Iraqi History

The Iraqi Kurdish historian Kamal Mazhar Ahmad (1937 was probably one of the best known and most productive historians. He belonged to the first generation of Iraqis to pursue postgraduate studies in the Soviet Union, and when he was allowed to return to Iraq in 1970, he played a crucial role in the institutionalization of academic institutions and disciplines there and acted as an intermediary between Iraqi Kurdish and Soviet academic circles. As a lecturer and later professor at Baghdad University, he trained thousands of (Arab and Kurdish) students.

2026’da şekillenen yeni jeopolitik denklemde “Gizli El” doktrini, Rusya–İran iş birliği üzerinden savaşın doğasını yeniden tanımlıyor. İstihbarat, teknoloji ve söylem gücü; görünmeyen ittifaklarla birleşerek klasik askerî dengelerin ötesinde hibrit bir mücadele alanı yaratıyor.

Sectarian violence continues in Iraq affecting regional and world security. Neuroscience techniques are used to assess the mentalizing process and counter-arguing in response to videos designed to prevent extremist radicalization. Measurement of neural activity in brain Regions of Interest (ROI) assists identification of messages which can promote favorable behavior. Activation of the Medial Prefrontal Cortex (MPFC) is associated with message adoption and behavior change. Public Service Announcements (PSAs) have not been effective in reducing violence in Iraq. This study demonstrates that the four PSAs investigated in this study do not activate the MPFC. The RLPFC is a brain ROI associated with counter-arguing and message resistance. This study demonstrates that reduction in activity in the Right Lateral Prefrontal Cortex (RLPFC) is associated with decreased sectarianism. Engagement was measured and is associated with activity in the frontal pole regions. We introduce Functional Near-infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) to measure the neural activity of highly sectarian Iraqis in response to these anti-sectarian messages. Neural activity was measured while viewing three PSAs and a fourth unpublished video. All four videos are intended to reduce sectarianism. A novel sectarianism scale is introduced to measure sectarian beliefs before and after the messages. This sectarian scale has high internal consistency as measured by Cronbach's alpha. Measured activation of brain ROIs are correlated with changes in the sectarian scale. Twelve Sunni and twelve Shi'a Iraqis participated in the study. Subjects were shown the four videos in randomized order, while equipped with a fNIRS neural imaging device. All four videos produced significant engagement. None of the videos reduced sectarianism nor caused brain activation of www.scholink.org/ojs/index.php/csm

FR : Partant du constat empirique que les statuts migratoires ne sont figés ni dans le temps ni dans l’espace et que l’intervention humanitaire autant que la recherche demeurent centrées sur la figure du réfugié, cet article s’intéresse aux divers processus de catégorisation des personnes en situation de migration forcée, en particulier celles dites « déplacées internes », dans les espaces humanitaires où elles se retrouvent pêle-mêle avec des réfugiés. À partir d’un terrain ethnographique réalisé dans trois régions du Cameroun, pays d’Afrique centrale affecté par des crises internes et transfrontalières ayant provoqué des déplacements forcés massifs, je propose de cerner comment différents acteurs définissent, identifient et étiquettent ces deux groupes. Des nombreux effets qui ressortent autant pour ces personnes que pour le régime humanitaire se dégage une marginalisation systématique des personnes déplacées internes, principalement en raison de la faible valeur juridique et humanitaire de leur catégorie.

Mots clés : Migration forcée, Cameroun, Personnes déplacées internes, Aide humanitaire, Catégorisation

EN: Based on the empirical observation that migration statuses are not fixed in time or space and that humanitarian intervention and research remain focused on the figure of the refugee, this article examines the various categorization processes of people in situations of forced migration, particularly those referred to as “internally displaced persons” and “refugees”, in the humanitarian spaces where they find themselves mixed in with refugees. Based on ethnographic fieldwork carried out in three regions of Cameroon, a Central African country affected by internal and cross-border crises that have caused massive forced displacement, I propose to identify how different actors define, identify and label these two groups. From the many effects that emerge, both for these people and for the humanitarian regime, a systematic marginalization of internally displaced people emerges, mainly because of the low legal and humanitarian value of their category.

