Leisurely Islam: Negotiating Geography and Morality in Shi'ite South Beirut

How the rise of leisure is changing contemporary Lebanon

South Beirut has recently become a vibrant leisure destination with a plethora of caf s and restaurants that cater to the young, fashionable, and pious. What effects have these establishments had on the moral norms, spatial practices, and urban experiences of this Lebanese community? From the diverse voices of young Shi'i Muslims searching for places to hang out, to the Hezbollah officials who want this media-savvy generation to be more politically involved, to the religious leaders worried that Lebanese youth are losing their moral compasses, Leisurely Islam provides a sophisticated and original look at leisure in the Lebanese capital.

What makes a caf morally appropriate? How do people negotiate morality in relation to different places? And under what circumstances might a pious Muslim go to a caf that serves alcohol? Lara Deeb and Mona Harb highlight tensions and complexities exacerbated by the presence of multiple religious authorities, a fraught sectarian political context, class mobility, and a generation that takes religion for granted but wants to have fun. The authors elucidate the political, economic, religious, and social changes that have taken place since 2000, and examine leisure's influence on Lebanese sociopolitical and urban situations.

Asserting that morality and geography cannot be fully understood in isolation from one another, Leisurely Islam offers a colorful new understanding of the most powerful community in Lebanon today.

Author: Lara Deeb, Mona Harb
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Published: 10/27/2013
Pages: 304
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.97lbs
Size: 9.10h x 6.10w x 0.70d
ISBN: 9780691153667

Review Citation(s):
Choice 03/01/2014

About the Author
Lara Deeb is associate professor of anthropology at Scripps College and the author of An Enchanted Modern (Princeton). Mona Harb is associate professor of urban studies and politics at the American University of Beirut and the author of Le Hezbollah à Beyrouth.