Esin Çelebi; “Women used to Whirl”

Esin Çelebi Bayru, the 22nd generation granddaughter of Rumi and Vice President of the International Mevlana Foundation, stated that people need Rumi's messages of love, unity and solidarity. Reminding that whirling is a spiritual ritual, a form of dhikr, Bayru stated that “Women also used to perform whirling but they did not appear on the stage.”

Esin Çelebi Bayru said that “the view of women in Mevlevi is the same as the view of women in Islam. Emphasizing that great importance is attached to women in Islam, Bayru said, "When we look at history, the cruelty and injustice done to women was really sad, but our Prophet prevented it. He always emphasized how important women were and how important a mother was.” Reminding that whirling is a spiritual ritual, a form of dhikr, Bayru stated that “Women also used to perform whirling but they did not appear on the stage.” Stating that women who want to get information about Mevlevi in ​​the Mevlevi Lodges are also trained in the harem and their questions are answered, Bayru said, "When we look at the Mevlevihanes, there is definitely a place called the 'women's gathering place. In that place, the women sang among themselves to the music of the ritual in the Mevlevihane.”

"Humanity needs unity, togetherness, love"

Bayru emphasized that Rumi called people to love, peace, unity and togetherness. Rumi, taking its essence from the Qur'an and hadiths, told people a way of life, a view of life, and tried to teach it. The fact that Rumi describes this view by emphasizing that love of Allah in Islam has made him universal. Today people need it; they need unity, togetherness, and love. Rumi explained this.” 

Bayru reminded Rumi’s sayings as; “Come near, nearer. How long this path, this beat will go on? If you are me and I am you, What is this separation between you and me? We are the light of God, we are God’s mirror. So why do we struggle with ourselves and with one another? Why does a light run away from another?” There is a very necessary lesson for today's people in this ghazal. First of all, people should make peace with themselves. If we make peace with ourselves, if we know the reason we came to this world, if we live this world according to our purpose of coming to this world, if we serve this world, then we can tell and spread this love and this unity to all people."