Ambassador Akbar Ahmed, our Professor of the World of Islam at American University, a former diplomat, playwright and author has conducted many dialogues discussing the idea of interfaith and how society needs to challenge culture clash. Putting Dr. Ahmed’s notion of mingling into practice, we were honored to host Dr. Maina Chawla Singh, renowned scholar of identity and diaspora communities. She spoke to us about Sufism and the power of music and poetry as a form of mingling. We were reintroduced to Rumi, Whirling Dervishes, and the power of connection through religion and culture. Dr. Ahmed and Dr. Singh invited us to incorporate Plato’s way of thinking and asking analytical questions, as illustrated in the Allegory of the Cave, in our understanding of cross-cultural mingling.
Dr. Singh started her presentation with the following Rumi quote, “Why do you stay in prison when the door is so wide open?” As a Hindu scholar of Islam, I see the character of Rumi as a bridge-building tool. His significance shines through many holes in the world, because it claims him as a leader of mingling. As we have learned in class, he was born in Afghanistan, traveled through Persia, and died in Turkey. Each country claims him, but his words have traveled much farther: to Pakistan, America, and even my mother’s home country of India. His significance has traveled from the 13th century to today.
For instance, I remember my dada ji or grandfather reading the words of Rumi when I was a little girl. Recently, after hearing some words of Rumi in Dr. Maina Chawla Singh’s presentation, I understood the power that Rumi’s words hold. Rumi’s quote that she shared represent endless opportunities in this world, and it is up to us to unlock our minds and open ourselves up to accept them. Dr. Singh has echoed the words of the world’s great leader of mingling and reminded all of us to set ourselves free.
Dr. Singh specifically homed in on Sufi music and how it has a shared heritage with commonality drawn from parts of central and South Asia with origins in Persia. Sufism, usually associated with a belief system, is more of a way of spiritual living, a form of worship that isn’t associated with any God but rather a philosophical ideal. Because of this establishment, Sufism attracts the attention of many individuals. Dr. Singh stated, “Just like how Sufi shrines draw people from Islam, Hinduism and other faiths, similarly Sufi music has a widespread appeal across religious and political differences.” The bridges sufism creates and intermingling it leads to are important steps towards cultural harmony. The idea behind Sufism, and specifically Sufi music, is to create an environment where individuals don’t feel as if they have to leave their religion or culture to experience something new, feel emotions emerge from the layers of passion, or explore a mystical side to spirituality uncommon in most major religious practices.
Singh showcased a video to the class that portrayed Sufi music and prayer practices of the whirling dervishes. Rumi’s words circle around the world in the same calming way that Sufi dervishes of the 13th century whirl. This dance resembles the worship and mysticism of Sufism, by connecting the soul with the Divine. Sufism is another bridge-building instrument, because it relates Urdu and Hindi affinities, bridging the gap between Pakistan and India. Although the script is different, the voice and sound is the same. I noticed this when Dr. Singh and our professor, Ambassador Akbar Ahmed spoke to each other in their beautiful dialects. I was awed that the dialogue they can share is a product of Sufism.
When stepping outside of the classroom to have a more personal conversation with Dr. Singh, she spoke about how Sufi music has the ability to bridge divides and spark connection. What interested us was her vast experience as an educator and how that contributed to her interest in researching identity and diaspora. Dr. Singh encouraged us to continue our study of the World of Islam and to integrate further mingling with people from all identities to gain a more robust understanding of the world around us.
It was an honor to have Dr. Singh speak for Professor Ahmed’s World of Islam class to further discuss the idea of mingling and the influence Sufi music has on people from different cultures. At the end of the day, regardless of where an individual comes from, we are all looking to fit in and be seen as human beings. The journey Sufi mystics take comes from places of truth and the notion of “doing good.” This dimension of Islam opens the heart and soul of each individual, just as Rumi preached and practiced, making him one of the most notable Sufi mystics in the world.
Mumina Ali is a first year student at American University, majoring in political science. Anjali Singh is an undergraduate student studying political science and international service at American University in Washington, DC