Spinning Dervishes

[AbuKhalid]

Could someone explain this phenomenon to me a little. Am I correct in believing they are Sufi, though a small minority of Sufi?

Is there any basis for what they do in the sunnah according to them and if not then where did their methods of worship arise from?

[A-ManESL]

Yes they are Sufis of the Mevlevi order. The Mevlevi believe in performing their dhikr in the form of a "dance" and music ceremony (Sema), which involves the whirling from which the order acquired its nickname. The Sema represents a mystical journey of man's spiritual ascent through mind and love to "Perfect". Turning towards the truth, the follower grows through love, deserts his ego, finds the truth and arrives at the "Perfect". He then returns from this spiritual journey as a man who has reached maturity and a greater perfection, so as to love and to be of service to the whole of creation.

The origin of Sema is credited to Rumi, Sufi master and inspiration behind the Mevlevi's. The story of the creation of this unique form of dhikr is that Rumi was walking through the town marketplace one day when he heard the rhythmic hammering of the goldbeaters. It is believed that Rumi heard the dhikr, "la elaha ella'llah" or in English, "no god, but God" in the apprentices beating of the gold and so entranced in happiness he stretched out both of his arms and started spinning in a circle.

With regard to sunnah, I do not know how the Mevlevi order justifies it. But perhaps this related tradition will be helpful. (I found this here & cannot vouch for it.)

Imam Ahmad relates from Anas (Allah be well pleased with him), with a chain of transmission all of whose narrators are those of Bukhari except Hammad ibn Salama, who is one of the narrators of Muslim, that the Ethiopians danced in front of the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace); dancing and saying [in their language], “Muhammad is a righteous servant.” The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “What are they saying?” And they said, “‘Muhammad is a righteous servant’”

(Musnad al-Imam Ahmad. 6 vols. Cairo 1313/1895. Reprint. Beirut: Dar Sadir, n.d., 3.152).

Other versions of the hadith clarify that this took place in the mosque in Medina, though in any case, the fact that dancing was done before the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) establishes that it is mubah or “permissible” in the shari‘a, for if it had been otherwise, he would have been obliged to condemn it.

For this reason, Imam Nawawi says:

Dancing is not unlawful, unless it is languid, like the movements of the effeminate. And it is permissible to speak and to sing poetry, unless it satirizes someone, is obscene, or alludes to a particular woman”

(Minhaj al-talibin wa ‘umdat al-muttaqin. Cairo 1338/1920. Reprint. Cairo: Mustafa al-Babi al-Halabi, n.d., 152).

[Buttons*]

I'm actually going to see one on the 7th of August, I'll let you know what I got out of it

[Nepenthe]

We saw the Mevlevi dervishes Shebi-arus dance (or prayer dance) at UCLA back in Dec. '07. It was hypnotic- nearly 4 hours of nonstop Turkish music and dancing.

[menj]

Originally Posted by AbuKhalid

Is there any basis for what they do in the sunnah according to them and if not then where did their methods of worship arise from?

No basis for it at all in the Sunnah; it is an innovation.