Sufi Whirling Dervishes of Istanbul

The Mevlevi Order or Mawlawiyya (Turkish: Mevlevilik or Mevleviyye; Persian: طریقت مولویه) is a Sufi order that originated in Konya (a city now in Turkey; formerly capital of the Anatolian Seljuk Sultanate) and which was founded by the followers of Jalaluddin Muhammad Balkhi Rumi, a 13th-century Persian poet, Sufi mystic, and Islamic theologian. The Mevlevis are also known as the "whirling dervishes" due to their famous practice of whirling as a form of dhikr (remembrance of God). Dervish is a common term for an initiate of the Sufi path; whirling is part of the formal sema ceremony and the participants are properly known as semazens.
In 2008, UNESCO confirmed "The Mevlevi Sema Ceremony" as amongst the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.
Approximately 750 years old, the Mevlevi Order is a living tradition based on the teachings of Rumi, also known as Mevlana, who is perhaps Turkey's most celebrated poet and in Iran, second only to Hafiz. He is also venerated as a divine mystic within Sufi Islam. Rumi's friend and spiritual mentor, Shams of Tabriz, is also revered within the order and within Sufism more widely.[4]
Rumi said, "As long as I have life, I am the slave of the Quran. I am dust at the door of Muhammad the Chosen", and the Mevlevi path is based firmly on Islamic principles. Kabir Helminski, a Mevlevi shaikh, writes 'It is a rigorous path of initiation and service continually adapting itself to changing circumstances and times.... Mevlevis have always been progressive and liberal in spirit while at the same time conserving the best of tradition.'
The Mevlevis insist that love is at the centre of Islam. Mevlevi shaikh Şefik Can writes, 'Rumi tells us to take the love of God to the forefront, to abstain from being attached to the letter of the law rather than the spirit of it, to find the essence of the faith, and to raise our faith from the level of imitation to the level of realization.'
Origins of Sema
According to a popular story, Rumi was first inspired to whirl when he heard the hammering of the goldsmiths in Konya's bazaar, however, Mevlevi historian Abdülbâki Gölpınarlı believed that Rumi must have learnt whirling from Shams of Tabriz. Şefik Can claimed that whirling was practiced among Sufis at least as early as Abu Sa’id Abu’l-Khayr (d. 1049). Though they have cultivated it to the highest degree, Mevlevis are not the only Sufis who practice whirling, and Kabir Helminski suggests primordial origins: "The practice of whirling may have its origins in the timeless shadows of Central Asian spirituality where shamans used it to induce altered states of consciousness."
History
Early expansion
The order was established after Rumi's death in 1273 by his son Sultan Veled and Husameddin Chelebi (who inspired Rumi to write the Mathnavi).[4] Like his father, Sultan Veled is celebrated for his poetry. Lyrics he wrote are often sung during the sema ceremony itself,[12] and both he and Husameddin Chelebi are honoured within the order as accomplished Sufi mystics in their own right. It was they who had Rumi's mausoleum built in Konya, which to this day is a place of pilgrimage for many Muslims (and non-Muslims). A number of Rumi's successors, including both Sultan Veled and Husameddin Chelebi themselves, are also buried there. Their personal efforts to establish the order were continued by Sultan Veled's son Ulu Arif Chelebi.
During the Ottoman period, the Mevlevi order spread into the Balkans, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, and Palestine, especially in Jerusalem. The Bosnian writer Meša Selimović wrote the book The Dervish and Death about a Mevlevi dergah in Sarajevo. Eventually, there were as many as 114 Sufi lodges, the order becoming well established within the Ottoman Empire when Devlet Hatun, a descendant of Sultan Veled, married Bayezid I. Their son Mehmed I Çelebi became the next sultan, endowing the order, as did his successors, with many advantages. Many of the members of the order served in various official positions within the empire.
Though the Sufi lodges were forced to close down, Mevlevi practice continues within Turkey but in a more restricted and private mode. Sufism is still officially illegal in Turkey, and sema ceremonies are therefore officially presented as cultural events of historical interest rather than as worship. (Wikipedia)

[@evelynrivera8799]

First time I saw this dance was with Catagay Ulusoy in The Tailor movie. I loved it and researched. Thanks to the Turkish people for sharing this beautiful part of your culture with us in America. 🙏

[@frankneil5958]

So amazing to watch❤

[@joseortega-betancourt7373]

Have seen this in person, it is even more powerful experienced live ... Don't miss it if you are ever in Istanbul, not easy to find in the Asian part of the city, across the bridge.

