Cogent Arts and Humanities· 2026Q2
Political legitimacy through sacred space: How the abbāsids mobilized Mecca and Medina as instruments of symbolic power
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- Q2SCImago
- 2026year
Short summary
Abbāsid caliphs reinforced their political legitimacy and authority by transforming the sacred sites of Mecca and Medina into instruments of symbolic power, using mosque expansion, public religious events, and ritual promotion.
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Key points
- Abbāsid caliphs used Mecca and Medina's religious symbolism to legitimize their political authority.
- Strategies included mosque expansion, maintenance, public religious events, and ritual promotion.
- This transformed holy sites into tools of symbolic power, reinforcing leadership.
- The approach extended beyond military and administrative methods to shape ideological foundations.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
The Two Holy Mosques in Mecca and Medina hold a central place in Muslim life and history due to their deep religious symbolism and connection to the early development of Islam and its core rituals. Recognizing their significance, Islamic dynasties consistently incorporated these sacred sites into their political strategies to legitimize and strengthen their authority. This study examines how the Abbāsids caliphs used religious symbolism, drawing on classical Arab historical narratives and modern political sociology. It analyzes their efforts to reinforce power through the expansion and maintenance of the Two Holy Mosques, the organization of public religious events, and the promotion of rituals tied to these sacred spaces. These actions helped construct an image of leadership rooted in both religious devotion and political authority, extending beyond conventional military and administrative methods. The findings reveal that the Abbāsids developed a distinctive governance approach by transforming holy sites, rituals, and associated narratives into tools of symbolic power. This strategy enabled them to solidify their legitimacy, unify their rule, and shape the ideological foundations of their authority. Ultimately, the integration of religious symbolism into governance played a crucial role in sustaining Abbāsids political dominance.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Cogent Arts and Humanities, 2026 · DOI ↗
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Field: Religious studies
Religious studiesArts and Humanities