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E I S E N L O H R | S O U N D I N G I S L A M Luminos is the Open Access monograph publishing program from UC Press. Luminos provides a framework for preserving and reinvigorating monograph publishing for the future and increases the reach and visibility of important scholarly work. Titles p ublished in the UC Press Luminos model are published with the same high standards for selection, peer review, production, and marketing as those in our traditional program. www.luminosoa.org Sounding Islam Sounding Islam Voice, Media, and Sonic Atmospheres in an Indian Ocean World Patrick Eisenlohr UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PRESS University of California Press, one of the most distinguished university presses in the United States, enriches lives around the world by advancing scholarship in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. Its activities are supported by the UC Press Foundation and by philanthropic contributions from individuals and institutions. For more information, visit www.ucpress.edu. University of California Press Oakland, California © 2018 by Patrick Eisenlohr Suggested citation: Eisenlohr, P. Sounding Islam: Voice, Media, and Sonic Atmospheres in an Indian Ocean World. Oakland: University of California Press, 2018. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1525/luminos.53 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons CC-BY-NC-ND license. To view a copy of the license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Names: Eisenlohr, Patrick, 1967– author. Title: Sounding Islam : voice, media, and sonic atmospheres in an Indian Ocean world / Patrick Eisenlohr. Description: Oakland, California : University of California Press, [2018] | Includes bibliographical references and index. | Eisenlohr, Patrick 2018 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons CC-BY-NC-ND license http://creativecommons.org/licenses Identifiers: LCCN 2018007231 (print) | LCCN 2018012075 (ebook) | ISBN 9780520970762 (E-book) | ISBN 9780520298712 (pbk. : alk. paper) Subjects: LCSH: Voice. | Sound—Religious aspects—Islam. | Islamic poetry. | Islam—Mauritius. Classification: LCC BP190.5.V62 (ebook) | LCC BP190.5.V62 E37 2018 (print) | DDC 297.2/67—dc23 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018007231 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Contents List of Illustrations vi List of Audio Clips vii Acknowledgments ix 1. Sounding Islam 1 2. Devotional Islam and Sound Reproduction 21 3. Aspirations in Transnational Religious Networks 38 4. The Materiality of Media and the Vanishing Medium 59 5. The Work of Transduction: Voice as Atmosphere 79 6. Sound as Affect? Encorporation and Movement in Vocal Performance 109 Conclusion 129 Notes 135 References 145 Index 161 Illustrations 1. Mauritian CD cover of a collection of na‘t recordings 29 2. From a booklet accompanying a Mauritian CD of na‘t poetry 30 3. Center of the Da‘wat-e Islami in Port Louis 40 4. Stall selling CDs and DVDs, Port Louis 43 5. Still from a video recording of a mahfil-e mawlud 63 6. Spectrogram and waveform of “husne ‘amal” 101 7. Spectrogram and waveform of “voh na thā” 102 8. Spectrogram and waveform of “kāsh mehshar” 104 9. Spectrogram and waveform of “terī qudraton” 105 10. Spectrogram and waveform of “past voh kaise ho saktā hai” 106 11. Spectrogram and waveform of “unke dāman” 107 12. Spectrogram of “madīne ke jalwon pe qurbān jāun” 115 13. Spectrogram of “gunbad-e sabz par jab paṛegī nazar” 118 14. Spectrogram of “ek yahī sahārā hai” 122 15. Waveform of “ek yahī sahārā hai” 123 vi Audio Clips 1. “Husne ‘amal” 101 2. “Voh na thā” 102 3. “Kāsh mehshar” 104 4. “Terī qudraton” 105 5. “Past voh kaise ho saktā hai” 106 6. “Unke dāman” 107 7. “Madīne ke jalwon pe qurbān jāun” 115 8. “Gunbad-e sabz par jab paṛegī nazar” 118 9. “Ek yahī sahārā hai” 123 vii