A Turkish dervish, in the 1860s.

A Persian dervish, Qajar era, seen here from an 1873 depiction of Tehran's Grand Bazaar.

The word Dervish, especially in European languages, refers to members of Sufi Muslim ascetic religious Tarika, known for their extreme poverty and austerity, similar to mendicant friars. The term dervish, sometimes spelt darvish can refer to a number of concepts, some of which include the following: Dervishes, Sufi Muslim ascetic worshipper in a fraternity a nick-name for the Sudanese mahdists Darvish (music), a form of traditional Persian music often featuring instruments such as the Tar, Setar... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (504x700, 38 KB) Permission PD File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Dervish Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (504x700, 38 KB) Permission PD File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Dervish Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used... Image File history File links Darvish_bazaar. ... The Qajar dynasty was the ruling family of Persia from 1796 to 1925. ... An 1873 illustration of Tehrans bustling Bazaar. ... Most of the many indigenous languages of Europe belong to the Indo-European language family. ... Sufism (Arabic تصوف taṣawwuf) is a system of esoteric philosophy commonly associated with Islam. ... There is also a collection of Hadith called Sahih Muslim A Muslim (Arabic: مسلم, Persian: Mosalman or Mosalmon Urdu: مسلمان, Turkish: Müslüman, Albanian: Mysliman, Bosnian: Musliman) is an adherent of the religion of Islam. ... The word ascetic derives from the ancient Greek term askesis (practice, training or exercise). ... Tariqah ( transliteration: ; pl. ... The Mendicant (or Begging) Orders are religious orders which depend directly on the riches of the people for their livelihood. ... A friar is a member of a religious mendicant order of men. ...

The term comes from the Persian word Darwīsh [1] (درویش), which usually refers to a mendicant ascetic. This latter word is also used to refer to an unflappable or ascetic temperament (as in the Urdu phrase darwaishana thabiyath for an ascetic temperament); that is, for an attitude that is indifferent to material possessions and the like. “Farsi” redirects here. ... The term mendicant refers to begging or otherwise relying on charitable donations, and is most widely used for religious followers or ascetics who rely exclusively on charity to survive. ... The word ascetic derives from the ancient Greek term askesis (practice, training or exercise). ... Urdu ( , , trans. ...

As Sufi practitioners, dervishes were known as a source of wisdom, medicine, poetry, enlightenment, and witticisms. For example, Mollah Nasr-ad-Din (Mulla Nasrudin, Hoja Nasrudin) had become a legend in the Near East and the Indian subcontinent, not only among the Muslims. Sufism (Arabic تصوف taṣawwuf) is a system of esoteric philosophy commonly associated with Islam. ... Nasreddin (also commonly spelled Nasrudin, Nasredin, Nasruddin, Nasr Eddin, Nastradhin, Nasreddine, Nastratin, Nusrettin) was a lower Muslim cleric who lived among the Middle-eastern people in the Middle Ages. ... The Near East is a term commonly used by archaeologists, geographers and historians, less commonly by journalists and commentators, to refer to the region encompassing Anatolia (the Asian portion of modern Turkey), the Levant (modern Israel/Palestine, the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon), Georgia, Armenia, and... Map of South Asia (see note) This article deals with the geophysical region in Asia. ...

Religious practice

Many dervishes are mendicant ascetics who have taken the vow of poverty, unlike mullahs. The main reason why they beg is to learn humility, but dervishes are prohibited to beg for their own good. They have to give the collected money to other poor people. Others work in common professions; Egyptian Qadiriyya – known in Turkey as Kadiri – for example, are fishermen. Rifa'iyyah dervishes travelled and spread into North and East Africa, Turkey, the Balkans and all the way down to India. The word ascetic derives from the ancient Greek term askesis (practice, training or exercise). ... Mullah (Persian: ملا) is a title given to some Islamic clergy, coming from the Arabic word mawla, means both `vicar` and `guardian. ... Qadiriyyah (Arabic: القادريه ) (also transliterated Qadiri), is one of the oldest Sufi tariqas, derives its name from Abdul Qadir Jilani (also transliterated other ways) (1077-1166), a native of the Iranian province of Gilan. ... Headline text KADIRI A small town in Anantapur District. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

