Majnūn: The Madman in Medieval Islamic Society

Majnūn: The Madman in Medieval Islamic Society
ISBN-10
0198202210
ISBN-13
9780198202219
Category
History / Social History
Pages
543
Language
English
Published
1992
Publisher
Clarendon Press
Author
Michael Walters Dols

Description

This is a study of madness in the medieval Islamic world. Using a wide variety of sources, from the fields of history, literature, and art, the late Michael Dols explores beliefs about madness in Islamic society, and examines attitudes towards individuals afflicted by mental illness or disability. The book demonstrates the links between Christian and Muslim medical beliefs and practices, and traces the influence of certain Christian beliefs, such as miracle-working, on Islamic practices. It breaks new ground in analysing the notions of the romantic fool, the wise fool, and the holy fool in medieval Islam within the framework of perceptions of mental illness. It shows that the madman was not regarded as a pariah, an outcast, or a scapegoat. This is a comprehensive and original work, whose insights into magic, medicine, and religion combine to open up our understanding of medieval Islamic society.

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