When Egyptians fear death or apprehend it, or when they are confronted with the taboo of death, they tend to submit themselves to God's will, hoping that he will save them from danger. While taking refuge in God, they resort to religious formulae, choosing from what seems to be an endless collection of prophylactic, protective or soothing incantations and blessings. The role of religion in everyday social interactions of Egyptians cannot be overemphasised. It regulates human relations and helps to catalyse the inner fears of man. Religious formulae denote complex cultural concepts by relating to multi-layered and multi-dimensional, recurrent situations. This embedding in sociocultural context is a crucial feature of formulae. Thus, 'formulaicity' is the lens through which this book analyses the response to the taboo of death in Egypt.
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