Abstract
Assemblage theory complicates an already extensive literature on religious urbanity, cultural heritage, the social construction of space and the power of place. Nevertheless, the concept can be applied to social and religious history in locations such as West Asia. As this paper argues, avoiding dichotomous and politicised treatments of Karbala in dynamics of the Sunni–Shia divide and debates concerning the so-called “Karbala Paradigm”, the “Ashura Assemblage” demonstrates how space contributes to the reproduction of collective Shiʿi identity in Karbala. It outlines aspects of territoriality and sacralised Shiʿi rituals, tracing constantly recurring connections between various sacred spots, spaces and places of ritual. This study then illustrates how collective Shiʿi identity is mnemonically connected to Ashura-oriented spaces. This study utilises representational tools such as maps and diagrams to depict Karbala’s religious urban landscape. Ethnographic fieldwork and an array of primary and secondary source research uncover granularities in the Ashura Assemblage, suggesting a more prominent role for interpretive approaches to atomistic assemblages of urban religious spaces.
Highlights
Karbala and Karbala theEvents and the of Ashura Events of Ashura
“Karbala is the noblest region of the earth, and the most honourable place on earth, where your grandson [Imam al-Husayn] and his people would be martyred”
Imam to al-Husayn’s encampments, encampments, (b) representation historical (b) meeting historical meeting relevant places torelevant to (a) Imam al-Husayn’s encampments, (b) historical meeting places relevant to Ashura, identity, cultural heritage and pilgrimage
Summary
“Karbala is the noblest region of the earth, and the most honourable place on earth, where your grandson [Imam al-Husayn] and his people would be martyred”. This study examines Karbala’s unique major and minor sacred pilgrimage spaces and how they reproduce collective transnational Shi i identity. As space historically informed by memory, myth, pilgrimage, ritual and culture, relevant to the historical events of. Shi i spiritually imbue landscape locus informs the space’s ideological representation as a bala is culturally imbue constructed by the collective consciousness. Shii cultural landscape locus informs the space’s ideological ural heritage and pilgrimage. As space historically informed by memory, myth, pilgrimage, ritual and produces valuesspirituality and religious traditions and inspiresShii individual human spirituality and experience. (b) historical meeting places relevant to Ashura, identity, cultural heritage and pilgrimage. Ideological fabric of Karbala’s cultural mam al-Husayn’s encampments, historical meeting places relevant tosecond-rate. These ns and reminders of Imam al-Husayn and the events include (a) Imam al-Husayn’s encampments, historical meeting places relevant to
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
