By Laurence Galian

Suddenly, the mystique of the Arabian nights is chic! Middle Eastern culture is becoming more accepted
and fashionable in the United States. Case in point: The Whirling Dervishes of Rumi.

For many years, the exotic Middle East was in vogue. Movies like “Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves”,
“Thief of Baghdad”, “Flame of Araby”, and “Lawrence of Arabia” excited the imagination of a generation.
Then, Hollywood and the public at large lost interest. Now, dawns a new generation that is thrilled by images of harems, flashing scimitars, spinning dervishes, tranquil oases and exotic costumes.

This trend is reflected in music. Sarah Brightman has just released her new CD, “Harem”, to critical acclaim. Every song on the album is infused with the sounds, rhythms and spirit of the Middle East. The young dance wildly to the music of Shakira, whose father is of 100% Lebanese descent. Shakira herself openly admits, “I am devoted to Arabic tastes and sounds.”

The participation of Middle Eastern singer Cheb Mami on rock star Sting’s “Desert Rose” album is another sign that the melodies of Arabic music are finding the American public’s ear. Sting remarked, “When I gave ‘Desert Rose’ to my record company, I said I want this to be released as a single in America. They said, we can't get this on the radio because the guy is singing in Arabic. I said, I don't care. I want you to do it; and now his voice is very famous.” Movies such as “Hidalgo”, “The Mummy”, “Arabian Nights”, “Cleopatra”, “The Thirteenth Warrior” and “The Scorpion King” once again display Arabs as the good guys.

Women are studying the art of Belly Dancing in increasing numbers, and men are finding an aerobic freedom of expression with Middle Eastern rhythms in Californian gymnasiums. The young and old are not just enjoying the externals of Arabian culture, but also its internal side that is known as Sufism.

Rumi, a Sufi poet from the 13th Century, is the most widely read poet today in the English language. Islamic spiritual culture has an irresistible allure that is entrancing the public. Sufism, the mystical tradition of Islam that believes the path of love leads to realization of God, is attracting a growing number of followers from all sections of American society. “People are dissatisfied with the materialism of the Western culture. They are looking for a sense of balance and wholeness,” says Omid Safi, professor of religious studies at Colgate University. Sufism is providing that balance. “Earlier, Sufism was isolated. Now it's a tidal wave. Youngsters are awakening with a Sufi heart,” says Sheikha Fariha al-Jerrahi, the 54-year-old spiritual guide of the Nur Ashki Jerrahi order, who describes a Sufi heart as one that is universal in outlook and loving in essence. People are craving a sense of inner calm, and they sense that they can find it in the depths of Arabia.

Laurence Galian is the author of the new book “The Sun at Midnight: The Revealed Mysteries of the Ahlul Bayt Sufis” and is a Sheikh of the Nimatullahi Sufi Order. He leads the St. Louis Sufism Meetup Group, http://sufism.meetup.com/96/.

I was dead, and then came back to life.
I was a cry, then I became a smile.
Love came, and turned me into everlasting glory.
Rumi (trans. Dr. Nevit Ergin)