Aesthetics and Poetics of Apostolic Islam in France

Abstract

Their long beards often contrast their young faces; they wear traditional Pakistani garb (khamiss) or more generally white tunics (djellaba or gandoura) that flow to their ankles, a skull-cap (taguilla), and perhaps a pair of Nikes or Reeboks. Rain or shine, they untiringly cross mountains and valleys throughout France and the entire world in small groups of three or five, rarely more, to propagate the message of Allah. For the most part they are French, mainly of Moroccan origin or more broadly of Maghrebi or African origin, and are called Mohamed, Rachid, Amadou, or Moustafa, but also Eric, Thomas, Patrick, or Didier. They are male, but are increasingly accompanied by young women proudly wearing headscarves and participating in the effort of propagating their faith. They are mostly between 18 and 35 years of age and live essentially in the French suburbs, where the cumulated difficulties of unemployment, exclusion, and racism are predominant. They are the new converts or 'reconverts' (voluntary return to the religion of their parents) to Islam, the knights of conversion and of pietism, according to the expression of the Moroccan sociologist Mohamed Tozy. These new 'flag bearers' of an apostolic and ostentatious Islam are all religious militants of the Tabligh movement in France.