There are also various dervish groups (Sufi orders), almost all of which trace their origins from various Muslim saints and teachers, especially Ali and Abu Bakr. Various orders and suborders have appeared and disappeared over the centuries. Tariqah ( transliteration: ; pl. ... Ali ibn Abu Talib (Arabic: علي بن أبي طالب translit: ‘AlÄ« ibn Abu Ṭālib Persian: علی پسر ابو طالب) ‎ (599 – 661) is an early Islamic leader. ... Abu Bakr As Siddiq (Arabic ابو بكر الصديق, alternative spellings, Abubakar, Abi Bakr, Abu Bakar) (c. ...

Dervishes
Mevlâna mausoleum, Konya, Turkey

The whirling dance that is proverbially associated with dervishes, is the practice of the Mevlevi Order in Turkey, and is just one of the physical methods used to try to reach religious ecstasy (majdhb, fana). The name "Mevlevi" comes from the Persian poet, Rumi, whose shrine is in Turkey and who was a Dervish himself. This practice, though not intended as entertainment, has become a tourist attraction in Turkey. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1280 × 960 pixel, file size: 394 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1280 × 960 pixel, file size: 394 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Konya (Ottoman Turkish: ; also Koniah, Konieh, Konia, and Qunia; historically also known as Iconium (Latin), Greek: Ikónion) is a city in Turkey, on the central plateau of Anatolia. ... Whirling Dervishes perform near the Mevlevi Museum in Konya, Turkey. ... Mawlānā Jalāl-ad-Dīn Muhammad Rūmī[2] (Persian: , Turkish: Mevlânâ Celâleddin Mehmed Rumi, Arabic: ), also known as Mawlānā Jalāl-ad-Dīn Muhammad Balkhī (Persian: ), but known to the English-speaking world simply as Rumi, (September 30, 1207–December 17, 1273), was...

Other groups include the Bektashis, connected to the janissaries, and Senussi, who are rather orthodox in their beliefs. Other fraternities and subgroups chant verses of the Qur'an, play drums or dance vigorously in groups, all according to their specific traditions. Some practice quiet meditation, as is the case with most of the Sufi orders in South Asia, many of whom owe allegiance to, or were influenced by, the Chishti order. Each fraternity uses its own garb and methods of acceptance and initiation, some of them which may be rather severe. The Bektashism (Turkish: Bektaşilik) is an Islamic Sufi order (tariqat). ... The Janissaries comprised infantry units that formed the Ottoman sultans household troops and bodyguard. ... The Senussi or Sanussi refers to a Muslim political-religious order in Libya and Sudan founded in Mecca in 1837 by the Grand Senussi, Sayyid Muhammad ibn Ali as-Senussi (1791–1859). ... The Qur’ān [1] (Arabic: ;, literally the recitation; also sometimes transliterated as Quran, Koran, or Al-Quran) is the central religious text of Islam. ... Map of South Asia (see note on Kashmir). ... The Chishti Order was founded by Khwaja Abu Ishaq Shami (the Syrian) (d. ...

Historical and political use

Various western historical writers have sometimes used the term dervish rather loosely, linking it to, among other things, the Mahdist uprising in Sudan and other rebellions against colonial powers. This article does not cite any references or sources. ... It has been suggested that Benign colonialism be merged into this article or section. ...

Trivia

• In the online role playing game Guild Wars: Nightfall, one of the playable classes is called a Dervish. It is depicted as a scythe wielding warrior which uses earth and wind prayers.
• In the game series Avernum, an rather strong enemy is called a Dervish.