An evening of devotion unfolded at the Royal Ottoman Society’s Sufi Centre in Ludwigshafen when the Pakistani Qawwali vocalist Mahmoud Sabri joined us as our honoured guest. Welcomed by Ayberk Efendi and Imam Sheikh Jamaluddin, the gathering became a living expression of the mystic tradition that binds hearts across continents.
Mahmoud Sabri’s voice carried the poetry of the Sufi masters, each phrase echoing the longing for union with the Divine. Accompanied by daf and harmonium, his verses turned the hall into a space where dhikr, the remembrance of God, was felt through sound as much as through silent contemplation. Here the Ottoman heritage of spiritual music met the legacy of South‑Asian Qawwali, showing how the path of love transcends language and geography.
Ayberk Efendi gave a brief introduction tracing the historical threads that connect the travellers of the Silk Road with the spread of mystical song, recalling that the verses of Rumi and Hafiz have long travelled alongside the chants of South‑Asian mystics. Imam Sheikh Jamaluddin then reflected on how such art builds bridges and invites seekers to see the Ottoman legacy not as a museum piece but as a living journey open to all who yearn for the Beloved.
The evening closed with a shared sama, as Mahmoud Sabri’s final chorus lingered in the hearts of those present. Many left with a renewed sense of belonging within the global Sufi family.
If you feel called to join future gatherings, information about upcoming meetings is available here: Live meetings
