Sufi life and art
Past exhibition
27 October 2025 – 26 July 2026
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The word Sufi often conjures up images of Turkish whirling dervishes, turning gracefully round themselves in a mystical ceremony. But outside the world of Islamic mysticism, not much is known of the beliefs and practices in which such ceremonies are rooted, or about the communities that embrace them.
This display explored Sufi life and art through a selection of objects that represent Sufi communities in the Middle East, North and Sub-Saharan Africa, and northern India. This mystical movement, which first appeared in the Islamic world during the eighth century AD, has been defined as a pathway to a personal experience with God.
Among the British Museum objects on display were Islamic artefacts imbued with Sufi connotations. Some, such as alms bowls, are linked overtly to dervishes, while others have a more subtle connection, such as calligraphic works, miniature paintings and wall tiles. Sufis come from all walks of life, crossing the boundaries of class, ethnicity and regionality. The display explored such themes as mystical love, poverty and asceticism, as well as Sufi influence upon the wider societies they belong to.
Highlights
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Ceramic tile
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Glazed pottery bowl
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Reed ney (flute)
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Painting of the Haft awrang (Seven thrones) of Jami
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Painting of Ibrahim Bin Adham visited by angels
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Painting of Islamic saints and devotees
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Folios from a Sufi prayer book
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Brass kashkul (begging bowl)
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Painting of a dervish with a kashkul (begging bowl)
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Ana al-Haqq (I am The Truth) silkscreen print