[@jones10.04]

Divine. ❤🤲❤

[@jkdkdd192]

عند قراءتي لرواية قواعد العشق الاربعون اصبحت مهوسة بالصوفين و اكتر شيء عجبني هو هده الرقصة "سما" كما اطلق عليها جلال الدين الرومي

[@dreamerdreamer-u2i]

السماع وليس سما . والسماع تحدث عنه الامام الغزالي في كتاب احياء علوم الدين

[@Canada-gs3jc]

I used to do this as a little kid in my kitchen

[@Fatima-i6r5v]

Hhhh,hh

[@Gaia-yq4rg]

Bellooooooos hermosos son un unos ángeles danzando

[@shalinisudan901]

Beautiful

[@orcidioorcidia2744]

Maravilhoso.❤

[@Ruben-vn8qb]

Rumi...one of the best spiritual poets of any place and age..

[@josefinajaime4550]

Thanks fot sharing ❤❤❤❤

[@isabelruiz6446]

Bello rea,mente hacen la conexión con Alá

[@dolmahify]

Magnifique respect à eux 🤲

[@JamazVu]

Is there any chance to witness this as a tourist (not muslim)? Or is it a closed ceremony?

[@rahmariinn4760]

I think you can come to Konya until this December 17th, that's all I know

[@JamazVu]

@@rahmariinn4760 what about january or february?

[@istanbul-beautiful]

I went to the public viewing when I was visiting Istanbul - it's not closed

[@syedarehana7053]

When you will know about sufism It will awesome! You will see tha acctual beauty of islam When you will know about "Belayat E Mutalaqa" Written by Hazrat Ochi e Gausul Azam Maizbhanderi (M.) When you will introduce with Rahbare Alam Syed Mohammad Hasan Maizbhanderi (M.) You will feel better.who is now in the chair of Hazrat Gausul Azam Maizbhanderi (M.) The only son of Shahenshah Hazrat Ziaul haq Maizbhanderi (M.) who is knoen as World scent

[@rahmariinn4760]

@@JamazVu I don't think Sufi is held in January or February

[@sarkargaming2619]

Mashallah subhanallah

[@jolantagintere3040]

Здравствуйте! ... Великолепно! ...зачем люди придумали вино... Когда есть такое ... Смотри, слушай...имеющий глаза - увидит... имеющий уши услышит... Имеющий разум воспримет... Извините за глупый вопрос - женщинам нельзя такие танцы танцевать в вашей традиции?... Извините если, что не так сказал... Спасибо за видео! Привет из Латвии!

[@meryemeelachal1330]

It's not only simple dance it more than cultural it's kind of religion practice ❤

[@suraya1224]

@Jolanta Gintere: At one time, women were not allowed. That is changing, in Istanbul, Turkey; in Afghanistan, there is a troupe of females dervishes.

[@valsainking]

This is so beautiful and calming. A mesmerizing display. 💕💕

[@clovisredmond]

Madonna's "Bedtime Stories" music video led me to search for this dance. It's beautiful.

[@annawitter5161]

Beautiful! They all spin left, which seems a natural way to go, why is that?

[@lopakhan6022]

WHICH WAY DOES THE EARTH SPINS, OR HAJJIS GO AROUND THE KABA IN MECCAH?

[@user-ub9nj6yw6l]

Could you write the copyright owner to this film? I would like to use it and want to know where the clip is from, thank you.

[@marinamazzanti9356]

Meraviglioso veramente ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@PhilipBowden-oz7mm]

With practise in unison heaven is within us

[@muhamadfarulfahrul9674]

Luar biasa 🙏🥰

[@bouchrabouhaddou3316]

Bonjour peut-on expliquer le sens des gestes et de la chorégraphie svp

[@silviamassera1349]

Ils tournent comme des atomes, une main tournée vers le ciel pour recevoir, l'autre vers la terre pour donner. Ils tournent, ivres d'amour pour l'Amour infini et cette "ivresse" les portent à l'extase, à l'Union avec le Divin. Se perdre , n'être rien, pour se fondre dans le Tout.

[@bouchrabouhaddou3316]

@@silviamassera1349 merci

[@gacem.hassina]

Merci

[@abdulkarimnuruzzaman1404]

I like this

[@mohamedmonkachi698]

تبارك ألله

[@sabeeqanasir9621]

Why can't I be there ?! 😔

[@yomeyo6622]

What song is being played?

