The Sacred in the Mundane: Materiality and Ritual Practices of Moscow Muslims in Everyday Life

DOI: 10.33876/2311-0546/2026-2/253-270

Authors

  • Yulia Molchanova the Russian Academy of Sciences N. N. Miklouho-Maklay Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology

Keywords:

namaz, sacred, profane, materiality, Muslims, Islam

Abstract

This article explores the relationship between the sacred and the material in the everyday ritual practices of Muslims in Moscow, with a focus on the performance of the salah (namaz) — an obligatory five daily prayers. The author analyzes how this ritual shapes a Muslim's everyday life and how the performance of namaz is influenced by material elements (prayer mat, clothing, space) and bodily practices. The study examines the concept of the sacred and its relevance in the Islamic context, considering the interaction between the sacred and the profane in the daily lives of Muslims, as well as the role of material culture in shaping religious experience. Special attention is given to how materiality becomes a condition for the sanctification of prayer time, as well as the role of space and objects necessary for performing namaz. The research involved practicing Sunni and Shia Muslims who demonstrated regularity in their prayer practices and a value-driven approach to the practical execution of religious prescriptions in general. The analysis shows that namaz is not only a religious obligation but also an affective act that establishes a deep connection between the individual and the divine, contributing to the construction of the everyday scenarios for a believing Muslim and shaping their life space. The study is based on ethnographic data, Islamic theological sources, and anthropological approaches.

Author Biography

  • Yulia Molchanova , the Russian Academy of Sciences N. N. Miklouho-Maklay Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology

    Molchanova, Yulia O. — Junior Research Fellow, the Russian Academy of Sciences N. N. Miklouho-Maklay Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology (Moscow, Russian Federation). E-mail: volim9102@gmail.com

    For citation: Molchanova, Y. O. 2026. The Sacred in the Mundane: Materiality and Ritual Practices of Moscow Muslims in Everyday Life. Herald of Anthropology (Vestnik Antropologii) 2: 253-270.

    Funding: The study was conducted with the support of the Russian Science Foundation grant 25-28-01536. https://rscf.ru/project/25-28-01536/

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Published

11.06.2026

Issue

No. 2 (2026): Herald of Anthropology (Vestnik antropologii)

Section

Muslims of Moscow