Druze
The Druze are a unique religious and ethnic group originating from the Levant, primarily found in Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and Jordan. The Druze community, at 3 percent of the population Syria's third largest religious minority, is the overwhelming majority in the Jabal al Arab, a rugged and mountainous region in southwestern Syria. The origin of the congregation's name is taken from the name of el-Drzi, one of the known propagandists of the Druze religion at its beginning. The religion was called at the beginning al-Tukhid and the Druze were called al-Mukhadun. The Druze people never seek their own country but are loyal to the country which holds their lands. In Israel, Lebanon and Syria, they are said to be the best warriors (since they are not afraid to die).
The basis of the Druze creed is the belief in the periodical manifestation of God in a human form (makam, lit. place), comparable to a veil behind which the Divine Nature is hidden. For the last five incarnations were chosen the persons of the Fatimid caliphs al-Qa'im (934-946), al-Mansur (946-952), al-Mu'izz (950-975), al-'Aziz (975-996) and al-Hakim (997-1021), the ultimate and most sublime. From him emanate the Five Principles expressing the Creative Force.
The Druze religion is a tenth-century offshoot of Islam, but Muslims view Druzes as heretical for accepting the divinity of Hakim, the third Fatimid caliph of Egypt. The group takes its names from Muhammad Bin Ismail ad Darazi, an Iranian mystic. Druzes regard Jethro, father-in-law of Moses, as their chief prophet and make annual pilgrimages to his tomb in lower Galilee. They also revere Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad, the three most important prophets of Islam.
Their religion is a monotheistic and Abrahamic faith that developed out of Ismaili Islam around the 11th century. The Druze faith incorporates elements from Islam, Hinduism, Greek philosophy, and other beliefs. It emphasizes monotheism, the belief in one God, and has a strong focus on the soul's progression and reincarnation. The Druze have their own sacred texts, known as "Rasa'il al-Hikmah" (Epistles of Wisdom), which are kept secret and only accessible to the religious elite known as "Uqqal" (the wise).
They maintain a distinct identity through their religious practices and community cohesion. Endogamy and monogamy are the rule among the Druzes. Until recently, most girls were married between the ages of 12 and 15, and most men at the age of 16 or 17. Women are veiled in public, but, in contrast to Muslim Arab custom, they can and do participate in the councils of elders.
The Druze have historically been politically active in the regions they inhabit. They have a significant presence in the political landscapes of Lebanon and Israel. The Druze community is known for its loyalty to the countries they reside in, and they often play important roles in the social and political fabric of these nations.
Druze share with Shia Islam the doctrine of practicing the art of dissimulation in hostile environments. In the past this practice meant seeming to worship in the manner of the conqueror or dominant group, without apostasy. In more recent times, some observers note, it has meant being loyal to the state in which they reside, including serving in its army. Because the Druze religion was considered schismatic to Islam, even to Shia Islam, Druzes occasionally suffered discrimination and persecution at the hands of Muslims and, like other Middle Eastern dissidents, inhabited marginal or easily defensible areas : mountain slopes and intermontane valleys.
Because the Druze have long enjoyed a reputation for military prowess and good soldiery, they have often not suffered discrimination or persecutions lightly or without responding in kind.
The historical origins of the Druze sect go back to the reign of the sixth caliph of the Fatimid state, Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah - whose reign extended from 996 AD to 1021 AD - at the hands of Muhammad bin Ismail al-Darazi (in reference to the sons of Darza, meaning the cloth makers) who immigrated to the Levant, and the sect became known by his name. But other references state that the actual founder of the sect is Hamza bin Ali bin Muhammad al-Zawzani, who is considered one of the founders of the Druze Unitarian sect, and the main author of Druze texts.
The Druze revere the Epistles of Wisdom and incorporate elements from various religious and philosophical traditions. The Druze began evangelizing [ar = dawa ="calling"] for their doctrine in the period between 1017-1020 AD, and it extended until 1043 AD, after which its door was closed, and it was limited to the first converts to the doctrine and their children and those born from them, and it became forbidden for anyone to join the Druze sect if he was not originally born a Druze.
The sect's doctrine and doctrine are surrounded by much mystery, because its founders chose not to reveal it and to limit knowledge of it to a narrow circle, and not to teach it except to those of the sect who have reached the age of forty. Some say that the Druze spread this idea in order to dissuade people from asking them about their religion, and it is an idea based on the belief in secrecy.
