Sufism is a collective term for movements in Islam marked by ascetic tendencies and spiritual orientation, which can most commonly be referred to as mysticism. A follower of Sufism is called a Sufist, a practitioner Sufi or Dervish.

Osman ÖZEL c/o SHOTVIEW ARTISTS MANAGEMENT photographed the spread entitled ‘Sufi’ for the S/S ‘22 Body issue of AUTRE magazine.

The famous dance of the Sufis or Dervishes is a performance which translates the Qur’an verse ‘Wherever you turn, there is the face of God’. The Sufis perform a whirling dance, and this whirling symbolizes, firstly, the view of the world, and also the attempt to look beyond its material manifestations. It is finally the eternal attempt to connect with the divine.

Sufism is criticized mainly by followers of the Muslim Orthodox faith because their dogmatic rigorism (Sharia) is rejected by the Sufis, as Sufism believes the Sharia is merely the beginning of the further spiritual path. Moreover, criticism also comes from those who...