In this short recording, verses of the beloved poet and mystic Yunus Emre are chanted as a living dhikr. The refrain “Derviş, sövene dilsiz gerek, dövene elsiz gerek” – a dervish must be without a tongue toward the one who curses him and without hands toward the one who strikes him – calls the seeker to answer neither insult nor blow. The repeated line “Olamıyoruz biz, olamıyoruz” reminds us of our human limitation: we cannot become what God is, yet through remembrance we are gently drawn toward that higher state.
The simple melody reflects the ilahi tradition nurtured within Ottoman-Sufi practice for centuries. It invites us to pause, quiet the mind’s chatter and let the heart listen to the silence that follows sincere dhikr. May these words inspire each of us to give up egoic speech and self-centred striving, and to join the chorus of seekers who have walked this path before us.
You can share in such remembrance at our live gatherings, where these verses are sung and reflected upon together: https://royalottomans.com/live-meetings
