Hazrat Inayat Khan (1882-1927), affectionately called the grandfather of the Dances Of Universal Peace, is best known for bringing Sufism to the West. He was also a world-famous musician, philosopher and mystic.

Khan taught what he called the Unity Of Religious Ideals. "The Sufi," says Inayat Khan, "sees the truth in every religion." If invited to offer prayers in a Christian church, the Sufi is ready to do so. The Sufi will go the synagogue and pray as the Jews do; will offer Salat with Muslims; and in the Hindu temple worships the same God. Yet the Sufi's true temple, the true mosque, is the human heart, in which the divine Beloved lives.

On the role of music in health and spiritual development, Khan said, ”What does music teach us? Music helps us to train ourselves in some way or other in harmony, and it is this which is magic, or the secret behind music. When you hear music you enjoy, it tunes you and puts you in harmony with life… for the harmony of the universe is music itself, and man, being the miniature of the universe, must show the same harmony. In his pulsation, in the beat of his heart, and in his vibration he shows rhythm and tone, harmonious or inharmonious chords. His health or illness, his joy or discomfort – all show the music or lack of music in his life.”

 “Health is a perfect condition of rhythm and tone. And what is music? Music is rhythm and tone. When the health is out of order it means that the music is out of order, that the music in ourselves is not right. Therefore, in order to put ourselves into a state of harmony and rhythm, what is most necessary is the help of harmony and rhythm.”

“Intelligence longs to attain the perfection of harmony. What man calls happiness and comfort, or profit and gain – all he longs for and wishes to attain - is harmony…his happiness lies in becoming perfectly harmonious with the symphony of the universe. His every action, every word he speaks, every feeling he has, every sentiment he expresses, is all harmonious; it is all virtue. It is not following a religion, it is a living religion, making one’s life a religion, which is necessary."

The Sufi Movement International, the Sufi Order International, the Sufi Ruhaniat International, the Sufi Way and Sufi Contact have all grown from the teachings of Hazrat Inayat Khan. He is the author of many books, including The Mysticism Of Sound And Music and The Sufi Message.