Le semah alevi bektachi reflète le fait que tout est en mouvement dans l'Univers. The Whirling Dervishes of the Mevlevi order are probably the best-known practitioners of Sama. JSTOR. The Alchemy of Happiness. [7] Poetry is often included in the ceremony as well, because while it is inadequate by itself, it works together with aid in spiritual contemplation. Sema is prominent in the ceremonies of the Alevi community of Turkey and the closely related Bektashi Order. Studia Islamica 74 (1991): 43-62.JSTOR. Semah rituals are founded upon the concept of unity with God as part of a natural cycle: people come from God and return to God. It is also performed as a folk and concert dance. Semahs are the most crucial means for the transmission of the Alevi-Bektaşi tradition. In the collective memories of most Sunni groups, the Alevi communities were not considered to be ‘proper Muslims’ and their villages and neighborhoods were marked as the world of ‘the other’” (Erol 2010). [6] It often includes the singing of hymns, called qawl and bayt. It is essential that the trance-like experience of wajd be genuine and not faked for any reason. It is a journey where “the seeker’s turning toward God and truth, a maturing through love, the transformation of self as a way of union with God, and the return to life as the servant of all creation” (Sansal 1996). Cemlerdeki 12 hizmetlerin içinde yer alan ana ritüellerinden biridir. It brings out a person's love of God, purifies the soul, and is a way of finding God. They are performed by both male and female teenagers, often in mixed groups, and participants turn facing each other in pairs or small groups and do not necessarily whirl as individuals. [8] The immediate goal of sama' is to reach wajd, which is a trance-like state of ecstasy. [10] Turning towards the truth, the follower grows through love, deserts his ego, finds the truth and arrives at perfection. He is noted for establishing a rule for conduct in the khanaqah and also for the introduction of music (sama'), poetry and dance, as part of the Sufi collective devotional ritual of dhikr. [3] It may have been in use since the 10th century to refer to a type of dhikr (remembrance of God), a spiritual concert, a ceremony used by various Sufi orders, particularly the Chishti order of the sub-continent. Brill Online, 2010. Various forms of Semah exist in Alevi-Bektaşi communities across Turkey, each with distinct musical characteristics and rhythmic structures. "Jazn-A Jama'iya (Feast of The Assembly)." Muslims are divided into two groups regarding the issue of sama and the use of music in general: 1) Opponents, particularly of the Salafi/Wahabbi sect. The most common forms of Alevi sema include kirklar semahı (sema of the forty) and turnalar semahı (crane sema). Langlois, Tony. The England Alevi Cultural Centre and Cemevi is the largest community organisation in size and number in service of the Turkish and Kurdish community. In Egypt, the Mevlevi form of Sama is known as tannoura and has been adopted (with some modifications) by other Sufi orders as well. Ed. D'un point de vue mystique, le semah alevi bektachi reflète le fait que tout est en mouvement dans l'Univers [10]. was born in Mayhana, a town near Sarakhs, in Iran, bordering Turkmenistan. [8] Al-Ghazzali wrote a chapter entitled "Concerning Music and Dancing as Aids to the Religious Life", where he emphasized how the practices of music and dance are beneficial to Muslims, as long as their hearts are pure before engaging in these practices. Semah günlük, fakat temiz elbiseyle dönülebilir, bazı semahlar dışında (üryan semahı) özel elbise gerekmez. Semah is an Alevi ritual dance. Meditation and Sufi practices are allowed in Islam as long as they are within the limits of the Shari'ah (Islamic law). Participants in sama are expected to remain silent and still, and controlled throughout the ceremony, unless wajd occurs. Semah, Alevi-Bektaşi Ritual (UNESCO) Re-Imagining Identity: The Transformation of the Alevi Semah by Ayhan Erol. Participants move as a group in a circle while also turning each individually. Gribetz, Arthur. Re-Imagining Identity: The Transformation of the Alevi Semah Semah Alevi inancına ait vazgeçilmez bir parçasıdır. (355). During, J., and R. Sellheim. Armonk, N.Y.: M.E. Pascal Milelli is an artist and painter based in British Columbia. With that the practice of Sama and the dervishes of the Mevlevi order were born. [2], This term stems from the root-verb meaning acceptance by tradition, from which derives the words سَمْع (sam‘un) and اِسْتِمَاع (’istimā‘un, listening), often paired with نَقْل (naqlun) and تَقْلِيد (taqlīdun, tradition). The most common forms of Alevi sema include kirklar semahı (sema of the forty) and turnalar semahı (crane sema). [5] However, only instruments which are symbolic and not considered profane are used. Alevism is a religious belief based on ancient Turkish beliefs which still have some elements of animism and shamanism in them and have integrated some ideas borrowed from Shiism. It is believed that Rumi heard the dhikr, لا إله إلا الله "la ilaha ilallah" or in English, "There is no god but Allah" 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 (sufi whirling). Qur'anic verses are never to be set to meditation, nor ornamented or improvised in any way, so that they remain sacred texts.