Shadows of the Prophet: Martial Arts and Sufi Mysticism (Muslims in Global Societies Series)

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Product Description

This is the first in-depth study of the Malay martial art, silat, and the first ethnographic account of the Haqqani Islamic Sufi Order. Drawing on 12 years of research and practice in Malaysia, Singapore, and England, social anthropologist and martial arts expert D.S. Farrer considers Malay silat through the transnational Sufi silat group called Seni Silat Haqq, an off-shoot of the Haqqani-Naqshbandi Sufi Order.

This account combines theories from the anthropology of art, embodiment, enchantment, and performance to show how war magic and warrior religion amalgamate in traditional Malay martial arts, where practitioners distance themselves from "becoming animal" or going into trance, preferring a practice of spontaneous bodily movement by summoning the power of Allah. Silat and Sufism are revealed through the social dramas of 40-day boot-camps where Malay and European practitioners endeavor to become shadows of the Prophet, only to have their faith tested through a ritual ordeal of boiling oil. The unseen realm and magical embodiment is further approached through an account of Malay deathscapes where moving through the patterns of silat summons the spirits of ancestral heroes.

Those interested in Malaysia, Sufism, transnational Islam, and the study of religion, conversion, magic, sorcery, theatre and martial arts will find this book indispensable.

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Shadows of the Prophet: Martial Arts and Sufi Mysticism (Muslims in Global Societies Series) Review

Wow, is all I can say! This book is an incredible work of research. This book takes you into the world of not only the martial art Penjak Silat but also into the workings of the Sufi religion of Malaysia as well as Malaysian culture and idiosyncracies. Farrer is not someone who examines it from the outside, he actually practices for many years the martial art with dozens of teachers in Malaysian and England gathering vast amounts of inner stories, techniques and philosophies of the teachers. He then combines his findings into a well laid out plan of how the art is taught and passed on from generation to generation.

The Sufi religion can seem very complex and hidden from those outside but Farrer divulges the very unknown inner workings of the religion focusing on the Nasqbandhi branch of the Sufi Path. This Path is also made more complex by the interlinked teachings which combine with Silat to make a whole body, mind and spiritual tradition in the Malaysia.

Farrer takes complete notes of his deep connection with multiple teachers examining their personal take on the religion, martial art, and spiritual traditions of Malaysian. Malaysia has a very complex system of spiritualism that many might think is only shamanistic/animistic/Pagan in origin but with the onset of Islam much of that became banned and a new form of mysticism came about and Farrer examines many traditions and approaches to practicing this indigenous belief system that later adapts much of Islam as is framework but retaining many "older" beliefs and magical practices.

Even though I paid alot for this title, I actually believe it was worth it. There is literally not a single title that has been written on these subjects which have been combined into such a great solid well reseached read. If your interested in the world of Malaysian culture, martial arts, Islamic mysticism and Sufi tradition this book is the bible for it.

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