In this short, joyful moment, Sheikh Bahauddin Adil and Ayberk Efendi raise their voices together in a chant: “Biz Roma’yı fethettik. Hay, hay, hay, hay… Su! Biz Roma’yı fethettik.” The refrain means “We have conquered Rome,” followed by rhythmic exclamations that pulse like a drum. Pure sound, shared laughter and a playful proclamation capture the spirit of communal celebration at the heart of our sohbet gatherings.
For us in the Royal Ottoman Society, the chant is more than light-hearted fun; it is a living image of the inner journey every seeker undertakes. In the Sufi tradition, every city we “conquer” stands for a layer of the ego that, through remembrance (dhikr) and the support of the community, is transformed into a space lit by divine love. Rome here stands for the boundless mind, and its symbolic conquest reminds us that even small victories—shared smiles, sincere prayers, heartfelt chants—are milestones on the path to spiritual awakening.
If this glimpse of our shared joy speaks to you, we invite you to join our community and experience our live gatherings, where such moments unfold in real time.