[6]. Contact | Emblem | Publications | FAQ | Forms | Terms of use, Sounds of living heritage, a journey through indigenous languages (2019), Passing it on: Inventorying living heritage in Africa (2016), ICH for sustainable development: a virtual exhibition (2013), Recognizing Our Cultural Heritage... (2010), Living Heritage: Exploring the Intangible (2007), Mechanism to encourage multinational files, Engaging youth for an inclusive and sustainable Europe, Living heritage experiences and the COVID-19 pandemic, Social practices, rituals and festive events. Ethnomeditation Forum 13.2 (2004): 309-11. The community centre has held its doors open to all regardless of faith and culture since 1993. Semah ile Sema karıştırılmamalıdır. The origination of Sama in the Mevlevi Order of Sufis credited to Rumi, Sufi master and creator of the Mevlevis. It can be described as a set of mystical and aesthetic movements in rhythmic harmony performed by semah performers (semah dancers), accompanied by zakirs (musical performers in cem rituals) playing the baglama. In this blog, I am going to focus on one specific area of interest: the difference between Sema of Sunni Mevlevis and Semah of Shia Alevis. Also, people must maintain proper intent and actions must be present throughout the sama'; otherwise, they cannot experience the ceremony's intended positive effects. Ainsi, selon Mevlana, « Tüm evren semah döner » : rien ne reste en place et tout est en perpétuel changement. Sometimes, the experience of wajd becomes so strong that fainting or even, in extreme circumstances, death[citation needed], occurs. At this point, wajd can be reached. During, J., and R. Sellheim. JSTOR. It often involves prayer, song and dance.[4]. Semahs are performed by semahçıs (Semah dancers), accompanied by devout musicians playing the saz long-necked lute. Semah etmek, ibadet etmektir. [1] Rashow, Khalil J. Alevis are not Shia Muslims. (273), Social practices, rituals and festive events [6] This way, a higher degree of spiritual contemplation can be reached. (49), Oral traditions and expressions Brill Online, 2010. Plucked string instruments The most common of these are the tambourine, bells, and flute. In this way, Semahs play a crucial role in fostering and enriching the traditional music culture of Turkey. Langlois, Tony. “Alevis were oppressed not only by the state but were also disliked by the Sunni community. Kelime sema kökünden gelen, uçmak, işitmek, gökyüzü ve kendinde geçmek gibi anlamları içerir. Rumi has said in reference to Sama', "For them it is the Sama' of this world and the other. P. Bearman, T. Bianquis, C. E. Bosworth, E. Van Donzel and W. P. Heinrichs. However, the listener's heart must first be pure, or the dancing components of sama' will make these people full of lust instead of love for God. Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity, UNESCO Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sama_(Sufism)&oldid=973088541, Articles containing Turkish-language text, Articles with unsourced statements from July 2019, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 15 August 2020, at 08:43. Encyclopedia Iranica. The sema is a dance performed by the “Whirling Dervishes”. Ethnomeditation Forum 13.2 (2004): 309-11. Any poetry, even the erotic, can be applied to God, and thus used for this ceremony. ... Semah, Alevi … Even more for the circle of dancers within the Sama' who turn and have in their midst, their own Ka'aba." Alevi/Bektashi. Participants must restrain themselves from movement and crying until they reach a point in which they can no longer hold back. Alevism is a religious belief based on ancient Turkish beliefs which still have some elements of animism and shamanism in them and have integrated some ideas borrowed from Shiism. Your browser is not supported by this application. Sharpe, 1991. For other uses, see. Sama (Turkish: Sema, Persian, Urdu and Arabic: سَمَاع‎ - samā‘un) is a Sufi ceremony performed as dhikr. This relates Sama' to the pilgrimage to Mecca, in that both are intended to bring all who are involved closer to God. All practices, traditional motifs and teachings are passed on orally, and distinct genres of art and literature associated with the tradition continue to thrive. It is a particularly popular form of worship in Sufism. The Sama represents a mystical journey of man's spiritual ascent through mind and love to perfection. Another state that people hope to reach through sama' is khamra, which means "spiritual drunkenness". About the Artist. Alevis are not Shia Muslims. One consistent characteristic is the performance of the ritual by both men and women, side by side. Günümüzde bir çok cem evinde ve Alevi derneklerinde folklorik semah ekipleri oluşturulmuş bulunmaktadır. It is a serious mistake to think of Alevis as Shia Muslims. Sama emphasizes singing, but also includes the playing of instruments, particularly for introductions and accompaniments. One consistent characteristic is the performance of the ritual by both men and women, side by side. Ed. "Sama'" Encyclopedia of Islam, Second Edition. Semah is one of the main twelve services of the Cem rituals which are considered as religious practices by Alevi adherents. Semahs can be described as a set of mystical and aesthetic