L’Islam des pierres : l’expression de la foi dans les graffiti arabes des premiers siècles

Abstract

The Arabic Kufic graffitis of the early centuries of Islam, in Arabia as in the Middle East, represent an inexhaustible source of information on the origins of Muslim society. However, the dating of these texts to the ist/viith century (before the Umayyad period), remains problematic and should be based on rigorous palaeographic analysis. The study of the religious content of graffitis can help to date these inscriptions because they demonstrate progressive phases of development. The oldest graffitis, dated 23/643 and 24/644, do not contain any reference to religion. The inscribers, like their contemporaries, seemed more interested in perpetuating their names on the stone, following the model of Safaitic inscriptions. The study of the first professions of faith shows that there had been archaic formulae prior to the traditional shahâda, reflecting a very materialistic tribal monotheism. As for the recurrent requests for forgiveness and mercy, they may have been a rhetorical technique. Finally, the absence of any reference to the prophet Muhammad in the oldest graffitis shows in itself the historical and religious challenge of this epigraphic study.

Keywords

• formulary
• graffitis
• palaeography
• faith
• monotheism
• Prophet Muḥammad