Papers, articles, books by Liliya Karimova
Papers by Liliya Karimova
Nova Religio: The Journal of Alternative and Emergent Religions, 2013
Language in Society, 2007
This arti€le examines post-Soviet Muslim revival among the Volga Tatars, historieally Sunni (Hana... more This arti€le examines post-Soviet Muslim revival among the Volga Tatars, historieally Sunni (Hanafi) Muslims, in the central Russian Republic of Tatarstan. Drawing on ethnographic research among practicing Muslim Tatar women and discourse analysis of their piety stories, I argue that at the heart of the revival is the Tatars' debate over the extent and nature of Islam that should be part of Tatar identity. In this debate, sources of Islamic knowledge and physical manifestations of Muslim piety function as the primary, if inaccurate, indicators of on e's Muslim identity. I conclude that practicing Muslim Tatars are aware of the role their religious education and physical practices play in others' (often stereotypical) perceptions of them, and they deal with such perceptions by (re)negotiating their religious ideiïtities in personal narratives.
The revival of Islam in the central Russian republic of Tatarstan has transformed the daily lands... more The revival of Islam in the central Russian republic of Tatarstan has transformed the daily landscape and the very notion of Muslim piety in the region. While a growing number of historically Muslim Tatars of all ages are embracing embodied piety, an older generation's turn to religion is often perceived as late in coming and insincere. Based on ethnographic research and personal narratives of practicing Muslim Tatar women, I explore the ways the older women (re)construct their Muslim identities in the context of Tatars' recent interest in Islam. Specifically, I analyze two older Tatar women's stories about their paths to Islam. My analysis suggests that by tapping into the Soviet past, the women strive to create a continuously moral self that can serve as a solid basis for their present-day Muslim piety.
This article examines "piety stories"-Muslim Tatar women's narratives about adopting daily Islami... more This article examines "piety stories"-Muslim Tatar women's narratives about adopting daily Islamic practices, such as five prayers or headscarves, in Tatarstan, Russia. I argue that sharing piety stories is a communicative way of performing identities, negotiating group memberships, and reaffirming one's commitment to Muslim piety. These narratives provide a discursive way for the speaker to practice being a Muslim and for the audience, a blueprint for becoming one. By detailing a way of being where Muslim piety becomes one's moral compass and source of agency, piety stories illustrate a culturally meaningful relationship among identity, Muslim piety, and local communicative practices.
Book Reviews by Liliya Karimova
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Papers, articles, books by Liliya Karimova
Papers by Liliya Karimova
Book Reviews by Liliya Karimova