ISLAM
What is Islam?
Islam “submission [to God]” is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion that, at its core, teaches the oneness of God (Allah), and that Muhammad is his final messenger. Islam teaches that God is merciful, all-powerful, and unique and has guided mankind through prophets, revealed scriptures, and natural signs, among other attributes.
The primary scriptures of Islam are the Quran, believed to be the verbatim word of God, as well as the teachings and normative examples (sunnah, hadith) of Muhammad.
Islam also teaches a final judgment with the righteous rewarded in paradise and the unrighteous punished in hell. Religious concepts and practices include the Five Pillars of Islam, which are obligatory acts of worship, as well as following Islamic law (sharia), which touches on virtually every aspect of life and society; Islam originated in the early 7th century in the Arabian Peninsula and by the 8th century, it extended from Spain in the west to the Indus River in the east..
Most Muslims are of one of two denominations: Sunni (75–90%) or Shia (10–20%). Their differences arose from a disagreement over the succession to Muhammad and acquired broader political significance, as well as theological and juridical dimensions.
On a broader scale we can consider different movements related to a certain degree with Islam :
- Some minority denominations ( Ibadi, Mahdavia etc)
- Some movements (Druze, Berghouata , Ha-Mim), which either emerged from Islam or came to share certain beliefs with Islam and whether each is a separate religion or a sect of Islam is sometimes controversial
- Sikhism, founded by Guru Nanak in late-fifteenth-century Punjab, incorporates aspects of both Islam and Hinduism.
- Alevism which incorporates Turkish beliefs present during the 14th century, such as Shamanism mixed with Shias and Sufi beliefs, adopted by some Turkish tribes.
- Sufism is a mystical-ascetic approach to Islam that seeks to find a direct personal experience of God. It is not a sect of Islam and its adherents belong to the various Muslim denominations.
However popular devotional practices such as veneration of Sufi saints have faced opposition
Islam and Dancing
There are no known references to dance in pre-Islamic Arabia, although nomad tribes were probably acquainted with dance.
There is no mention of dancing in the Quran. The “Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal” hadith relates that one day Prophet Muhammad and his wife Aisha saw a group of Abyssinian Christians performing a modest dance inside a mosque, and watched without objection.
Islamic scholars are divided whether muslims are allowed to dance. Some –based on the above hadith – consider that this is possible under several conditions (no alcohol, no gender mixing, no effeminate moves, and no excess).
Others consider that dance is prohibited because there is no testimony that Prophet Muhhamad danced.
We must also consider that due to the theological question of human portrayal and its connection with idolatry, the performing arts have traditionally been regarded by the faithful with more than usual caution
The Islamic peoples themselves seem to have developed dance less than they did with music or architecture, and, in addition to medieval Islam’s cool attitude toward dance and theatre as art forms, it must be added that most women, leading a life of seclusion, could hardly be expected to play an active part in them, except in private and exclusive gatherings.
Nevertheless, there has been an active tradition of folk dance in most Islamic countries, in addition to dancing as an entertainment spectacle and, particularly in Persia, as an art form.
A ritual dance was instituted in the Sufi mystical order of the Mawlawiyyah (Mevleviyah) in Turkey; performed by dervishes (members of the mystical order), it is considered to be a manifestation of mystical ecstasy
On the occasion of CID’s 53d World Congress in Dance Research in Nassau , Bahamas , religious leaders of the french city of Bordeaux were asked about the relation between dance and their religion by Evelyne VAITY and Severine Boston CID Members. Imam Tarek Oubrou pointed out the possible relation of dance and the gesticulation of muslim prayer as well asthe cicular pilgrimage around Kaaba
Suggested Readings
Islamic Arts Dance and Theater Britannica On Line
Are Muslims Allowed To Dance? Wahington Post (view points of american muslim scholars)
Is dancing forbidden in Islam? If so, why? Quora (view points of Muslims and non Muslims)
The question of dance and Islam is also treated in many Muslim websites
Sacred dances in Muslim Countries
These dances are done collectively and practiced during religious festivals like Ramadan.
They are principally related to Sufism and their forms vary according to the cultural heritage and beliefs of each country
There are different forms of sacred dance including Hadra Aïssawiwa , and Halqa(Morocco) , Gnaouas (Maghreb), Zar (Egypt), Dikr(Chechenia), or Sama (Turkey , Syria)…
In North Africa and particularly Maghreb there is a great number of this type of dances
See Sufi Brotherhoods and Trance Ceremonies in the Maghreb by Amel Tafsout
Top Image : Inscription on the prophetic mission of Muhammad Credit : Opera AddOn Wallpaper
