The Whirling Dervishes

The Whirling Dervishes have become famous worldwide for their distinctive dance called the Sama, which is performed to honour Allah. They are members of the Mevlevi Order of the Sufi, a branch of Islam founded in the 13th Century by Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi. Rumi was a poet, Islamic jurist and theologian whose work is still widely read around the world today.

The story says that Rumi was taking a stroll through town one day when he heard the rhythmic sounds of the goldbeaters. He is said to have heard the words ‘There is no god but Allah’ spoken by the goldbeater and instantly became overcome with happiness. With this he stretched out his arms and began spinning around in a circle, creating the practice of Sama.

The Sama dance follows a particular ritual which is intended to represent the spiritual journey of the participants. It was practised in a ritual hall (samahane) with the dervishes performing the ritual around their sheikh, who remained twirling on his axis. The spinning is performed on the left foot with participants dressed in a white gown, wide black cloak and a tall brown hat.

flickr/world4photos

Whirling Dervishes in Istanbul

The first part of the ceremony is called Naat and Taksim. Naat is the beginning of the ceremony with a solo singer offering praise to Muhammad, much like a call to prayer. The first part then climaxes with Taksim, an improvisation of the ney reed flute which is meant to symbolise our separation from God.

The second part of the ritual is called Devr-i Veled and is a mutual show of respect between the Dervishes before the twirling begins. The Dervishes line up in single file around the hall and bow to each other before kneeling and removing their black cloaks.

The Four Salams is the main part of the Sama. This is where the Dervishes begin to spin around the Sheikh (Sufi whirling) with their right palm facing upwards towards heaven and their left hand pointing to the ground. The Four Salams represent a spiritual journey that each Dervish goes through – recognition of God, recognition of the existence in his unity, the feeling of ecstasy that accompanies total surrender and peace of the heart gained by Divine unity. This part of the ritual ends with a second Taksim.

flickr/Sridhar Rao Chaganti

Sufi Whirling

The final part of the ceremony is a Concluding Prayer, which involves a reading from the Qu’ran and a prayer from the Sheikh. After this the Sama is completed. There are many groups of Whirling Dervishes who travel the world in order to perform and educate, especially at major cultural events and on Rumi’s birthday (December 17).

The order also remains active in its homeland of Turkey and is led by Faruk Hemdem Çelebi, the 20th great-grandson of Rumi himself. Ceremonies in Istanbul and Konya are open to tourists and are performed in the traditional manner.