Keywords: Forced migration, Cameroon, Internally displaced persons, Humanitarian aid, Categorization

Ahmad Shokr's study sets out to build a picture of the origins of Nasserism against the extended background of Egypt's integration into the world economy as the major supplier of long staple cotton to global markets. The story is told in six chapters that move back and forth between largely economic dimensions and more purely political ones, holding fast to both with equal clarity but also showing us why a separation between the 'economic' and the 'political' can be artificial and misleading. The outstanding feature of Shokr's book is the sheer lucidity with which these arguments are developed.

In his questions session from the film audience after the pre-release festival screening, Iraqi Shi'a director, Hadi Hassan demonstrated some errors of thinking. I would venture that these views on the past arose from being conditioned after the era itself. One such response was that Saddam sought to erase the identity of the Marsh Arabs by draining them. Saddam embraced the marsh Arabs but fought Iranian fundamentalist infiltration via the marshlands. History now understands the position 20 years after his state execution. Nonetheless a film covering Iraq is a marvel and it is a beautiful, sensitive film

The unification of Yemen on May 22, 1990 was greeted with hope for joint development, however, soon the mood in Yemeni regions changed, and identity polarization rapidly overtook the country. The article examines how changes in ethnopolitical identity are manifested at the lexical level, and analyzes the use of self-designations and pejoratives by Yemeni social media users. Choosing а designation term, the user shows his attitude to the political situation in the country and receives support from those who share his views, which strengthens the feeling of belonging to а particular group. The same lexeme, when used by different users, can have а different meaning. In self-names, the speaker’s region of origin plays an important role, while the pejoratives are based on an attempt to ridicule the opponent’s intellectual abilities, his origin, political connections and loyalties. Attention to the choice of one or another term allows а more detailed understanding of the local ethno-political discourse. The conflict between North and South gets most attention and distracts from the processes outside of Sana‘a and Aden, but the variety of collective names enables the researcher to resist the temptation of generalization that arises in the study of local identities. (in Russian)

This study aims to examine the navigation crisis that emerged in 1883 between the Ottoman Empire and Britain on the Tigris and Euphrates rivers by situating it within its economic origins and its diplomatic and international legal implications. Methodologi cally, the research employs a document-based analysis grounded primarily in the confidential correspondence contained in the Foreign Office FO 424/137-138 series, along with consular reports, diplomatic memoranda, and relevant secondary literature. The findings demonstrate that the crisis stemmed from a status dispute arising from divergent interpretations of the imperial decrees of 1834 and 1841; that Britain articulated a discourse of "acquired rights," whereas the Ottoman Empire advanced a narrow legal i nterpretation rooted in the principle of internal-water sovereignty; that administrative measures taken by the local authorities in Baghdad and Basra rapidly deepened the tension; and that the diplomatic interventions of Musurus Pasha, together with Redhou se's philological assessments, significantly strengthened the Ottoman position. The study further shows that the issue of navigation was not merely a matter of concessionary law but a multi-layered crisis closely linked to Ottoman economic nationalization efforts, Britain's strategic interests in India, and broader European power dynamics. In light of these findings, the study argues that the Ottoman Empire's insistence on preserving its internal-water sovereignty in the face of international pressure shoul d be understood as an integral component of its quest for economic autonomy in the post-Tanzimat era.

Animal symbolism has constituted one of the most enduring visual and cultural languages across human civilization. From the sacred cosmology of Ancient Egypt to the heraldic traditions of medieval Europe and the commercial identities of contemporary football clubs, animals have continuously functioned as symbolic representations of power, morality, identity, spirituality, and social order. This paper examines the historical continuity and transformation of animal symbolism from antiquity to modernity through an interdisciplinary framework combining iconography, iconology, cultural history, religious studies, and sociology. Drawing upon Erwin Panofsky's iconological methodology, the study analyzes the symbolic functions of animals in Ancient Egyptian religion and kingship, the transmission of animal symbolism through Greco-Roman and European heraldic traditions, and the persistence of these archetypes within modern English football club crests and political literature such as Animal Farm. The paper further incorporates Islamic ethical thought through Madarij al-Salikin by Ibn al-Qayyim, demonstrating how animal metaphors continued to structure moral and psychological understandings of human behavior. Ultimately, the study argues that despite cultural and temporal differences, societies repeatedly project human ideals, fears, and political structures onto animals, creating a symbolic continuum that links ancient civilizations with contemporary cultural identity.

