Simple Dervish

01/10/2024

Lefke is a town in Cyprus, overlooking Morphou Bay. Known for its citrus fruits and mines. Lots of students join the European University of Lefke every year. The town offers lots of amenities, such as cafés, restaurants, supermarkets, launderette, pharmacy, petrol stations....

Don't worry about coming into an unknown town as a solo traveller. Cyprus is a very safe country even for women travelling alone.

Contact us for bookings and enquiries.

25/09/2024

19/09/2024

We're grateful for every person who comes to Lefke and has a good time here.

We're happy to help anyone who'd like to have an amazing experience while visiting. We take care of everything from the arrival to the departure.

Contact us for bookings and enquiries.

09/09/2024

If you're worried that all accommodations are fully booked this Mawlid, you can stay for free at the dergha/guest house.

If you're worried about how you're going to get to Lefke from the airport, we can get a driver to pick you up!

If you don't feel like coming when Lefke is full of mureeds, you can book your stay for a later date too.

We book everything for you, for a smoother and enjoyable stay. But don't forget to book your flight first 😉

Contact us for enquiries and bookings.

28/08/2024

Yes! There is limited availability for Mawlid.
Contact for bookings.

26/08/2024

Bismillah arRahman arRahim

If you're coming before Mawlid or after Mawlid, you don't have to stay at the guesthouse. We have houses that can take up to 14 people.

And don't forget to book a taxi. We can pick you up from the airport 😉

Everyone is welcome. Contact us for bookings.

23/08/2024

Salam,
Until Mawlid, all apartments are available.
Anyone coming before mawlid can book a private place to stay.

Dm for more info

22/08/2024

Salam everyone.
Are you coming to Lefke for Mawlid and you need a lift from the airport?

We can help.
Just send us a DM

23/07/2024

Salam everyone, apologies for not being too active this past month. But too much is going on at the moment. We try our best to get back to you as soon as possible.

Insha’ALLAH we'll get back to normal in September.
In the meantime, don't hesitate to contact us, we'll get back to you ASAP

13/07/2024

Are you coming for the Milad/Mawlid this year (14 September) ?
Have you got everything booked?

Contact us for bookings!

22/06/2024

Bismillah arRahman arRahim

Simce 2022, we provide accommodation, Ziyarah and Transport in Istanbul or Cyprus for mureeds.

Approved by the Mashaikhs, Simple Dervish is a booking service for mureeds (travel agency) who wish to visit Mawlana. We're in service 365 days a year.

Find our reviews on Trustpilot, FB and on our Instagram highlights.

Feel free to contact us for enquiries and bookings.

13/06/2024

Link in the Stories .

07/06/2024

Bismillah arRahman arRahim

Yes we've got our WhatsApp running again!

Feel free to contact us for query and bookings.

29/05/2024

Weeping Dervish.
If you're coming to Cyprus this Eid, don't forget to book our Ziyarah Tour 😉

Contact us for more info

25/05/2024

Bismillah arRahman arRahim

Mawlānā used to say; "If you'll do something, do it consistently". That's the secret of success.

Ḥadīth is also like that. "Ajallu l-karāmāt dawāmu t-tawfīq". "khayru l-a‘māl adwamihā"- the best of deeds are consistent. Things done consistently - those are the best.

If you do something - you try, then to another place... it didn't work here, it didn't work there also. Even if it works some people do too much then they get tired and give up. Don't overburden yourself.

*Sheikh Mehmet*

22/05/2024

Bismillah arRahman arRahim

Hala Sultan. One of the most important Maqams and places to visit in Cyprus.

Hala Sultan gives so much positive energy, and care to those who visit it by the will of Allah. Anyone who goes to Cyprus has to visit it if he/she can, he/she won't go put empty-handed.

Going there can change someone's heart and life Insha’ALLAH. It is a blessed place.

May Allah make it more blessed for those visiting it.

18/05/2024

11/05/2024

Famagusta, one of the cities to visit while being in Cyprus. It is an old town with lots of history. One of the landmarks is the Lala Mustafa mosque.

Also Famagusta is one of the stops in our Ziyarah tour.

Contact us for bookings.

09/05/2024

Yes, another of our apartments is in that building!
Contact for bookings 😉

07/05/2024

Some pictures shared today on WhatsApp.
What a wonderful thing to be in Lefke during the Urs. May we all be able to be in Lefke on the 7th of May Insha’ALLAH.

But if that is not possible, it's OK, everyone is welcome, we'll help you get an appartement close to the dergha, we'll pick you up from the airport and if you wish to get on a Ziyarah tour, that's possible too. All hustle free!

