Dervishes

Dervishes are practitioners of Sufism, the mystical dimension of Islam, who pursue closeness to God through asceticism, poverty, and spiritual discipline. The term derives from Persian and Arabic roots meaning “beggar” or “poor,” reflecting a vow of dependence on God and rejection of worldly wealth. Dervishes may belong to various Sufi orders and share a common emphasis on inner purification, remembrance of God, and service.

Historically, dervishes are not a single group but a broad category for ascetic Sufis across the Islamic world. Notable orders include the Mevlevi, Qadiriyya, Naqshbandi, and Chishti, each with its own practices and teachings. The Mevlevi order, founded in the 13th century by Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi in Konya, is the best known for its ceremonial sema, the whirling dance that has become a symbolic emblem of Sufi devotion.

Practices commonly associated with dervishes include dhikr (remembrance of God), fasting, contemplation, and voluntary poverty (faqr). Many dervish groups also engage in sama, ritual listening to poetry, music, and breathwork as a path to spiritual awakening. The most iconic expression is the Mevlevi sema, in which practitioners wear a white robe and a tall felt hat, and spin in a controlled, clockwise motion with outstretched arms, symbolizing the soul’s ascent toward the divine.

In contemporary usage, “dervish” can refer broadly to a Sufi practitioner or, in some contexts, to a person who embodies ascetic or spiritual dedication. The Mevlevi sema has been recognized by UNESCO as part of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity.