Difference and Disability in the Medieval Islamic World: Blighted Bodies

by Kristina Lynn Richardson

Did you know that blue eyes, baldness, bad breath and boils were all considered bodily 'blights' by Medieval Arabs, as were cross eyes, lameness and deafness? What assumptions about bodies influenced this particular vision of physical difference? How did blighted people view their own bodies? Through close analyses of anecdotes, personal letters, (auto)biographies, erotic poetry, non-binding legal opinions, diaristic chronicles and theological tracts, the cultural views and experiences of disability and difference in the medieval Islamic world are brought to life.

Genres: Disability, History, Islam

168 pages, Paperback

First published August 14, 2012

Reviews

[Brumaire Bodbyl-Mast · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting, brief study into several different formations of ‘ahat and imposing the modern concepts of disability and difference onto them. So while it’s not quite what I was hoping for (a longer study focusing on mental/physical disabilities and how they were conceived of in the Medieval/Early Modern Islamicate) it still proved quite an interesting read. Each chapter has a completely different focus with some overlap, and with a consistent centers of attention in Damascus, Cairo and Mecca under Ottoman and Mamluk rule, though there’s not a massive amount of comparison between the different locales. The opening section discusses demons as a way to compare the portrayal of them to the disabled, and how they’re cascaded and locked away until judgment day- though the actual content of her work portrays the disabled as well integrated despite being the subjects of scorn. As well much of it focuses on aspects of people which today would hardly consider a disability (blue eyes, baldness etc.) Though it is interesting to read about how these were conceived of by the wider Islamic population, specifically scholars, especially when it comes to baldness which resulted in the condemnation of an author who discussed several of the companions of the Prophet as bald/balding. Also interesting is the reinterpretation of ugly or post illness traits as beautiful, especially in homoerotic contexts.

[Wild Goose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting. It definitely fills a gap of historical knowledge in the genre. My only criticisms are that it is quite brief, and occasionally some passages, such as the one on 'friendships' didn't have a clear link (to me, at least) to the theme of disability. Otherwise, an extremely interesting book on a topic I didn't previously know too much about.

[nourah · Rating 3 out of 5]

picked this book up because i think it’s important to educate myself on disability within arab and islamic context as a future OT

i did genuinely learn a lot but my God was it hard to get through. it read as very academic in a way i’m not used to. but i’m glad i finished it and will look for more on similar topics

overall it was educational but not exactly attention grabbing unfortunately. i had to push through a LOT