Between Text and Practice: Considerations in the Anthropological Study of Islam

Abstract

The anthropological study of Islam is one that has been plagued by problems of definition. What exactly are we studying? Local practic‑ es, universal texts and standards of practice, or something else entire‑ ly? At the heart of the question is how anthropologists define Islam. This paper reviews the major trends in the anthropological study of Islam and then suggests plausible theoretical directions for the future. It touches on issues surrounding Orientalism, the “Great‑ and Little‑ Traditions” paradigm. It moves between theoretical considerations and “on the ground,” lived examples.