| This anthropological study focuses on the religious perceptions, practices, and identifications of Moroccan migrant women in the Netherlands. It perceives women as agents who actively shape religious practices. Migrating Islam will be investigated at two intertwined levels: that of speaking about Islam and its central tenets and that of religious practice. The first part of the study focuses particularly on changes in such religious celebrations as ramadan, 'id al-fitr, 'id al- adha, 'ashura, 'id al-mulud, musem, etc. The adaptability of religious celebrations to new circumstances and their changing meanings in daily life are analysed. The second part provides an in-depth study of the religious concept of ajr, religious merit, a central concern in the religious life of female believers in Morocco. Ajr points to the spiritual compensation one gets for meritorious deeds. It is connected to practices of almsgiving, sadaqa, and doing good deeds, hasanat. A central question concerns what changes take place in practices and meaning with regard to meritorious deeds upon migration to the Netherlands. |
