. Fourthly Muslims visit long-established Christian pilgrimage sites in Europe. These practices point to processes of continuity revitalization and innovation in the practice of Muslim pilgrimage in Europe. Linked to changing sectarian political and economic circumstances pilgrimage sites are dynamic places of intra-religious as well as inter-religious conflict and collaboration while pilgrimage experiences in multiple ways also transform the individual and affect the home-community.</p>