Just contact us first 😉

03/05/2024

Part 10 (final)
Bismillah arRahman arRahim

That morning I didn't want to go to the dergha for Fajr.

I said goodbye last night. There wasn't any reason to go back. I knew that it was over. There was no point in going back.

But another part of me was saying "don't be stupid, you'll regret it if you don't go one last time for fajr. And say goodbye at the maqam."  I really struggled to know what to do. Then I gave up and decided to pray fajr at the dergha.

As usual it was a beautiful moment in time, I said goodbye to Sheikh Nazim, and went back to the guesthouse waiting for my driver to pick me up.

The appointment was at 6.30 am. But I wasn't 💯 sure he'll be here on time as the night before he was very tired. So I was anxious, what would I do if he wasn't there at 6.30? Was I to call him? Would I miss my flight? All kinds of ideas and alternatives went through my mind 🤦🏻‍♀️

At 6.25 I sent him a message just to remind him in case he was still asleep.
At 6.30 sharp, he arrived! He didn't need to see my message. Alhamdulillah. 

We left for Ercan Airport. On the way there is a beautiful mosque that I really wanted to visit, Hala Sultan of Northern Cyprus (I wrote a post about it a few weeks ago). We stopped there as we still had time. What a beautiful mosque MashaAllah!!

Then we drove a few more minutes and we arrived at the airport. I was ahead of time. It was a beautiful warm sunny day. My friend/driver and I said goodbye.  And we both took separate ways.

It was really a privilege to have visited so many sites in Cyprus. It was a very interesting trip full of good memories and good people.

I didn't cry leaving as I have plans to go back some day and live there if Allah permits it. But for now, it is a story like many of those who went there and left.

The Mashaikhs welcome new and old  mureeds everyday, some come and some go, there is always place, there is always someone new at the dergha, everyday is a New day as Sheikh Bahauddin says, nothing stays the same.

02/05/2024

Part 9

Eid! The last day I would be in Lefke.
I had lots of things to do. Among which see Mawlana for the last time before the weddings.

Mureeds usually see Mawlana and Hj Ruckiya (for sisters) on departure.

In the morning I found Mawlana and Sheikh Bahauddin heading to Hj Aminah Maqam. There were lots of people, who went with them (those who had car or were invited to go). I preferred to stay behind, for some reason I felt I didn't have my place there.

In the meantime,  I took the opportunity to visit our apartments and take new pictures 😌

By Zhur I was ready for the Wedding and the appointment I had afterwards with a friend. We were supposed to go to a barbecue at 3pm. But this afternoon, the 1st day of Eid wasn't going to be an easy one for me 😕. And not according to plan either.

After Zuhr I went to the men's entrance and waited for Mawlana to give him my salams and goodbye. Three men entered the room one after another and left, when I expected to be next, Malwana went out of the room and left. I started to ask myself lots of questions! And started to make assumptions,  and this overthinking was piling up.

I was told that because of the 2 weddings, he couldn't meet more people at the time, but that later it would be possible.

Ok, I postponed my meeting with Mawlana (and my overthinking mind) and went to Sheikh Nazim's house waiting for the weddings to start.

The ladies were all beautifully dressed, and all were excited for the wedding. Patiently I waited, standing near the garden on the first row, as I wanted to see how the wedding will look like. More and more ladies joined us until there wasn't space to sit anywhere. Lots were standing like me,  it was very crowded.  We couldn't see much of what was happening at the family's table. And unfortunately I was getting tired of standing, I wanted to sit somewhere but... all seats were taken.

Finally the music started and the brides and grooms were arriving.  Mashallah!  It was worth the wait 😁 they were beautiful couples. They walked right past me toward the Family's table. And just right behind them closing the line was Sheikh Bahauddin 😃 Wow! I thought he was at the table with 👇

01/05/2024

Part 8
Bismillah arRahman arRahim

Tuesday, the last day of Ramadan. Wednesday would be Eid.

Was this information important back then? Yes! Absolutely. If I was to meet Sheikh Bahauddin before leaving, it would be on Tuesday! Last time I met him was in Paris last August. 8 months is a long time!!

But where would I find him?

Honestly I had no idea where he would receive people. I knew where Mawlana met the mureeds, I discovered where Sheikh Mehmet Nazim met the visitors, but Sheikh Bahauddin.... it was a total mystery. 😆

I kept myself busy until Zuhr. Then I went to the dergha as usual, and asked myself where should I go in order to catch Sheikh Bahauddin before he leaves?

That's where the idea came! 😃 I would catch him at the men's side just after Zuhr.

I must admit that I was very uncomfortable and unsure of that spontaneous idea, but I had to try....

