The Politics of Congregational Prayer: Trust, Public Health, and Religious Authority in Pakistan
Abstract Religious authorities in many Muslim-majority countries have argued that the suspension of communal prayers during an epidemic does not contravene Islamic law. In Pakistan, such measures have proven difficult to enforce, in part because many religious leaders in the country have opposed the...
| Published in: | Journal of law, religion and state |
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| Main Author: | |
| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Brill
2020
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| In: |
Journal of law, religion and state
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| Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Pakistan
/ Religious practice
/ Restriction
/ State
/ Medicine, Preventive
/ COVID-19 (Disease)
/ Pandemic
/ Infection
/ Protection magic
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| RelBib Classification: | AD Sociology of religion; religious policy BJ Islam KBM Asia ZC Politics in general |
| Further subjects: | B
Modernization
B Coronavirus B Pakistan B constitutional politics B Islamic Law B religious authority B Colonization B Public health |
| Online Access: |
Presumably Free Access Volltext (Resolving-System) Volltext (Verlag) |
| Summary: | Abstract Religious authorities in many Muslim-majority countries have argued that the suspension of communal prayers during an epidemic does not contravene Islamic law. In Pakistan, such measures have proven difficult to enforce, in part because many religious leaders in the country have opposed the closure of places of worship and the limits placed on public religious gatherings. The question is why? This paper suggests that the distrust of the state in matters of religion in Pakistan can be traced back to the colonial era, and that the political developments following independence have amplified frustration and mistrust between political and religious authorities in the country. Significant sources of contention in matters of religion and state remain unresolved under the prime ministership of Imran Khan. At the same time, the pandemic has thrust earlier conflicts into the spotlight and exposed contests over opinion, expertise, and authority in matters of religion and public health. |
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| ISSN: | 2212-4810 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Journal of law, religion and state
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1163/22124810-2020015 |