Simple Clothing and Appearance
The Mevlevi dervishes were known for their simple and humble clothing. Their shirts were made from the roughest kind of linen, showing their rejection of luxury and comfort. Over their shoulders they wore a white cloak or mantle, although many preferred a loose wool garment made in Iconium or other parts of Anatolia. These garments were usually dark in color and very plain Istanbul Tour Guide.
On their heads they wore tall caps shaped like the crown of a large hat. These caps were made from coarse camel hair and were often whitish in color. Their clothing reflected humility, poverty, and separation from worldly pleasures.
The dervishes usually kept their legs bare and left their chests partly uncovered. Some even burned or scarred their chests as a sign of religious devotion and self-denial. Around their waists they wore leather belts decorated with simple designs or writings upon the buckle.
Their appearance was intended to show discipline, sacrifice, and spiritual dedication rather than wealth or beauty.
Their Practice of Fasting
Besides observing the important fast of Ramadan, the dervishes also practiced an additional weekly fast every Thursday. On this day, no member of the order was permitted to eat until sunset unless illness or another lawful reason prevented it.
These fasts were considered important exercises in self-control and spiritual purification. The dervishes believed that reducing physical comfort helped the soul grow stronger and closer to God.
Religious Teachings and Sermons
Every Tuesday and Friday, the superior or spiritual leader of the convent delivered a sermon to the dervishes. During these gatherings, he explained verses from the Quran or teachings written by the founder of the order and other respected Islamic scholars.
The dervishes listened with great humility and respect. They bowed before their superior and behaved with silence and discipline throughout the ceremony.
These sermons helped guide the spiritual life of the community and reminded the dervishes of the values of devotion, obedience, and humility.
The Ceremony of Turning
One of the most remarkable practices of the Mevlevi dervishes was their ceremonial turning or spinning. After the sermon ended, the dervishes slowly began to turn in circles. Some spun with such speed that their faces could hardly be recognized.
During the ceremony, music played continuously on a simple pipe made from a reed or cane. The sound of the flute accompanied the movement of the dancers and created a deeply spiritual atmosphere.
When the music suddenly stopped, all the dervishes ended their spinning immediately and with great precision. Even after such rapid movement, they showed no signs of dizziness or confusion. Because they practiced this ritual from childhood or youth, the spinning became natural to them over time.
The Story of Mevlana
According to tradition, this ceremony began with the founder of the order, Mevlana. The dervishes believed that he once spun continuously for fourteen days without food through miraculous spiritual strength. During this time, his companion Hamza played the flute beside him.
Eventually, Mevlana entered a spiritual ecstasy and received divine revelations and instructions for the creation of the order. Because of this story, the flute became a sacred instrument among the Mevlevi dervishes.
They believed that similar instruments had once been used by holy shepherds such as Jacob in ancient times to praise God.