Assembly of the Forty
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Kırklar cem'i, Kırklar Meclisi The Assembly of the Forty, or Council of the Forty, is a communal worship ceremony in Alevism and Bektashism that is said to have been attended by Muhammad upon his return from the Mi'raj.[1] Unlike the classic Sunni Miraj stories, the story tells of Muhammad being removed from his role as a person who brought God's commands, and how he was able to enter the realm of meeting with God by giving his ring, which contained the seal of prophethood, to a lion. In the stories, alongside the understanding developed by Islamic theology that God cannot be likened to or enter into any created being, there are short references challenging traditional Sunni positions such as prayer, alcohol prohibition, separation of men and women, and veiling practises in Islam.
In addition to commemorating this event, Alevis gather in places called cemevis to pray, recite poetry, and perform ritual dances called semah. Semah is an important ritual dance and one of the twelve obligations of the event. This dance is performed by men and women together and simultaneously, and is led by a Dede. If there is no suitable Dede to lead the Cem, any other member of the community who knows the relevant rituals can lead this service. The Cem of the Forty is held at regular intervals, usually weekly.[2]