Southern Iraq, encompassing the marshlands of Basra, Dhi Qar, and Maysan, as well as parts of Al-Basrah governorate, occupies a unique ecological, cultural, and economic niche in the Middle East. Once home to the extensive Mesopotamian marshes—an ecosystem of global significance—this region has historically relied on the Tigris and Euphrates river systems for freshwater, irrigation, fisheries, transportation, and cultural identity. Over the past several decades, however, southern Iraq has experienced a deepening freshwater availability crisis. Declining river flows, rising salinity, groundwater depletion and contamination, reduced rainfall, and warming temperatures have combined with anthropogenic pressures—upstream damming, poor water governance, pollution, and conflict—to generate profound environmental, health, agricultural, and economic impacts. This essay examines the causes of the freshwater crisis in southern Iraq, explores its consequences across sectors, and surveys response options and policy pathways to mitigate it and build resilience.

Gas flaring—the controlled burning of associated natural gas produced during oil extraction—has long been a visible and controversial practice in petroleum-producing regions. In southern Iraq, where vast oil reserves sit under marshlands, agricultural plains, and densely populated communities, flaring has become a systemic problem with complex causes and profound consequences. The dilemma of gas flaring in this region is multifaceted: it sits at the intersection of public health, environmental protection, economic development, energy policy, infrastructure capacity, and governance. Addressing it requires understanding the local context, the drivers that sustain the practice, the tangible harm it causes, and practical pathways toward mitigation and sustainable development.
This essay examines the history and drivers of gas flaring in southern Iraq, documents its environmental and health impacts, analyzes the economic consequences and tradeoffs, explores governance and institutional challenges, and proposes strategic recommendations for policymakers, industry stakeholders, and international partners. The aim is to provide a comprehensive, evidence-based assessment that highlights both the urgency of action and the practical pathways to reduce flaring while promoting economic recovery and the energy transition.

نزاع‌های فرساینده‌ی شبکه‌های اجتماعی ضرورتِ اندیشیدن به اهمیت و آداب گفت‌وگوی انتقادی را بیش از پیش عیان کرد. با وجود آثاری در سنجشگرانه‌اندیشی جای خالی متنی بومی، مقدماتی و روزآمد که مشخصاً به گفت‌وگوشناسی بپردازد و پاسخ‌گوی نیازهای فضای فکری ما باشد، محسوس بود. کتاب گفت‌وگو؛ آیین حق‌جویی، درآمدی بومی به گفت‌وگوشناسی سعی‌وخطایی است در پاسخ به این خلأ. در این اثر کوشیده‌ام با گذر از رویکردهای صرفاً ترجمه‌ای و انتزاعی، به پیشینه‌ی گفت‌وگو در سنت ایرانی-اسلامی بپردازم. بخش نخستِ کتاب بر بازخوانی، ترجمه و شرح رساله‌ای کلاسیک در آداب مناظره از طاش‌کبری‌زاده (قاضی و ادیب عصر عثمانی) استوار است. بخش‌های بعدی کتاب نیز به واکاویِ اهمیت نقد فضیلت‌مندانه و سنجشِ الگوهای رایج در شبه‌نقد و شبه‌بحث می‌پردازد. این کتاب، در مقام دهمین عنوان از مجموعه‌ی گفت‌وگواندیشی، به‌تازگی از سوی نشر کرگدن منتشر شده است.

