Angels, Ritual and Sacred Space in Islam

The idea of ‘sacred space’ has been discussed frequently in the study of religion, both the ways in which faith communities engage with sacred space, as well as how different religions define and authenticate their sacred spaces. This article will look at the ways in which Muslim sacred spaces are defined in Islam, looking particularly at the way in which angels are used to confirm the sanctity of particular locations. It will look notions of sacred space in relation to the Ka’ba and other places of prayer, comparing Muslim ideas with those of Judaism, Christianity and other religious traditions.