[@vivette8944]

How come they don’t get dizzy?

[@cate-rf4dw]

Its like meditation man they used to do it

[@Rabbit1-y9k]

magikLL!

[@salmanrendra7257]

tariannya sangat bagus

[@imkhalishy3902]

hebat sekali tarian nya

[@mohammedraffe731]

Sufism is illegal in turkey?

[@fondgamer1523]

I wish it was

[@brunolima7402]

@@fondgamer1523 why?

[@kaypee4704]

The practice of Sufism in Turkiye was banned by Ataturk..due to Sufi leaders being a threat to Islamic Orthodoxy... It seems ironic that they kept the dance....

[@BIGDINKMAN]

Why am i reminded of GEOD’s Museum Fremen?

[@xavier84623]

im dizzy just watching

[@alexandradeuen1610]

Klösterliche Disziplin und Einkehr,

[@LHVMleodragonlamb]

it should be understood some eyes are water to oil

[@leila466]

🤍🤍🤍

[@douglasgibbse2001]

Johnson Mary Anderson Carol White Larry

[@ΓιάννηςΜαντασάς]

32:15

[@iamaftabraza]

These guys are Artists not Sufis🥴

[@sibelshinaishin5170]

ADMIT IT YOU ARE GREEN IN ENVY.

[@銀月-l5q]

SAWA dear Kirk ray hare ha ray Round about miro view rin sun Kari Cher s planetEarth blue brue no to on mark Davies k ray narrow north clown

[@melissagLove]

So beautiful ❤

[@traebee333]

This is my very favorite thing about earth

[@maninironmask7925]

The tragedy that every original spiritual insight, eventually becomes ritualistic performance and spectacle.

[@Kwelinzito]

Exactly. Spirituality is sacrificed at the altar of showmanship. A sacred circus, if you will.

[@maninironmask7925]

@@Kwelinzito Agreed

[@owenlee3771]

Wise comment 👍

[@magnan6535]

But I guess that is simply how culture works. The original spiritual insight - as you describe it - had Rumi 8th years ago and he would have taken it into his grave, if he had not communicated it to others. Also, I personally believe that the ritual does not loose its message or meaning by becoming interesting to tourists.

[@genexsekwa]

I am a seeker. A woman who learned to spin on her own. By listening to heaven. I thought I was alone until I began to dig REALLY DEEPLY. I found spinners all over the world. I appreciate seeing myself in whatever incarnation I exist. ❤️‍🩹

[@gracielaacosta5821]

Maravilloso,Arte y respeto.⭐🎧

[@RickarooCarew]

🙏 Barış seninle olsun 🙏 ✌️ Peace ✌️

[@auliyaadiba3367]

Thankyu for your videos

[@PhilipBowden-oz7mm]

Thankyou for sharing your ceremony

[@ALAINRAWELET]

Je ne sais quoi dire a part que c'est de toute beauté, les chants soufis et ces derviches ❤

[@gacem.hassina]

Any translation of the qassid please?

[@madam_fox]

I know Arabic but I don't understand this sorry

[@gacem.hassina]

@@madam_fox it is because it is not arabic, it is turkish .

[@fawwazazkaaa]

sangat menakjubkan🎉

[@ibrahimibru1517]

❤️

[@blugreen99]

Why do all dervishes whirl anti clockwise only? Ti's a great mystery,,?

[@shaan702]

I’ve always wondered what they do when they stop spinning. Now I know

[@MrCinghialotto]

God bless those people

[@juliasmaragd406]

❤

[@Abelfhri07]

Very cool 👍

[@hrhrlh]

Dancing straight to jahannam

[@sibelshinaishin5170]

WHAT ARE YOU? ALL MIGHTY? MAY BE YOU WILL END UP IN HELL.AS JUDGEMENTALL AS YOU ARE WHO KNOWS?

[@alexandradeuen1610]

Geistliche Musik, ist immer schön !Und diese Männer haben ihren Frieden gefunden !Sie sind so vielleicht vor dem Leiden in einer psychiatrischen Klinik entkommen !davor sicher und gerettet ,!das Kloster wurde schon für viele ,menschen zum rettenden hafen ,f

[@zgrce]

If you look at their hands closely while one palm is facing up the other palm is facing down. It symbolizes " sharing it with people what comes from god "

[@zokijovanovic6340]

Pozdrav braći !♥️