he tribal orga ni za tion of the Sayyids is con fus ing," wrote Brit ish colo nial offi cer and eth nol o gist William Crooke in 1896, "because some of the divi sions take their name from an epon y mous ances tor and some are merely ter ri to rial." 1 Underlying Crooke's frus tra tion at being unable to iden tify a sin gle prin ci ple for describ ing the social posi tion that say yids occu pied in India was the pre sump tion that there ought to have been one. He went on to rea son that the far ther say yids trav eled away from Arabia, the more their sayyidness-marked by lin eal descent from the Prophet of Islam-must have dimin ished, betraying what some his to ri ans have called a the ory of racial mis ce ge na tion. 2 In the same entry on say yids, Crooke quoted an unat trib uted adage about inau then tic say yids that was widely repeated by colo nial offi cers: "Last year, I was a butcher, this year I am a Shaikh, next year if prices rise, I shall become a Sayyid." Anthropological and socio log i cal schol ar ship through out the twen ti eth cen tury con tin ued to refer to dif er ent ver sions of this adage, indi cat ing that the colo nial search for say yid authen tic ity had a last ing influ ence on debates about social strat i fi ca tion among Mus lims in the sub con ti nent. 3 In these debates, sayyidness was shaped by the pur ported encoun ter between for eign say yid migrants and native Indic com mu ni ties in medi e val and early mod ern India. Much of this dis cus sion dwelled on the notion that, in gen eral, Mus lims in India had tended to adopt vary ing degrees of local castelike prac tices, such as strict endog amy and hered i tary occu pa tions. 4 It was thought that under such con di tions, authen tic elite sta tus was held by Mus lims who had found ways to side step the influ ence of their Indian envi ron ment. 5 They consisted of four sha rif (noble) groups: say yids, shaykhs, Mughals, and Pash tuns. 6 By con trast, Mus lims who were the descen dants of con verts to Islam in India were con ceived of as low born or ajlaf. 7 In this way, say yids fig ured into nineteenth and twen ti ethcen tury epistemologies as the most elite and least Indian of the four sha rif Mus lim sta tus groups, far removed from the ajlaf. More recently, the claim that the neb u lous for eignerindi gene inter face outlined above laid the ground work for social strat i fi ca tion among Mus lims has been called into ques tion. By con trast, it is argued that a more "con struc tiv ist" his tor i cal inquiry into Mus lim hier ar chies is warranted, one that does not take her i ta ble elite sta tus as an objec tive, unchang ing, and mea sur able qual ity. 8 Drawing upon the case of the Wasiti say yids of Bilgram, a his tor i cal qasba located in the pres entday Hardoi dis trict of Uttar Pradesh in India, this arti cle is pred i cated on the notion that say yids con tin u ally nego ti ated their priv i lege under dif er ent local and impe rial his tor i cal con di tions. 9 It pro poses that dur ing the years of impe rial cri ses that wracked the Mughal empire in the eigh teenth cen tury, the say yids of Bilgram, despite being claim ants to descent from elite Mus lim migrants, did not rep re sent them selves as for eign, and they dou bled down on the local social priv i le ges that they had cul ti vated. Indeed, at cho sen moments, their sayyidness was con veyed entirely in the cus tom ary lex i con of their qasba. To begin to under stand why they did this, it is nec es sary to con sider how they became local elites.

The Shatt al Arab—where the Tigris and Euphrates meet and flow together toward the Arabian/Persian Gulf—has been one of the Near East’s most significant hydrological and cultural arteries for millennia. For centuries, this waterway and its adjacent wetlands supported rich fisheries, vibrant agriculture, extensive reedbeds, migratory birds, and dense human settlements with distinctive ways of life. At the beginning of the twentieth century, the Shatt al Arab and the Mesopotamian marshes formed a living, dynamic system: seasonal pulses of freshwater from the two great rivers replenished soils and fisheries, diluting seawater and maintaining a mosaic of brackish and fresh habitats. Over the course of the twentieth century, however, the river system began to change—slowly at first, then rapidly—under the pressure of modernization, political contestation, large scale water engineering, industrial development, and war. By the 1980s, the degradation was clear and accelerating. Today, the Shatt al Arab and its associated wetlands are deeply compromised: salinized, fragmented, polluted, and biologically impoverished. This essay traces that arc—from vital waterway to aging, ecologically dying river—examining physical processes, human interventions, ecological consequences, social impacts, and prospects for restoration.

