(30 Jul 2015) LEAD-IN:
Sufism remains popular in Egypt.
Around 15 million people belong to Sufi orders in the country.
STORY-LINE:
At a mosque in Alexandria, Sufi Muslims are reciting their ritual prayers.
This form of worship is unique to the Sufi tradition.
It's a mystical dimension of Islam and Sufis claim they can trace the practice back to the Prophet Mohammed.
"Sufism holds on to the rules of Islam, there is nothing special about them, other than that they held on to the fundamentals of Islam, they followed the rules of Allah, which are in the Quran," Sheikh Ahmed Mahran, a Sufi Sheikh.
There are 77 Sufi orders in Egypt according to the Union of Sufi Scholars.
Their practices are about seeking nearness to God through praying, chanting, ecstatic dancing, and achieving a trance state.
"Sufism has some basic movements, leaning on their sides, either right or left, or standing or sitting. When we sit we say: 'there is no god but Allah', or we read some prayers and remembrances," says Sheikh Gaber Qassem , Deputy of Sufi Order.
Whirling Dervishes are a well-known aspect of Sufism.
They have adapted their ritual dances to a stage performance.
"The Dervish is someone who has chosen the Sufi path. He twirls himself around and prays to God," says Mohammed Sad, a Sufi dance teacher.
"As he does this he ascends, as if he is floating in the heavens or his soul is ascending, and he forgets the problems of this world," he adds.
The Dervishes spin while musicians accompany their performance.
Each posture of the dancer has a meaning.
"The right hand points up and the left hand points down, representing a link between heaven and earth," says Sad.
When he puts his hands like this (crossed in front of the chest) this is a sign of worship. Like this (palms side by side) he is calling to Allah," he explains.
Some 15 million people in the country of 90 million belonging to Sufi orders. Sufis say the figure is likely even higher since many who practise it are not registered with orders.
But many of their practices are denounced by ultraconservative Salafis who follow a more literal interpretation of Islam.
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