This book offers intimate and moving portraits of Sufism as practiced in five countries. Sufism, the mystical tradition of Islam, is as far from the strident and often violent fundamentalist strain of the religion that has so captured world attention as it is possible to be. Sufis in all parts of the Islamic world are broad-minded, tolerant, and non-violent, their quest only to find and approach God through all means, including poetry, music, and dance.

Historian Nicolaas Biegman has been observing and photographing Sufi practice and ritual in different Muslim lands for many years, and here in this collection of extraordinary photographs he feels the pulse of the Sufi experience, with its enormous variety in discipline and exuberance, intellectualism and spontaneity, in Egypt, Syria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, and Macedonia. In accompanying texts he explores what lies behind the rituals, and explains aspects of Sufi life and practice such as the position of women....

* Beautiful photographs of widespread phenomena, so far virtually unknown to the West
* Designed by famous prize winning book designer Irma Boom
* Of interest to lovers of: photography, body art, and martial arts

Oil wrestling, performed by Pehlivans, originated in Iran. It spread to Northern India, Pakistan, Turkey, and in the Balkan—especially to Macedonia and adjoining areas. In Iran and Turkey, it is a national sport. In the Balkans, the tournaments mostly happen in remote villages at irregular times.

The Pehlivans, who wear heavy leather breeches gathered in at the knee, smear themselves with oil. The champions are models of male virtues like strength, stamina and honor within their communities. Their ideal diet is four kilos of meat and half a kilo of honey a day.

Author Nicolaas Biegman was introduced to the world of the Pehlivans by a prominent former Yugoslav wrestling coach, which gave him the opportunity to photograph them during the last three months of a prolonged stay in Macedonia.

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