The Garden and the Fire: Heaven and Hell in Islamic Culture

Islamic conceptions of heaven and hell began in the seventh century as an early doctrinal innovation, but by the twelfth century, they had evolved into a highly formalized ideal of perfection. In tracking this transformation, Nerina Rustomji reveals the distinct material culture and aesthetic vocabulary Muslims developed to understand heaven and hell and identifies the communities and strategies that took shape around the promise of a future world after death. She also conducts a meticulous study of texts and images and carefully connects the landscape and social dynamics of the afterworld with earthly models and expectations. By employing material culture as a method of historical inquiry, Rustomji points to the reflections, discussions, and constructions that actively influenced Muslims' picture of the afterworld, culminating in a distinct religious aesthetic.