Sama (Turkish: Sema; Persian: سَماع, romanized: samā‘un) is a Sufi ceremony performed as part of the meditation and prayer practice dhikr.

[1] These performances often include singing, playing instruments, dancing, recitation of poetry and prayers, wearing symbolic attire, and other rituals.

In 2005, UNESCO confirmed the "Mevlevi Sama Ceremony" of Turkey as one of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.

[4] An alternative etymology for Sema may be the Greek σῆμα - sêma, which means tomb, significant or signal (e.g., semantics, polysemy).

The story of the creation of this unique form of dhikr is that Rumi was walking through the town marketplace one day when he heard the rhythmic hammering of the goldbeaters.

It is believed that Rumi heard the dhikr, لا إله إلا الله "la ilaha ilallah" or in English, "There is no god but Allah" in the apprentices beating of the gold and was so entranced in happiness he stretched out both of his arms and started spinning in a circle (sufi whirling).

He is noted for establishing a rule for conduct in the khanaqah and also for the introduction of music (sama'), poetry and dance, as part of the Sufi collective devotional ritual of dhikr.

Sema is prominent in the ceremonies of the Alevi community of Turkey and the closely related Bektashi Order.

Many cemevleri (Alevi meetinghouses) have organized sema groups that perform at events such as the annual Hacı Bektaş Veli Festival.

The Sama represents a mystical journey of man's spiritual ascent through mind and love to perfection.

He then returns from this spiritual journey as a man who has reached maturity and a greater perfection, so as to love and to be of service to the whole of creation.

However, the listener's heart must first be pure, or the dancing components of sama' will make these people full of lust instead of love for God.

Also, people must maintain proper intent and actions must be present throughout the sama'; otherwise, they cannot experience the ceremony's intended positive effects.