The sheika begins the first intonation, chanting Allah, the name of God. Soon, all participants, sitting on white woolen carpets, are chanting, repeating the same word over and over again. From time to time, the sheika changes the intonation of the chanted word and participants follow harmoniously with the new tune. The Whirling Dervishes of Damascus perform to the Sufi Liturgy of the Great Ummayad Mosque at Cooper Union, in New York City. Eyes are closed and heads are swinging from side to side in synchronized movements, accompanying the music created by the chanting.
Many participants seem to be emotionally moved.
An hour later, the tune slows melodically and the dhikr gradually and gracefully comes to an end. Sufi practices and rituals differ to a large extent among different Sufi branches or orders. But he says that it is difficult to know the exact number of adherents in the United States. His association, established with his wife, Seyedeh Nahid Angha, in 1983, brings together the majority of Sufi orders around the world. They sponsor an annual conference in which both Islamic and non-Islamic Sufis participate.