The Whirling Dervishes of Turkey

Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Rūmī, also known as Mevlânâ or just Rumi, was a poet and Islamic scholar in the 13^th century, whose works have been translated around the world. He is, in fact, the best selling poet in the United States, and, despite being alive eight centuries ago, he left a wide-reaching legacy across a variety of disciplines.

Much of his poetry was the foundation for Iranian and Afghan music, and he is often credited with introducing the West to Sufi teachings through his writings. Sufism is a mystic sect of Islam, which traces its roots all the way back to Muhammad himself. Today, it is practiced all over the world, but especially in Konya, Turkey, the place where Rumi settled. After his death in 1273, Rumi’s followers created the Mevlevi Order, more commonly known as the Whirling Dervishes, famous for their practice of hypnotic dancing called sama.

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Rumi is much beloved for utilizing music, dance and poetry as a means of finding God by meditating on simple melodies and movement. By whirling in veneration to the divine, participants are said to reach a state of wajd, similar to the concept of nirvana in Buddhism, where all personal doubts disappear, allowing pure, unadulterated communication with God. According to Sufism, sama does not mean reaching a higher state, it only reveals what is already in one’s heart.

To get the full Mevlevi experience, visitors to Turkey should go in December, when the Whirling Dervishes celebrate Rumi’s wedding night on Dec. 17, in Konya. As Turkey’s most conservative city, there are no bars or alcohol, but many of those who see the Mevlânâ Festival can’t help but feel an intoxicating effect. The whirling dance is said to produce a “contact high,” creating a trance-like state for the dancers and spectators alike.