The Garden and the Fire

Heaven and Hell in Islamic Culture

Nerina Professor Rustomji (St. John's University)

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English

Columbia University Press
01 October 2013

Middle Eastern history; Religion & beliefs; Islamic theology; Cultural studies

Islamic conceptions of heaven and hell began in the seventh century as an early doctrinal innovation, but by the twelfth century, these notions had evolved into a highly formalized ideal of perfection. In tracking this transformation, Nerina Rustomji reveals the distinct material culture and aesthetic vocabulary Muslims developed to understand heaven and hell and identifies the communities and strategies of defense that took shape around the promise of a future world.

Ideas of the afterworld profoundly influenced daily behaviors in Islamic society and gave rise to a code of ethics that encouraged abstinence from sumptuous objects, such as silver vessels and silk, so they could be appreciated later in heaven. Rustomji conducts a meticulous study of texts and images and carefully connects the landscape and social dynamics of the afterworld with earthly models and expectations. Male servants and female companions become otherworldly objects in the afterlife, and stories of rewards and punishment helped preachers promote religious reform. By employing material culture as a method of historical inquiry, Rustomji points to the reflections, discussions, and constructions that actively influenced Muslims' picture of the afterworld, culminating in a distinct religious aesthetic.

By: Nerina Professor Rustomji (St. John's University)
Imprint: Columbia University Press
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions: Height: 229mm, Width: 152mm, Spine: 15mm
Weight: 312g
ISBN: 9780231140850
ISBN 10: 0231140851
Pages: 240
Publication Date: 01 October 2013
Audience: Professional and scholarly , Undergraduate
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Nerina Rustomji is assistant professor of history at St. John's University in Queens, New York. She recently received an American Council of Learned Societies Fellowship and an American Council of Overseas Fellowship for work on female companionship in the Islamic afterworld.

Reviews for The Garden and the Fire: Heaven and Hell in Islamic Culture

A timely publication, highly recommended for specialists and non-specialists alike. -- Youssef Choueiri Times Higher Education Supplement This gem of a book offers a thorough, evocative study... Essential. Choice A delightful book. -- David Reisman Journal of Islamic Studies A wide-ranging... welcome addition to a small and growing body of scholarship. -- Brannon Wheeler American Historical Review Rustomji has filled a real gap in the secondary literature... [The Garden and the Fire] is one of the best introductions to the Islamic eschatological literature. -- Walid Saleh Journal of the American Academy of Religion Highly useful not only to students and educated lay people but also to comparativists and specialists. -- Frederick S. Colby Journal of Religion