Muhammad Bilal: Rethinking the authority of Muslim religious scholars and mosques in shaping religious discourse in Pakistan: An ethnographic account Rethinking the authority of Muslim religious scholars and mosques in shaping religious discourse in Pakistan: An ethnographic account Muhammad Bilal Fatima Jinnah Women University,
[email protected] Abstract The mosque is the fundamental institution in any Islamic society, its role extending far beyond its function as a religious centre. The question that arises for this ethnographic study in Pakistan is whether the mosque is still as central as it was in the past, or as it is understood to be. A similar question can be raised for those Muslim religious scholars trained in Islamic law who frequent the mosque and serve the religious community as prayer leaders. This study explores the part played by the mosque – and by the Muslim religious scholars – in the life of worship and, beyond that, in the everyday social struc- ture. The study suggests that no longer can the Muslim religious scholars or mosques be called representative of Pakistani society. KEYWORDS: Muslim religious scholars, mosque, Islam, everyday life, religious schools, Pakistan Introduction In each neighbourhood (maHallah)1 of Muslim Town, there are mosques affiliated with rival tendencies of practice within Islam. In ordinary everyday speech, these tendencies are referred to as sect or school of thought (maslak; plural masaalik). The sectarian af- filiations of the mosques are typically indicated at their main doors. Two principal divi- sions within the Sunni branch of Islam (which are also referred to as the people of the Sunnah (Ahl-e-Sunnat) are identified at the mosque (masjid; plural masaajid) doors as Deoband and Barelvi.