Baraka
Baraka is an important Islamic concept that describes the magical blessing that flows from a holy man or a holy place. Baraka (barakat) does not vanish with the death of the holy man but rather continues. Therefore, shrines of saints are venerated, and the devout can partake of blessing, which is thought to hover like an aura around the holy place. Baraka can also be obtained from the relics of a holy man (often his personal effects).
The strongest baraka comes from Mecca, the holiest city for the Islamic faith, because it is thought to be the first city created by Adam. The story goes that at Mecca Abraham erected the Kaaba, deemed to be the center of the world, where can be found the Black Stone, a potent source of baraka.
People who participate in the annual Hajj (pilgrimage) to Mecca are thought to possess powerful baraka, which is said to last a lifetime (and perhaps even beyond). Holy objects obtained in Mecca are also considered a powerful source of blessing. One such object is water from the well of Zamzam. Islamic tradition states that the angel Gabriel dug Zamzam in order to save Hagar and her son Ismail from dying of thirst. Probably this tradition dates from pre-Islamic times.
Further Reading
Farah, Caesar E. (2000) Islam: Beliefs and Observances. Hauppauge, NY: Barron's.
Renard, John. (1996) Seven Doors to Islam: Spirituality and the Religious Life of Muslims. Berkeley and Los Angeles: University of California Press.
Rippin, Andrew. (2001) Muslims: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices. London: Routledge.
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