Historical Insights into âMutuality of Beingâ: Marshall Sahlinsâs Kinship Theory in Early and Classical Islam
In: Medieval EncountersSearch for other papers by John Nawas in
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Abstract
This article delves into social group structures, examining them through the prism of kinship ties. At the core of our exploration is Marshall Sahlinsâs definition of kinship as âmutuality of being,â which will be elaborated towards the articleâs conclusion. We home in on the first four centuries of Islam (approximately 600â1000 CE), a pivotal era marked by shifts in social affiliations and loyalties. Initially, âmutuality of beingâ was deeply influenced by patron-client relationships, known as the Islamic patronate (walÄʾ). Yet, by the eraâs end, âmutuality of beingâ evolved to resonate more with affiliations to one of the three major Islamic currents or their subsets: Kharijite, Shiite, or Sunnite Islam. Our objective is to dissect the societal transformations during this period, from a Muslim society anchored in Arab tribal loyalty to one gravitating towards the aforementioned religious currents. We then connect these observations to Sahlinsâs kinship theory.
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| All Time | Past 365 days | Past 30 Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abstract Views | 402 | 136 | 18 |
| Full Text Views | 25 | 8 | 0 |
| PDF Views & Downloads | 83 | 28 | 0 |
Historical Insights into âMutuality of Beingâ: Marshall Sahlinsâs Kinship Theory in Early and Classical Islam
In: Medieval EncountersSearch for other papers by John Nawas in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Abstract
This article delves into social group structures, examining them through the prism of kinship ties. At the core of our exploration is Marshall Sahlinsâs definition of kinship as âmutuality of being,â which will be elaborated towards the articleâs conclusion. We home in on the first four centuries of Islam (approximately 600â1000 CE), a pivotal era marked by shifts in social affiliations and loyalties. Initially, âmutuality of beingâ was deeply influenced by patron-client relationships, known as the Islamic patronate (walÄʾ). Yet, by the eraâs end, âmutuality of beingâ evolved to resonate more with affiliations to one of the three major Islamic currents or their subsets: Kharijite, Shiite, or Sunnite Islam. Our objective is to dissect the societal transformations during this period, from a Muslim society anchored in Arab tribal loyalty to one gravitating towards the aforementioned religious currents. We then connect these observations to Sahlinsâs kinship theory.
| All Time | Past 365 days | Past 30 Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abstract Views | 402 | 136 | 18 |
| Full Text Views | 25 | 8 | 0 |
| PDF Views & Downloads | 83 | 28 | 0 |