After Zuhr, I ran to the men's side, pushed my way in, and waited INSIDE the men's area, by the room where I met Sheikh Mehmet Nazim. After a few minutes that looked very long to me, I saw him coming slowly from the Maqam 😃 stopping as usual to greet everyone who was there.

Slowly, slowly, he got nearer and nearer. I was very anxious and excited to see him.
Surely he saw me as he got nearer... and nearer.... he passed by me and entered the library. So I asked one of the brothers if it was possible to have a couple of minutes with Sheikh Bahauddin.

After a minute or so, I was allowed in. Mashallah!!! Meeting him again was really a blessing. Alhamdulillah. Seeing him in pictures and videos always makes me happy. And in those minutes I was over the moon!

When our short meeting was over, I left the library with a very big smile and a happy heart. May Allah bless him.

I spent the evening at some friends' house, and by Isha I was back at the dergha.

Getting ready for Eid, my last day in Lefke.

30/04/2024

Part 7
Bismillah arRahman arRahim

There is something important to mention before I start today's story. It is not advisable to land in Ercan Airport if you plan on visiting Hala Sultan. Because the airport is not recognised by the EU. And there are small chances that you'll have trouble getting in. As an European citizen, I was advised by my friend/driver, not to get my passport stamped at the border. Because this would make it difficult to get into the southern part of Cyprus which is the EU. Or even if you're travelling to some other countries, having the stamp of Northern Cyprus can be an issue.

So I thought, why not show my ID card instead, like this, I would get my stamp into a separate piece of paper. That's what I did on arrival. But apparently, this also can be an issue if you cross to the south of Cyprus because you only get out with the document you get in. In my case the ID.

Yes it's very confusing! All I know is that it is risky to leave Northern Cyprus from any exit while you entered with the ID. They might refuse your exit/entry 🤦🏻‍♀️

Luckily my friend has connections. Still... nothing was certain....

This day was a special one. My friend and I were to drive to Hala Sultan in the afternoon. I was soo excited!

We left Lefke around 4pm. It was a beautiful warm afternoon. We arrived at the border a few minutes later. There were 2 ladies. We made a dua to get an easy crossing. After a few more minutes we were given our documents back alhamdulilah! We were allowed to cross.

Then we arrived at the European border which was pretty easy of course. And we started our trip. One hour and something later we approached Larnaca. Hala Sultan is very close to the Larnaca airport. In a beautiful "peninsula" (if we can use that term.)

Mashallah! I was sooo excited to be there and see it in real. I knew that if it wasn't for Allah's will, I would have never made it there.

It was really a blessing to be there. Hala Sultan is really located in a beautiful👇

29/04/2024

Part 5 and 6
Bismillah arRahman arRahim

After spending the night at Velmer, my chauffeur brought me back at the guesthouse shortly before Zuhr. Nothing special happened that day but I had a very important appointment the next day!

I was to get on a Ziyarah tour with a family. And we were leave at 9.30am sharp.

As you can imagine,  after fajr I was too excited to get back to sleep.  I kept myself busy. At 9.30 I was at the meeting point, the guide/driver and the family were arriving.

We all popped into the same car and started our trip. The brother who was driving us was very calm, and knowledgeable of the places we visited.  He didn't rush us and answered any question we had. We started by visiting the maqam of Hj Aminah, then we drove through high hills toward Girne and arrived at the 7 Sahabas.

Mashallah! What a beautiful place!! 😍
I was soooo amazed to see it in real. The sea, the blue sky, the soft wind, the white mosque at end of the path.... it made so happy. It was the perfect day for a Ziyarah tour. I won't be sharing the story of each place here or it will be a very long post!

Leaving the 7 sahabas we headed for the 40 sahabas who were near Ercan Airport. We arrived there by Zuhr. We stayed there a while. And then left for St Barnabus. The maqam is in a Chapel near a church/museum. Then Kutub Osman near Famagusta. Then we arrived at Lala Mustafa Pasha mosque which was a church once shortly before Asr. It is a beautiful big mosque in the center of Famagusta. And by the door there is the oldest tree of Cyprus. It is big and very green. I don't remember it's age but it is very very old. After Asr, we walked to the Weeping Dervish maqams. With its small dergha beside it. From there we drove back toward Lefke.

The sun was going down, we ( the 4 of us) were getting sleepy. It was far from Famagusta to Lefke. I know that I dozed off, every once in a while I woke up and looked around,  the driver was focused on the road while my fellow companions were sleeping.

Around maghrib, our driver told us that we were going to stop at a mosque for iftar on the way. And that's what we did. Around 25km before Lefke we stopped in a small town, there was 👇