Sufi tradition
Thousands of Sufi dervishes gather in Akre for Eid Al-Adha rituals
AKRE — Thousands of Sufi dervishes from across Iraq and the Kurdistan Region gathered Saturday in the city of Akre, Duhok Governorate, to mark Eid al-Adha and honor their spiritual leader at the Qadiri-Wilyani Sufi lodge.
The event was held at the Sheikh Abdulaziz Gailani Lodge, where followers of the Qadiri-Wilyani order stayed for two to three days to participate in zikr — spiritual chanting — and commemorations of the Prophet Muhammad.
“In addition to our regular Friday zikr gatherings, on special religious occasions we all return to the lodge to celebrate Eid with our sheikh and perform dedicated remembrance rituals of the Prophet,” said Ismail Barzinji, a follower of the order.
The Qadiri-Wilyani order, one of the prominent Sufi traditions in Kurdistan, is currently led by Sheikh Wrya Sheikh Saeed Barzinji. It maintains two lodges: one in Akre and another in the town of Rovia.
“Thousands of dervishes have come from across Kurdistan — including Erbil, Duhok, Zakho, and Sulaymaniyah — as well as from other Iraqi cities like Mosul, Baghdad, Samarra, and Basra,” Ismail said.
The multi-day gathering includes reflection on the Prophet’s life and nightly zikr circles, which form the centerpiece of the spiritual observance.