This study explores the concept of self-illusion among first-generation Iraqi Kurds in Southeast England, focusing on tensions between selfperception and externally imposed social categories and their impact on identity and belonging. Narrative interviews documented participants' lived experiences, which were analysed using thematic analysis across cognitive, social, and cultural domains. Findings suggest that self-illusion functions as a cognitive and experiential mechanism that helps individuals reconcile conflicting beliefs, expectations, and values. Furthermore, discrepancies between self-proclaimed and imposed identities lead to strategies such as reframing, negotiation, and acceptance, supporting continuity, relational coherence, and the formation of adaptive, context-sensitive identities.

Studies of palatial space in archaeology have generally considered scale and regularity embodied by normal plans as symbols of order and power control over people. Occupants behaviour is considered to be directed through the excessive size and symmetry of public buildings. However, plan analyses of monumental architecture are too static and cannot perceive the lived experience of real users which occurs at ground level. Phenomenological approaches encompassing access analysis, distancing mechanisms and sensory experience of Nebuchadnezzar's South Palace in Babylon show how traffic paths, fields of view, acustic and smell experiences, and the interface of light and shadow are also important means of imbuing space with symbolic and ideological meanings.

Abstract
Assessment of restoration interventions in southern Mesopotamia—one of the world’s largest wetland systems—offers critical evidence about the scale, methods, and implications of a controversial re-flooding campaign. Under an ambitious, contested post-2003 restoration initiative, authorities mandated by the Coalition Provisional Authority sought to revive earlier hydrologic conditions in the region. Similar to interventions elsewhere, this rehabilitation effort aimed to redress ecosystem collapse caused by prior water-transfer projects and to promote local regeneration.
The assessment evaluates a series of specific research questions framed around the nature of the restoration undertaking, the scope and trajectory of interventions, and the adequacy of prevailing hydrologic conditions in relation to surface-water flooding, groundwater recharge, and wetland connectivity. Analysis draws upon a comprehensive review of academic, institutional, and grey literature, satellite imagery, and hydrologic modeling. Notably, detailed input-output data from the Al-Hammar marshes, complemented by a decade-long time series of remote sensing data, support the analysis.
Restoration implementation remains markedly partial and fragmented, with considerable funds committed but relatively few physical components realized. Although the Al-Hammar marshes are now classified as “re-flooded,” re-established passages have only partially qualified the regime for this designation. Between 2013 and 2017, some 1.6 km3 of direct refill was introduced from the Shatt al-Arab, but, accounting for broader watershed metrics, the overall discharge balance at the major inflow has remained in a substantial deficit.

Imam Abu Hamid al-Ghazali )450-505 AH/1058-1111 AD( is considered one of the unique reformist scholars in Islamic history. His biography, personality and works were present and influential throughout the previous eras. His biography and works are still studied, and his sayings and opinions are used as evidence. In the field of purification and behavioral science, his method and heritage are inspired. What distinguishes Imam al-Ghazali from most of his peers is that he left teaching and preferred seclusion in the last third of his life. However, he advised and guided some of the ruling elite in the Seljuk state, warning them of the danger of the trust and responsibility they had placed on themselves. From time to time, he would write them letters full of advice and guidance derived from his understanding of some verses of the Holy Quran and guided by the hadiths of the Prophet )PBUH(. From here, it becomes clear that the sense of religious responsibility of Imam al-Ghazali, the reformer, made him an advisor to the ruling elite of his time in the way he saw fit for them. In this study, the researcher briefly sheds light on the stages that Al-Ghazali went through, In the following section, the researcher will stop at the valuable advice that Al-Ghazali sent to the Sultan and a number of Seljuk ministers, centered on asceticism and abandoning the adornments and temptations of this life, and urging them not to be lenient in performing their sensitive duty of lifting injustice and establishing justice among people, and meeting the needs of a specific person or the residents of a particular city.

