Shadows of the Prophet: Martial Arts and Sufi Mysticism * By D. S. FARRER
Arthur F. Buehler
Journal of Islamic Studies August 12, 2011 DOI: 10.1093/jis/etr064 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Mysticism |
| Key points | Farrer argues that silat, a Malaysian 'embodied war magic or warrior religion,' can be understood through the interplay of performance and enchantment, and proposes a theory of 'occulturation'—the attribution of occult power to esoteric skills—to explain how rituals such as divination and placing hands in boiling oil demonstrate tangible occult abilities. |
Abstract
This monograph is written by an experienced practitioner of a Malaysian ‘embodied war magic or warrior religion’ (p. vii) called silat. The author approaches the subject anthropologically, seeking to integrate theories of embodiment, magic, and performance with indigenous categories of Malay animism, shamanism, and ritual. ‘Performance of enchantment’ and ‘enchantment of performance’ are metaphors used throughout the book to express this simultaneous inside/outside, emic/etic dynamic. In the second section there are detailed accounts of eleven silat styles, the use of various weapons, and martial arts techniques. The author explains the cosmology of shadow and reflection, soul, Malay magic, and shadow theatre as metaphors and realities of appearance/reality in the context of seeking to become a shadow of the Prophet. Section three discusses the role of the silat master (guru silat) in the diachronic history of silat and the training of students before exploring how the guru gains power through cultivation of this- and other-worldly powers including deceased Sufis, spirits, and kings. Rounding out the section is an exploration of the cross-cultural dynamics of silat being taught in the cultural context of Great Britain. The final section deals with specific rituals, including divination rituals and an initiation rite of putting one’s hands in boiling oil, the latter of which the author has undergone more than once. Farrer proposes a theory of occulturation, the attribution of occult power to esoteric skills, to explain how these rituals demonstrate tangible skills in occult powers. Throughout the book there are colour photos that bring life to the text.
Comparable studies
Other theoretical and historical papers on mysticism, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| The mystical mind: probing the biology of religious experience | 2000 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Religious and Mystical Experiences as Artifacts of Temporal Lobe Function: A General Hypothesis | 1983 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| The Problem of Pure Consciousness: Mysticism and Philosophy | 1993 | Edited collection of essays | |
| Irreducible Mind: Toward a Psychology for the 21st Century | 2020 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Mysticism and schizophrenia: A phenomenological exploration of the structure of consciousness in the schizophrenia spectrum disorders. | 2016 | Theoretical or philosophical paper |