The word Sufi often conjures up images of Turkish whirling dervishes, turning gracefully round themselves in a mystical ceremony. But outside the world of Islamic mysticism, not much is known of the beliefs and practices in which such ceremonies are rooted, or about the communities that embrace them.
This display will explore Sufi life and art through a selection of objects that represent Sufi communities in the Middle East, North and Sub-Saharan Africa, and northern India. This mystical movement, which first appeared in the Islamic world during the eighth century AD, has been defined as a pathway to a personal experience with God.
Among the British Museum objects on display will be Islamic artefacts imbued with Sufi connotations. Some, such as alms bowls, are linked overtly to dervishes, while others have a more subtle connection, such as calligraphic works, miniature paintings and wall tiles. Sufis come from all walks of life, crossing the boundaries of class, ethnicity and regionality. The display will explore such themes as mystical love, poverty and asceticism, as well as Sufi influence upon the wider societies they belong to.
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