Ritual cursing as an oath of submission: The problem of religious difference across Safavid Iran and modern Pakistan

Abstract This article undertakes a comparison between Safavid Iran and modern Pakistan with the aim of highlighting similarities differences their respective state projects crafting ‘Islamic’ polities. The proceeds through focus on state-sanctioned practice ritual cursing Sunnis Ahmadis in respectively. In both cases, states made extensive legal efforts to mark out these religious Others by vilifying them charges heresy innovation. argues that this vilification was oriented towards creating homogeneity among political subjects polity, who were required curse condemn order demonstrate submission sovereign power. Ritual thus functioned as an oath elicited draw into project sacralizing polity discipline reproducing normative There are also significant two cases throw light historical specificity different modes sovereignty early Muslim While kings sacralized realm diffusion scriptural law moulded enhance own power, Pakistani is engaged sacralization national body politic its official nationalist ideology.