The lights are dimmed in a home in northern Tehran. The men, women and teenagers gathered in the large living room close their eyes and rock back and forth to the beat of live music.
As the tambourine and drums beat louder and faster, some members of the group climb to their feet. They begin to swirl slowly in circles and raise their hands to the ceiling. A few fall into trances.
"You can somehow touch relaxation," says 22-year-old Mahsa, who believes that music and dance can provide a direct route to Allah.
"It's a very good sensation, and you think your soul is flying, that somehow you're not in your body."
These Iranians consider themselves Shia Muslims, as do most Iranians, and look to the first Shia Imam, Ali, as a spiritual guide.
But they also call themselves Sufis.
Sufis believe that at the core of all religions lies the same truth and that God is the only reality behind all forms of existence.
They also believe that the individual, through his or her own efforts, can reach spiritual union with God.
Spread of Sufism
Sufism, or Islamic mysticism, appeared in the eighth century in present-day Iraq.
Iranian Sufis say Islamic mysticism has become more and more popular in the country in recent years.
The authorities are concerned that Sufis will do something against them, while on the contrary, Sufis don't interfere in politics at all. They follow the law and are not opposed to the Islamic Republic -- Heshmatollah Riazi , Iranian academic
No official statistics are available, but Heshmatollah Riazi, a former professor of philosophy and theology in Iran, believes two to five million Iranians practice Sufism today - compared to only about 100,000 before Iran's Islamic Revolution of 1979.
He says Iran is home to the largest number of Sufis in the Middle East.
"Sufis have nothing to gain from superficial religious thoughts, and they seek spirituality," says Mr Riazi.
Nowadays, hundreds of young Iranians are increasingly joining Sufi groups.
"They need something to develop love and their internal sense of freedom."
Full article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4907406.stm
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