Whirling Dervishes



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In the Middle Ages the great Sufi orders, which had several million adherents, were established; about 100 orders still exist, many of them in Turkey and Iran. One of the most influential founders of orders was the Persian poet Jalal al-Din Muhammad Rumi, who, in addition to composing poetry and other works, instituted devotional dances, particularly those of the whirling dervishes.

BBC Worldwide Americas, Inc.

Appears in these articles:

Islam; Dervish

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