Abstract
This paper questions how religious identity between Sunni and Shia Muslims are shaped in the Gulf area from the culinary cultural perspective, taking an example of the distinctively Shia ritual, ashura, in Bahrain and Kuwait. In order to bring the less highlighted issues to the forefront, this paper firstly examines different food regulations of Sunni and Shia Muslims and their different perspective on ashura observance. Second, by comparing Shia Muslims in Bahrain and Kuwait and their social affiliation, this paper will discuss what role politics play in shaping religious identity and culinary culture. The two countries represent two very different examples of Sunni and Shia Muslim identity in the Gulf region. The minority Sunni and the majority Shia Muslims are antagonistic in the former case, whereas the majority Sunni and the minority Shia Muslims are cooperative in the latter case. The study shows in conclusion that food itself does not represent different religious identity between the two Islamic sects. It is rather politics and economic availability which have significant influence on shaping Shia Muslims' identity.
Published Version
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