The history of the whirling dervishes begins with Molana Jalaluddin Rumi who was born in Balkh, (now Afghanestan) between 1200 and 1207. When he was a young boy, his family left their home because of the religious and political climate, just before the invasion of Changiz Khan. The family eventually settled in Ghoniye, Turkey, where his father, Baha'uddin Valad, was a revered religious scholar and mystic. After his father's death Rumi took up his father's position as head of a madresse (religious school).

At the age of 37 Jalaluddin met Shams Tabrizi. Upon meeting they found in each other a unique Friend of Truth who could share the depth of the other's spiritual realization. They would retire into seclusion for long periods of time to have sohbat, a spiritual dialogue in the state of intoxication in the love of God. Their spiritual love and the exclusion of all of Rumi's students and friends caused jealousy amongst them. Shams, feeling the animosity, left Ghoniye and went to Damascus, only to be summoned back by Rumi. Finally Shams disappeared forever, some believing that Rumi's students killed him.

It was Shams who introduced Rumi to music, poetry and turning as a form of mystical absorption in the divine. When Shams disappeared, it opened the gates of Molana's heart and a pouring of verse would not cease until his death in 1275. His poetry is as alive and pertinent today as it was over 725 years ago. His six volume Masnavi is considered a divinely inspired book. His four other books are also examples of moving, passionate and profoundly deep verse.

Poetry, music and dance, in the name of God, were the only things he could do to express this ocean of love Shams had opened in him. His intimacy with the Beloved evoked joy and gratitude in his followers as they gathered for music, sacred chanting and the famous whirling dance.

Years after his death, his son, Sultan Valad, founded the Molavi Order, sometimes known as the Whirling Dervishes. The Sama dance, the sacred Sufi practice of whirling or meditative turning, has been passed down for over seven hundred years, as have the music, zekr (sacred chanting), poetry, and the etiquette of this tradition.

Women and men alike were in the Order and whirled together for three hundred years after Rumi's death. Finally, after more than four hundred years, men and women are again participating in the Sama together.

7Back