Paper short abstract:

This paper highlights the findings of my recently published book "Mecca in Morocco: Articulations of Muslim Pilgrimage in Moroccan Everyday Life". It examines the complexities, ambivalences, and contradictions inherent in Muslims' everyday religiosity.

Paper long abstract:

The lives of Muslims, as depicted in the book, are characterized by intricate ambiguities. This complexity is not merely a deviation from religious norms but an inherent aspect of Muslims' daily lives, where navigating multiple social and cultural contexts is a common practice. The paper argues that everyday life, being inherently complex, demands a nuanced understanding of how Muslims negotiate and combine religious and mundane moral registers concurrently. By highlighting the appropriation of Mecca into everyday life in Morocco, this paper contributes to the broader discourse on Islam as a lived religion. It underscores the importance of recognizing and navigating the ambiguities within Muslims' everyday religiosity, offering insights that transcend traditional analyses of moral norms and individual behaviors. The study advocates for a more nuanced approach to studying Islam in practice, emphasizing the complexities inherent in the daily lives of Moroccan Muslims. The paper discusses an approach that focuses on the socio-cultural embeddedness of religion in everyday life.