Cem (religion)
Cem , actually Cem Ayini , is a religious ritual of the Alevis and Bektashi .
Origin of the word "Cem"
The word is used in today's Turkish for religious ceremonies and is borrowed from Arabic :
- the Arabic word dschamʿ ( جمع , DMG ǧam ' ) = "assembly"
The first name Cem comes from Persian and is not related to the religious ceremony of the same name.
Meanings for the Alevis
The Arabic word jamʿ , assembly , is also found in the Turkish word cemaat , community . In this meaning, Cemevi (tr: ev house) corresponds to the prayer house of the Alevis.