New Lenses for an Ethnography of Islam. The Case of Mevlid Ceremonies

In recent decades, new ethnographic approaches have emerged that have given new vitality to field research. In particular, in ethnographic research in Islamic contexts, new approaches re-evaluate the figure of the researcher to posit them as an integral part of the research. An emphasis on the researcher makes it possible to reconsider their reflexivity as a central aspect of theoretical-methodological reflection. Thanks to critical capacities, avoiding a ‘neo-orientalist approach’ or a political overlay is possible. This paper uses an ethno-sociological approach to analyse contexts and relational dynamics among Muslims, reflecting on the methodological procedures used by, and reflexivity of, the researcher to validate the research. In particular, the paper presents a case study carried out on 25 mevlid ceremonies in Turkey (2014), which involved mixed methods: participating observation and interviews. The methodological procedures are examined through the critical lens of the researcher. This study reflects the urgency of renewing socio-ethnographic research in Islamic contexts by offering new lenses through which to analyse contemporary Islam and Islamic pluralism.