3.3 Scents of Space

Scents of Space: Early Islamic Pilgrimage, Perfume, and Paradise

The essay highlights the understudied role of sensory experiences in early Islamic pilgrimage,
focusing on using scents, such as perfumes and incense, at sites like the Dome of the Rock.
These sensory rituals, supported by early patrons, enriched pilgrims' visits and reflected two key
ideas: the association of sweet scents with paradise in Islamic traditions and the belief that
pilgrimage spaces were paradisiacal and spiritually significant. In essence, these sensory
experiences gave pilgrims a taste of heavenly sensations and contributed to the evolving
understanding of sacred spaces in early Islam.

The text emphasizes how different rulers and dynasties in early Islamic history competed to
patronize the sites by providing scents as part of their religious and political authority. The
provision of perfumes and incense was considered a symbol of power and control over these
sacred spaces, showcasing the significance of scent in early Islamic practices and religious
patronage.

The text also discusses collecting and using scents as pilgrimage souvenirs, where pilgrims
would take soil or materials imbued with the holy scents as blessings or for medicinal purposes.
However, there were debates within early Muslim circles about the appropriateness of
removing these scented materials from sacred areas like the Haram.
The significance of scents in early Islamic pilgrimage spaces was closely tied to the concept of
paradise and the multisensory experience of sacredness. While the use of perfume and incense
in early Islamic pilgrimage spaces shares similarities with practices in other religious traditions
of the Near East, it carried unique meanings within the context of early Islam.
Early Islamic sources strongly associated terrestrial sacred spaces with heavenly paradise, often
describing them as "paradise" or "one of its gardens." These spaces' visual and architectural
elements were designed to evoke paradisiacal imagery. For example, the Dome of the Rock's
wall mosaics and the Prophet's Mosque in Medina were decorated to resemble paradise,
creating a visual connection between the earthly and divine sites. These representations of
heaven were not limited to the visual sense; they were also designed to be tactile. The coolness
and texture of materials, such as marble panelling and the Black Stone, offered a tactile glimpse
of paradise on Earth.
Given this strong connection between perfume and paradise in early Islamic traditions, using
these scents in sacred spaces like the Dome of the Rock and the Ka'ba would naturally evoke the
sensation of being in or near paradise. These scents were not just symbolic; they were believed
to carry a sympathetic olfactory connection to heaven, making the supernatural aspects of
these locations tangible and sensory.
In summary, using scents in early Islamic pilgrimage spaces was deeply intertwined with the
concept of paradise. It was believed to provide a direct sensory connection between the earthly
pilgrimage sites and the heavenly paradise. These scents were seen as material manifestations
of paradise and played a significant role in enhancing pilgrims' spiritual and sensory
experiences.
Julian Holloway's observation regarding the "sensuousness and embodiment of sacred space"
highlights that the sanctity of these spaces was not just a conceptual idea but something
physically sensed and experienced. Pilgrims, enveloped by perfumed environments and
accompanied by scented companions, engaged in a sensory and embodied enactment of the
state of believers in the hereafter, where they could enjoy a foretaste of the luxuries of paradise.
This experience allowed pilgrims to connect with the divine presence of these locations through
their bodies, including their olfactory senses, thereby deepening their spiritual connection and
devotion to the sacred spaces.
In conclusion, the study of early Islamic pilgrimage practices reveals the significant role of scent
in shaping the sensory experiences and communal identities of pilgrims.
Scent served as a bridge between the sacred and the mundane, not only within the pilgrimage
sites but also in the memories and identities of pilgrims. The scents carried by pilgrims from
these holy spaces to their homes connected them to the communal pilgrimage experience and
allowed for the continued remembrance and sharing of those experiences. Scented materials
functioned as objects of memory and fame, helping to reproduce and spread the sacrality of
pilgrimage locations.
The scent also played a role in identifying pilgrims and shaping their understanding of
themselves as participants in the sacred act of pilgrimage. The sensory experience of smell and
other sensory elements like sight and touch contributed to constructing meanings and
narratives around the expedition. It allowed pilgrims to connect with the sacred spaces they
visited and to extract deeper meanings from their experiences.
In essence, scent in early Islamic pilgrimage practices enriched the sensory, communal, and
spiritual dimensions of the pilgrimage experience, contributing to constructing a vivid and
meaningful sacred landscape for early Muslims.
Baharé Rostakiani

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Scents of Space: Early Islamic Pilgrimage, Perfume, and Paradise

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