Beschreibung:
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>The following article looks briefly into the development of the spiritual practice of dance (<jats:italic>samāʿ</jats:italic>) in Islamic mysticism prior to the ritualization of the dervishes’ ‘dance’ with the early <jats:italic>Mawlawiyya</jats:italic>. Focusing on changes in the notion of ‘dance’ or physical motion as a consequence of contemplation and ecstasy, it also examines its quality as a means to obtain this state. This is preceded by some remarks on the terms ‘dance’ in Arabic, Persian and Turkish, and a brief discussion of the difficulties of research dealing with medieval dance, primarily in the Turkish context.</jats:p>