India and Iraq had relations since ancient era. Both claim ‘civilizational connect’ with Iraq corresponding with ancient Mesopotamian civilization and India to the Indus valley civilization. There is ample evidence of trade between the two regions. The entry of the Europeans in the Indian Ocean region and the use of Red Sea, Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean for trade of goods and people resulted in the British control over India and Iraq. Much of Iraq’s administrative models were based on those developed by the British in India and Indian men were used in war fought in Iraq. The paper explores India’s relations with Iraq with specific focus during the British rule in India.

In the pursuit of uncovering echoes from the past to reveal clues about prehistoric healing sites, Shanidar Cave has
emerged as a site of profound significance in the Baradost Mountains of the Zagros region in northern Iraqi Kurdistan. It was there,
between the 1950s and 1960s, that Ralph Solecki (†) made significant discoveries of Middle Palaeolithic Neanderthal and Proto-
Neolithic Homo sapiens occupations. Situated strategically in the region, the cave offered shelter near a water spring, abundant flora
and fauna, and served as the emblematic grounds for the interment of their dead. Moreover, it provided Homo sapiens contiguity to
the optimal ecological zone of important cereals such as wild barley, emmer, and einkorn wheat and the natural habitat of sheep.
Therefore, in such a unique site with attributes of refuge, safety, and protection, one might assume resonating with ancestral legends
emanating from the enduring essence of the ageless cave both Neanderthals and H. sapiens alike would have selected as a preferred
healing place to provide needed intervention, treatment, and soothing care to their injured, their impaired and ailing ones of old
age.

At the turn of the 20th century, the Ottoman Empire emerged as a key arena of imperial rivalry due to its strategic location and vital trade routes. This study focuses on a failed British attempt to acquire a concession over the Mahsusa Company (İdare-i Mahsusa), the Ottoman state-run steamship monopoly. Drawing on archival sources, feasibility reports, and British diplomatic correspondence, it explores how the Committee of Union and Progress (CUP) initially supported the concession to balance German and French influence. However, the plan collapsed due to parliamentary opposition, nationalist economic concerns shaped by Listian ideas, intra-British corporate conflicts, and German diplomatic pressure. The case of the Mahsusa Company illustrates the complex interplay between imperial competition, economic nationalism, and infrastructure politics in the late Ottoman period. It also highlights how financial tools such as concessions and bond issuance became means of geopolitical influence during the Empire's final decades.

In simple, We find that a wrong decision by a politician, perhaps one who knows nothing, can affect people's wounds due to the stress and increased cortisol levels in their blood this occurs through a very complex process, from the moment the decision is made until the last cell in the wound heals Wrong decisions can produce an ignorant population, an irresponsible father, or a mother who doesn't know how to care for her infant Therefore, it is essential to pay attention to even the smallest details in life because they will have an impact, whether positive or negative We must understand this


In conclusion, I want us to emphasize in every country that mental health is even more important than physical health, because a physical wound can cause pain, but a non-physical wound never heals

Regards, Mustafa Khairy

Cette communication propose d’étudier la neutralité vénitienne comme une pratique de gouvernement, en analysant les rapports entre dirigeants et dirigés dans la République de Venise pendant la guerre de la Ligue d’Augsbourg (1688–1697) et la guerre de Succession d’Espagne (1701–1714). Dans ces deux grands conflits européens, la neutralité ne saurait être comprise comme une simple abstention diplomatique : elle apparaît au contraire comme une technique active de direction politique, mobilisée pour préserver l’intégrité territoriale, les échanges commerciaux et l’autonomie de la République face aux puissances belligérantes.
Fondée sur des recherches archivistiques menées à l’Archivio di Stato di Venezia ainsi qu’à Paris, aux Archives nationales et aux Archives diplomatiques, l’étude entend montrer que la neutralité engageait tout à la fois les organes dirigeants de l’État — Sénat, patriciat gouvernant, magistratures, diplomates, autorités militaires — et les populations soumises à leur autorité. Sur la Terraferma, il s’agissait de contrôler les passages de troupes, de prévenir les désordres et de protéger les communautés locales contre les effets de la guerre. En mer, la neutralité supposait de défendre les marchands, de régler les litiges de prise et d’encadrer les comportements des capitaines et des intermédiaires commerciaux.
L’intérêt de cette approche est de déplacer l’analyse des seules doctrines vers les pratiques concrètes du gouvernement. Elle permet de saisir comment les dirigeants vénitiens cherchaient à obtenir l’adhésion, l’obéissance ou du moins la coopération des dirigés, tout en maintenant l’équilibre entre protection, contrainte et négociation. La neutralité apparaît ainsi comme un observatoire privilégié des relations entre gouvernants et gouvernés dans une république oligarchique d’Ancien Régime, où la préservation du bien commun revendiqué passait par une gestion étroite des hommes, des circulations et des risques de guerre.

