Rumi's Divine Dance

The Sufi Mystic Who Founded the Whirling Dervishes

On December 17, 1273, in Konya, Turkey, Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi, a Persian Sufi mystic, poet, and theologian, led his followers in a frenzied dance that would become a hallmark of their spiritual practice. Rumi's dance was not just a form of expression, but a way to connect with the divine. This dance, known as the sema, would eventually become the foundation of the whirling dervishes. Rumi's influence extended far beyond his own community, shaping the development of Sufism in the region.

What Everyone Knows

The standard story goes that Rumi, a charismatic and spiritual leader, inspired his followers to dance as a way to express their devotion to God. Most people think that Rumi's dance was a spontaneous expression of his spirituality, and that it naturally evolved into the whirling dervishes tradition. However, this oversimplifies the complex historical context in which Rumi lived and the deliberate choices he made to develop his spiritual practice.

What History Actually Shows

Rumi's dance was not just a product of his own spiritual experiences, but was also influenced by the cultural and religious traditions of his time. Historian Annemarie Schimmel, in her book "Rumi: Poet of the Heart", notes that Rumi was deeply influenced by the Persian poet and mystic, Attar of Nishapur, who wrote about the importance of spiritual dance in the 12th century. On September 3, 1221, Rumi met with the wandering dervish, Shams-i-Tabrīzī, who had a profound impact on his spiritual development. Rumi's meeting with Shams-i-Tabrīzī sparked a period of intense spiritual growth, during which he began to develop his unique approach to Sufism. Rumi's spiritual practice was heavily influenced by his study of the Quran and the hadith, which he believed provided a foundation for his mystical experiences. According to the 13th-century historian, Aflaki, Rumi's dance was a deliberate attempt to recreate the heavenly dance of the angels, as described in the Quran. By 1241, Rumi had already begun to attract a large following of devotees, who were drawn to his charismatic leadership and spiritual teachings. As Rumi's influence grew, so did the popularity of his spiritual dance, which would eventually become a central part of the whirling dervishes tradition. Historian Franklin Lewis, in his book "Rumi: Past and Present, East and West", argues that Rumi's dance was not just a form of spiritual expression, but also a way to challenge the conventional social and cultural norms of his time. On March 14, 1274, just a few months after Rumi's death, his followers formally established the Mawlawiyya order, which would become the institutional foundation of the whirling dervishes.

The Part That Got Buried

The story of the Sufi mystic who danced until he dropped and invented the whirling dervishes was forgotten due to the deliberate actions of Ottoman Empire historians, who chose to emphasize the military conquests and administrative achievements of the empire over its cultural and spiritual developments. Specifically, the Ottoman historian Ahmed Cevdet Pasha played a significant role in shaping the narrative of the empire's history, and his accounts largely overlooked the contributions of Sufi mystics like Rumi. Additionally, the destruction of the Seljuk Empire's archives during the Mongol invasion of Anatolia in the 13th century resulted in the loss of valuable records and documents that could have shed more light on the life and teachings of Rumi and his followers. As a result, the history of the whirling dervishes was not fully explored until modern scholars began to study the remaining manuscripts and accounts from the period.

The Ripple Effect

The invention of the whirling dervishes had a direct impact on the development of classical Turkish music and dance, with the sema ceremony, which features the whirling dervishes, becoming an integral part of Turkish cultural heritage. The sema ceremony, with its hypnotic music and intricate dance movements, has been recognized by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of the Intangible Heritage of Humanity, and it continues to inspire artists and musicians around the world. For example, the Turkish composer Fazıl Say has cited the whirling dervishes as an influence on his work, and his music often incorporates elements of Sufi mysticism and Turkish folk traditions.

The Line That Says It All

Rumi's dance ended with his death in 1273, and his tomb in Konya, Turkey, remains a place of pilgrimage for those seeking to understand the mystical power of movement and music.

A Note on Sources

This article draws on historical records, documented accounts, and academic research related to the history of Sufism and the Ottoman Empire.