UC Santa Barbara

If you made up your mind that the Islamic rituals are inextricably linked to bodily movements and physical space, this thesis aims to challenge and persuade you otherwise. It is conceivable that one may perceive Islamic rituals devoid of corporeal actions or spatial attributes as a relatively recent innovation introduced by contemporary Muslim intellectuals, possibly catalyzed by the exigencies imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic. This study, however, will astound you by providing evidence that this idea of distant rituals can be traced back to the 9th century, when early Muslim jurists conceptualized several Islamic rituals without reliance on physicality or spatiality, such as the "Heart Prayer" and "Ship Prayer". Moreover, this study offers a comprehensive reassessment of the historical evolution of religious rituals’ performance and explores their long-held perception of being unaltered. By drawing upon legal and philosophical evidence, this research presents a historical context that supports these reinterpretations. A significant aspect of this evolution is the emergence of cyber-Islamic rituals, which has profound implications for both individuals and communities at large. This dissertation goes beyond theoretical examination and delves deeper into the nuanced implications of online Islamic rituals, specifically those pertaining to religious authority, authenticity, and identity formation. By presenting empirically grounded case studies encompassing diverse Sunni and Sufi communities situated in both Egypt and the United States, this study augments its findings with real-world instances, thus enriching the scholarly discourse on this subject matter.