Shems Friedlander

Shems Friedlander was an American Muslim visual artist, filmmaker, scholar and author on Tassawuf and Professor Emeritus, American University in Cairo, Department of Journalism and Mass Communication. He produced many works on Tassawuf, especially the Mevlevi Tariqah, as well as the Halveti-Jerrahi Tariqa which he was a member of. After graduating from the Massachusetts College of Art in 1963 he embarked on a life seeking answers to spiritual questions, that led him through many explorations and many places across the world, as described in his own biography entitled Winter Harvest. He finally embraced Islam when he met sheikh Muzaffer Ozak Efendi of the Halveti-Jerrahi Tariqa.

He is also the author of 8 other books, a published journal of Occasional Sufi Papers named Zawiyah and his art work has been exhibited worldwide. In 2005 he was awarded Teacher of Excellence by the School of Business, Economics and Communications, at AUC for a three year period. After living and teaching for many years in Cairo, Egypt, Shems Friedlander took residence in Istanbul where he continued to work and research to further the cause of Islam and its universal message for the good of humanity at large. He journeyed on to his Lord on the 22nd of November, 2022 in Istanbul and was buried very close to his beloved master Mawlana Jalal udin al-Rumi in Konya, Turkey.

His service, valuable work and dedication remain an inspiration to the world of humanity. The world is deeply saddened by the loss of the very special Shems Friedlander, an American Muslim visual artist, filmmaker, scholar, author on Tassawuf and Professor at the Emeritus and American University in Cairo.