L’Islam des pierres : l’expression de la foi dans les graffiti arabes des premiers siècles
The Arabic Kufic graffitis of the early centuries of Islam, in Arabia as in the Middle East, represent an inexhaustible source of information on the origins of Muslim society. However, the dating of these texts to the ist/viith century (before the Umayyad period), remains problematic and should be b...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Université de Provence
2011-07-01
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| Series: | Revue des Mondes Musulmans et de la Méditerranée |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://journals.openedition.org/remmm/7067 |
| _version_ | 1797312188693610496 |
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| author | Frédéric Imbert |
| author_facet | Frédéric Imbert |
| author_sort | Frédéric Imbert |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Arabic Kufic graffitis of the early centuries of Islam, in Arabia as in the Middle East, represent an inexhaustible source of information on the origins of Muslim society. However, the dating of these texts to the ist/viith century (before the Umayyad period), remains problematic and should be based on rigorous palaeographic analysis. The study of the religious content of graffitis can help to date these inscriptions because they demonstrate progressive phases of development. The oldest graffitis, dated 23/643 and 24/644, do not contain any reference to religion. The inscribers, like their contemporaries, seemed more interested in perpetuating their names on the stone, following the model of Safaitic inscriptions. The study of the first professions of faith shows that there had been archaic formulae prior to the traditional shahâda, reflecting a very materialistic tribal monotheism. As for the recurrent requests for forgiveness and mercy, they may have been a rhetorical technique. Finally, the absence of any reference to the prophet Muhammad in the oldest graffitis shows in itself the historical and religious challenge of this epigraphic study. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T02:11:30Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6e27ac57c50d4376a33b7913625672ec |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0997-1327 2105-2271 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T02:11:30Z |
| publishDate | 2011-07-01 |
| publisher | Université de Provence |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Revue des Mondes Musulmans et de la Méditerranée |
| spelling | doaj.art-6e27ac57c50d4376a33b7913625672ec2024-02-13T15:20:18ZengUniversité de ProvenceRevue des Mondes Musulmans et de la Méditerranée0997-13272105-22712011-07-0112910.4000/remmm.7067L’Islam des pierres : l’expression de la foi dans les graffiti arabes des premiers sièclesFrédéric ImbertThe Arabic Kufic graffitis of the early centuries of Islam, in Arabia as in the Middle East, represent an inexhaustible source of information on the origins of Muslim society. However, the dating of these texts to the ist/viith century (before the Umayyad period), remains problematic and should be based on rigorous palaeographic analysis. The study of the religious content of graffitis can help to date these inscriptions because they demonstrate progressive phases of development. The oldest graffitis, dated 23/643 and 24/644, do not contain any reference to religion. The inscribers, like their contemporaries, seemed more interested in perpetuating their names on the stone, following the model of Safaitic inscriptions. The study of the first professions of faith shows that there had been archaic formulae prior to the traditional shahâda, reflecting a very materialistic tribal monotheism. As for the recurrent requests for forgiveness and mercy, they may have been a rhetorical technique. Finally, the absence of any reference to the prophet Muhammad in the oldest graffitis shows in itself the historical and religious challenge of this epigraphic study.https://journals.openedition.org/remmm/7067formularygraffitispalaeographyfaithmonotheismProphet Muḥammad |
| spellingShingle | Frédéric Imbert L’Islam des pierres : l’expression de la foi dans les graffiti arabes des premiers siècles Revue des Mondes Musulmans et de la Méditerranée formulary graffitis palaeography faith monotheism Prophet Muḥammad |
| title | L’Islam des pierres : l’expression de la foi dans les graffiti arabes des premiers siècles |
| title_full | L’Islam des pierres : l’expression de la foi dans les graffiti arabes des premiers siècles |
| title_fullStr | L’Islam des pierres : l’expression de la foi dans les graffiti arabes des premiers siècles |
| title_full_unstemmed | L’Islam des pierres : l’expression de la foi dans les graffiti arabes des premiers siècles |
| title_short | L’Islam des pierres : l’expression de la foi dans les graffiti arabes des premiers siècles |
| title_sort | l islam des pierres l expression de la foi dans les graffiti arabes des premiers siecles |
| topic | formulary graffitis palaeography faith monotheism Prophet Muḥammad |
| url | https://journals.openedition.org/remmm/7067 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT fredericimbert lislamdespierreslexpressiondelafoidanslesgraffitiarabesdespremierssiecles |