Sufism is one of the spiritual paths that emphasizes the mystical aspect of Islamic teachings. The word comes from the Arabic word “sufi” which means mystic, and is derived from the word “suf” meaning “wool”, which is likely related to the woolen clothing worn by the early dervishes.
Sufism can also be associated with the word “saf” which means “purity”. Purity implies removing foreign elements from the essence of something, ultimately leading to the discovery and recognition of one’s true Self.
One of the most famous Sufi orders, the Mevlevi order, was founded by the followers of Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi in 1273 after his death. The order was established by Rumi’s son, Sultan Veled, in Konya, Turkey, from where it gradually expanded throughout the entire Ottoman Empire.
Rumi’s teachings
The most important concept in Islam, including Sufism, is tawhid, according to which God is one and unique. This is the manifestation of the principle of the One who is the necessary Being upon which the existence of all things depends. Everything is from God and everything returns to Him. (Quran)
Tawhid, as the teaching of unity, states that the entire Universe is a reflection of that unity, and the ultimate goal of man is to understand and live that unity, which is also the ultimate goal of Sufism.
What particularly characterizes Rumi’s teaching is the love for the Beloved (God), which implies turning away from the transient world and focusing on the eternal – God. Love encourages giving, sacrificing, and perfecting human beings. Divine love exists within the human being, but due to preoccupation with many things, we cannot hear or feel that Love. Once one hears or feels it like a flash, one strives to hear and enhance that Love again.
… When I descend into a mine, He is the ruby and the precious stone,
when I dive into the sea, He is the white pearl.
When I walk in the desert, He is the oasis;
when I climb the celestial spheres, He is the star….
The path to God, according to Rumi, includes music, poetry, and dance. Music helps devotees to focus their entire being on the divine, And the ritual dance of sema, devised by Rumi, leads to inner unity. Through continuous spinning around its axis, with hands raised towards the sky, the devotee becomes liberated from attachments to the earthly, symbolically moving towards truth, growing through love, quieting its ego, finding truth, and attaining the Perfect. From this spiritual journey, it returns more mature to offer love and service to all, regardless of belief, race, class, or nationality.
Today, the Mevlevi order exists worldwide, as well as schools that study Rumi’s teachings. They attract many seekers due to their universal ideas and call for Love, as the verse says:
Come, come whoever you are
whether you are a seeker or an unbeliever,
whether you worship Fire.
Ours is not the caravan of despair
Come, even if you have broken your vow a thousand times
come, come, and come again!