body movements in rhythmic harmony. Read more on periodic reports. Ultimately, people hope to achieve the unveiling of mysteries and gain spiritual knowledge through wajd. Sema is prominent in the ceremonies of the Alevi community of Turkey and the closely related Bektashi Order. [11], Opponents find music as an Innovation bidah and associated with infidelity. Due to differences in culture between Muslim groups, participation in musical performance is condoned in some and considered questionable in others. P. Bearman, T. Bianquis, C. E. Bosworth, E. Van Donzel, and W. P. Heinrichs. "Sema" redirects here. This is a text widget. Semah, Çark-I, Zamah ya da Pervaz olarak da isimlendirilir. Sama is a means of meditating on God through focusing on melodies and dancing. Mevlevi practitioners of sema are adult initiates into the order, which historically only meant men. To start off let me introduce you all to what these are: The Mevlevi order belongs to the Sunni sect of Islam. You can use a text widget to display text, links, images, HTML, or a combination of these. "The Sacred Meditation of Islam: Sama' in the Persian Sufi Tradition." They constitute one of the twelve main services found in Cem rituals, religious practices performed by adherents of Alevi-Bektaşi, a belief system based on admiration for Ali, the fourth caliph after the prophet Muhammed. Genelde bele, kendini kontrol etmeyi (Eline Diline Beline sahip olmayı) ve sevdiğine (yola) bağlılığı sembolize eden bir kuşak (kemerbest) bağlanır. It is considered one of the few activities that bring the Alevi communities together every time. "Untitled." "Sama" Encyclopedia of Islam, Second Edition. In 2008, UNESCO confirmed the "Mevlevi Sama Ceremony" of Turkey as one of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. Cem’in belli bir aşamasında dedenin işareti ile bağlama eşliğinde kadın ve erkek canların çalınan nefesler eşliğinde birlikte yaptıkları dinsel törendir. Various forms of Semah exist in Alevi-Bektaşi communities across Turkey, each with distinct musical characteristics and rhythmic structures. This practice is said to reveal what is already in one's heart, rather than creating emotions. Sama means "listening", while dhikr means "remembrance". They compare the physical sensations experienced by a person in the state of wajd to a state of physical drunkenness, and therefore do not condone it.[8]. 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. Many cemevleri (Alevi meetinghouses) have organized sema groups that perform at events such as the annual Hacı Bektaş Veli Festival. Additionally, being in love with a person rather than with God clouds a person's mind when they are listening to erotic poetry. [1] These rituals often include singing, playing instruments, dancing, recitation of poetry and prayers, wearing symbolic attire, and other rituals. 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. There are two forms of Semah: İçeri Semahs are performed in Cems only among adherents as part of the twelve services; Dışarı Semahs are performed independent of services to promote Semah culture to younger generations. "The Sama' Controversy: Sufi vs. [6], Advocates view chants as a required practice for spiritual growth. The sema is a dance that focuses on showing the spiritual journey of a person. Inscribed in 2010 (5.COM) on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. 2) Advocates, who are of the majority Shias. [1] All of a person's doubt disappears, and the heart and soul can communicate directly with God. Semah is an Alevi ritual dance. [9] Physically, this state may include various and unexpected movements, agitation, and all types of dancing. JSTOR. Semah; Alevi ve Bektaşi topluluklarının temel ibadeti olan Cem ayininde müzik eşliğinde uygulanan tören nitelikli dini ayindir. Ghazzālī, and Claud Field. People from all classes and walks of life can participate, although there is debate between Sufis and legalists about whether novice Sufis and ones more advanced in their faith are capable of achieving the same positive results from sama'. Welcome to my blog about Dance in Istanbul! Please use recent versions of browsers such as Google Chrome, Firefox, Edge or Safari to access 'Dive' interfaces. Below is a picture of the semah dance. Below is a picture of the Sema dance: the “whirling dervishes”. "Untitled." It is a serious mistake to think of Alevis as Shia Muslims. Lewisohn, Leonard. Edit them in the Widget section of the. Similarly, Abu Sa`id, (357 A.H.) (967 C.E.) The report on the implementation of the Convention, due by States Parties every 6 years, includes a section on the elements inscribed on the Representative List. British Journal of Ethnomeditation 6 (1997): 1-33. The semah showcases unity and harmony of the Shia Alevis and are performed to show the intensity of dance and emotion. [6] Verses from the Qur'an are never used for this purpose, and not only because their meanings are said to be somewhat dulled through repetition. The same debate exists for the young, and whether they are capable of overcoming their lust and clearing their hearts to worship God. Semah ibadet halidir, Süslü-püslü giyecekler giyerek yapılan semahın sadece foklorik anlamı olur ki ibadetten dışlanmış olur. The Text Widget allows you to add text or HTML to your sidebar.