{"product_id":"qibla-in-early-islam","title":"Sacred Orientation in Late Antiquity and Early Islam","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSacred Orientation in Late Antiquity and Early Islam: The Qibla as Ritual, Metaphor, and Identity Marker \u003c\/em\u003eoffers a groundbreaking study of how the \u003cem\u003eqibla\u003c\/em\u003e—Islam’s ritual direction of prayer—served not only as a sacred practice but also as a powerful marker of communal identity in Islam’s formative centuries.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSituating the \u003cem\u003eqibla\u003c\/em\u003e within the wider ritual culture of Late Antiquity, this book examines how sacred orientation shaped the evolving boundaries of religious belonging across the early Islamic world. It traces how the Qurʾān’s treatment of prayer direction emerged within a shared ritual discourse with Judaism and Christianity, and how the \u003cem\u003eqibla\u003c\/em\u003e became an embodied metaphor for inclusion and unity within an increasingly diverse Muslim community. The volume also explores interreligious polemics, legal and theological debates, and the symbolic significance of mosque architecture, maps, and scientific instruments, portraying the \u003cem\u003eqibla\u003c\/em\u003e as a dynamic vehicle for both religious expression and communal cohesion. From medieval controversies to contemporary technologies, \u003ci\u003eSacred Orientation \u003c\/i\u003eargues that the \u003cem\u003eqibla\u003c\/em\u003e remains an “inexhaustible” ritual symbol— constantly evolving, yet deeply rooted in the construction and performance of Islamic identity.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEssential reading for scholars of Islamic studies, religious studies, ritual theory, and Late Antiquity, this book offers a fresh and richly contextualized perspective on one of Islam’s most enduring and meaningful practices.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Taylor \u0026 Francis Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55283676217688,"sku":"9781032135083","price":192.2,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0278\/1295\/4195\/files\/9781032135083.jpg?v=1768475714","url":"https:\/\/agendabookshop.com\/products\/qibla-in-early-islam","provider":"Agenda Bookshop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}