PRAY FOR PERFECT LOVE
Telli Baba is a Muslim saint and a Sheikh of Qadiri sufi brotherhood. Her tomb is the favorite meeting place for young ladies who desire a perfect husband. They come here to pray and place on the tomb a lock of hair or a piece of fabric, now replaced by the silver threads.
The story has in fact nothing to do with that saint. It is said that during a stormy day, a young couple’s boat capsized. The girl was rescued by an employee of the port and the boy disappeared. A few years later, ready to marry, the girl returns to see her savior but she died already. She goes to her grave and lays a piece of her wedding dress .
Telli Baba Türbesi, Istanbul, Turkey
In Aya Sofya, people are queuing in a front of a column with a copper facing pierced by a hole. It is known as the Weeping Column. It is said that the pillar was blessed by Saint Gregory. Putting one’s finger into the hole can lead to illness being cured if the finger emerges moist.
ONE FINGER TO HEAL
Aya Sofya, Istanbul, Turkey
HAFEZ’ TOMB in SHIRAZ
Hafez is one of the most popular poet in Iran. It is said that Hafez knew by heart the works of Mevlana Rumi, Saadi and the Quran. Hafez poems and works can be found in every Iranian house and many Iranian use his works for fortune telling.
THE Djinns
Mr Muhammedi is healer. He receives everyday for consultations. From love advice to the health problems, he is using different books to tell and predict the future such as Hafez’, Nimatullah Wali’s and Shams ed Dîn (Mevlana Rumi’s teacher). He can also talk with djinns (known as genies in Occident). Like humans, they can be good or evil. During these ceremonies, you enter in contact with djinns and can be granted with 7 wishes.
— Mr Muhammedi and his pir, Bandar-Abbas, Iran
CEMETARY Near YAZD, Iran
This cemetary is quite unique in Iran. You can see three different ways of burying the bodies. Baha’i are buried in direction of Bahji Mansion in Akko, Israel. Concrete layers below the tomb possibly indicates a Zoroastrian grave. Muslims are buried in direction of Mecca.
Baha’i are persecuted in Iran. A common cemetary of 3 different cults is rare.
CEMETARY Near YAZD, Iran
Surah Al-Fatiha, the first one of Quran. Its presence in the cemetary would indicate burials of other religions than Islam. This surah is often considered as the synthesis of the Quran. Some scholars also considers that the last verses of this Surah are direct references to Christians and Jews.
« In the name of God, the infinitely Compassionate and Merciful.
Praise be to God, Lord of all the worlds.
The Compassionate, the Merciful. Ruler on the Day of Reckoning.
You alone do we worship, and You alone do we ask for help.
Guide us on the straight path,
the path of those who have received your grace;
not the path of those who have brought down wrath, nor of those who wander astray. »
RAFI’i SUFI BROtherHOOD
This tea house in Hamadan is owned by sufi brothers. Ali and Mevlana Rumi are hanging side by side on one wall. Rafi’i tariqa has been influenced by Qadiri, Mevlevi and Alevi-Bektashi turuq.