Berlin, Germany
Born in Germany in 1951, Jelaluddin was attracted to painting and art at an early age with a longing for beauty and expanse. In addition, his interest in psychology and his curiosity to better understand human relationships grew.
He studied applied arts, later German language and literature, and became a father early in his first marriage. Book design has been an important part of his life ever since his 1986-1990 training in Gestalt therapy. At the same time, he worked with mentally ill people in art and literature projects.
Jelaluddin’s first encounter with Sufism was with Shamsuddin Juckoff in 1986, and from 1990 onwards he did regular Buddhist meditation retreats. In 1994 he was initiated on the Sufi path by Murshid Saul Barodofsky – in deep attunement with Murshid Samuel Lewis, and later by Murshid Saadi Neil-Douglas-Klotz. In 2007 he was initiated as Khalif.
He has been married to Baraka for almost 40 years, has two children and two grandchildren. He shares with her not only love and family, but also a deep connection to spirituality. Since the 1980’s they have also been working together - in therapeutic work and also on the Sufi path with seminars, dances and music. One focus is the therapeutic and spiritual work with men and couples. Soulwork is a valuable instrument for this. Since 2002 he and Baraka have been living with Sufi friends Sophia, Qadima and Qalbi in a Khankah on the outskirts of Berlin, where there are regular dances, seminars, choir and healing rituals.
In 2004 he founded a Sufi choir in Berlin – after the joint vocal project "The Inayati Quartet" and inspired by the annual DHO meetings in Schnede, where Murshid Saul has taught and Murshid Aslan Sattler has led a singing class. Since 2005 he has been leading Sufi groups in Greece, Czech Republic and Germany together with Baraka and other teachers - also teaches classes at the European Summer School.
It is both a task and a gift for him to pass on the love, beauty and wisdom of our Sufi path. As a growing capacity for understanding and peaceful coexistence – on the individual level, in our sufi sangha and in our community on this earth.