Abstract

This chapter examines the aesthetics of Islamic mysticism through the work of Ziya Azazi (b. 1969), a contemporary Viennese dancer of Turkish origin. Born into the Syrian Arab Alawite minority of Antakya, Azazi later adopted the whirling tradition of the Mevlevi Sufi Order in Konya, inspired by their ceremony (samāʿ)—a mystical dance aimed at achieving spiritual enlightenment and union with God. In his work as a contemporary dancer, Azazi’s performances emulate the whirling dervish rituals of central Anatolia, incorporating instrumental compositions of contemporary Sufi music to evoke the aesthetic and sensory dimensions of Islamic mysticism. His trance-like whirling stimulates synesthetic experiences, drawing on the spiritual path of the Mevlevi dervishes while departing from its religious framework. Although Azazi employs terminology associated with Sufi mysticism, his productions exclude the recitation of remembrance of God (dhikr) and do not align with the devotional purpose of achieving a mystical union with God. Identifying as an atheist and unaffiliated with any religious organization, Azazi nonetheless closely replicates the aesthetics of Islamic mysticism, referencing the traditions of both Mevlevi Sufis and Arab Alawites. Hence, this case invites a nuanced examination of how techniques and terminologies evoke the essence of spirituality, even outside of religion.