***English [français ci-dessous]:

This introduction presents the main issues addressed in the special issue devoted to the symbolisms and representations of the Kaʿba, approaching the Meccan sanctuary as one of the central sites of Islamic religious, ritual, and doctrinal imagination. Attentive to the internal representations of Muslim traditions, it argues that the Kaʿba is not only the focal point of prayer and pilgrimage, but also a privileged space of symbolic elaboration, where theological, political, historiographical, visual, and metaphysical concerns intersect.

After recalling the sanctuary’s importance in the communal self-definition of Islam and in the construction of a sacred geography, the introduction offers a survey of scholarship on the Kaʿba, the ḥajj, the qibla, the narratives of the sanctuary’s origins, its manuscript and artistic representations, and its esoteric and mystical interpretations. It highlights the fertility of the Kaʿba as a ritual centre, a site of memory, a visual object, a cosmological symbol, and a locus of doctrinal speculation.

The issue brings together eight contributions that explore, from historical, iconographic, anthropological, philosophical, and mystical perspectives, the plurality of ways in which the Kaʿba has been appropriated within Islamic traditions, from narratives of Mecca’s sacralization to Sufi, Shiʿi, and Ismaili interpretations of the sanctuary.

The issue is available on the Institut français d’archéologie orientale (Ifao) website:
https://www.ifao.egnet.net/anisl/60/

It should also become available on OpenEdition in the coming weeks:
https://journals.openedition.org/anisl/

***Français :
Cette introduction présente les enjeux du dossier consacré aux symbolismes et représentations de la Kaʿba, en envisageant le sanctuaire mecquois comme l’un des lieux les plus centraux de l’imaginaire religieux, rituel et doctrinal de l’islam. À partir d’une approche attentive aux représentations internes des traditions musulmanes, elle montre que la Kaʿba ne constitue pas seulement le point focal de la prière et du pèlerinage, mais aussi un espace d’élaboration symbolique où se croisent des enjeux théologiques, politiques, historiographiques, visuels et métaphysiques.

Après avoir rappelé l’importance du sanctuaire dans la définition communautaire de l’islam et dans la construction d’une géographie sacrée, l’introduction propose un état de la recherche consacré à la Kaʿba, au ḥajj, à la qibla, aux récits d’origine du sanctuaire, à ses représentations manuscrites et artistiques, ainsi qu’à ses interprétations ésotériques et mystiques. Elle met en évidence la fécondité du motif de la Kaʿba comme centre rituel, lieu de mémoire, objet visuel, symbole cosmologique et support de spéculations doctrinales.

Le dossier réunit ainsi huit contributions qui explorent, selon des perspectives historiques, iconographiques, anthropologiques, philosophiques et mystiques, la pluralité des appropriations de la Kaʿba dans les traditions islamiques, depuis les récits de sacralisation de La Mecque jusqu’aux interprétations soufies, chiites et ismaéliennes du sanctuaire.

Le dossier est disponible sur le site de l’Institut français d’archéologie orientale - Ifao :
https://www.ifao.egnet.net/anisl/60/

Il devrait également être accessible dans les prochaines semaines sur OpenEdition :
https://journals.openedition.org/anisl/