The Druze identify themselves as the Unitarians, or “Banu Ma’ruf,” the name of an Arab tribe that embraced Druze in its early days. They believe in the covenant or pledge of the Guardian of the Age, which is an oath by which a person becomes a Druze, and they consider it an eternal covenant. The Druze are known for their isolation and social, cultural and political cohesion, and their men are famous for their large moustaches that have religious significance. The Druze sect adheres to the doctrine of monotheism, and all its beliefs are taken from the Ismaili sect. The Druze faith has been influenced by various philosophical and religious trends from different origins, and by its secret principles in spreading its ideas.
Members of the sect believe in the absolute oneness of God, that God is the creator and eternal controller of the universe, and that the human mind is unable to comprehend His greatness. They also believe in the Holy Quran, but they interpret it with their own esoteric interpretation, far from the clear meanings in the text. They also have a book called “Letters of Wisdom” written by Hamza bin Ali bin Ahmed, which is an “interpretation of the Quran,” and they prevent anyone from reading it, except the sheikhs of the Druze sect.
Although the Druze faith originally developed from Ismailism, they do not identify themselves as Muslims, and some of them claim this for purely political reasons, as a form of taqiyya, to preserve their religion and safety, and to avoid any conflict with Muslims. Among the beliefs that distinguish the Druze community is their belief in reincarnation, meaning the return of the human soul to life upon the death of its owner, by transferring it to the body of another newborn.
The Druze community is a cohesive and closed community, and it is rare to find a Druze man married to someone outside the sect, or vice versa. They also do not allow polygamy, so the clergy or “Aqqals” forbid polygamy because in their view it violates the principle of fairness between the sexes.
Some sources say that the origin of the Druze faith dates back to February 1021 AD, when the Fatimid Caliph Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah went out one night without a guard and did not return. Those in charge were forced to announce the death of Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah and the succession of his son Al-Zahir li-Izz ad-Din Allah, as their imam and ruler during the Fatimid state. Hamza bin Ali, the governor’s envoy to the Levant, refused to accept the governor’s death, and refused to recognize the imamate of his son Al-Zahir. He said that the caliph had only disappeared and would return at a later time to fill the earth with justice, announcing, along with those with him, their secession from the Fatimid state, which was the beginning of the birth of Druze thought.
The religion is fiercely monotheistic and includes an elaborate doctrine of the reincarnation and transmigration of souls. The Druze community is known for its secrecy and exclusivity. They do not accept converts, and their religious practices and beliefs are kept confidential from outsiders. The Druze religion is known mainly for being shrouded in secrecy, even from large groups of Druzes themselves, the juhhal, uninitiated or "ignorant ones."
- The first class is the clergy: those who study it and preserve it, and are known as the ‘Uql. The "Uqqal" (knowledgeable) have a deeper understanding of the faith and participate in religious rituals,It is in turn divided into three sections: leaders, wise men, or noble men, and their leader is called the Sheikh of the ‘Uql. The uqqal , the "wise," or initiated, undergo periods of initiation, each signaling an increased mastery of the mysteries of the faith. Although there is a formal separation between religious and political leadership,the wise ones have traditionally wielded considerable political influence.
- The second is the Ajawid, who are knowledgeable about the teachings of the religion and committed to them.
- The third is the understanding of the common people, the “ignorant of religion,” and those immersed in worldly matters rather than religious ones.
The Druze have always kept their doctrine and ritual of secret to avoid persecution. Only those who demonstrate extreme piety and devotion and the correct demeanor are initiated into the mysteries. The initiated (uqqal; sing., aqil) are a very small minority and may include women. Most Druzes are juhhal, ignorant ones. Apparently the religion is complex, involving neo-Platonic thought, Sufi mysticism, and Iranian religious traditions. The Druze celebrate a number of religious holidays and festivals, many of which are specific to their faith. These include the celebration of Eid al-Adha, although their interpretation and practices may differ from mainstream Islam.
The Druze, in general, differentiate between the “spiritual person” and the “physical person.” The former holds the secrets of the sect (chiefs, wise men, and nobles), while the latter does not investigate spiritual matters, but is immersed in worldly matters (they are called the ignorant).
The Druze places of worship are known as khalwat, where they listen to what is recited to them. The “ignorant” are not allowed to attend them or listen to the holy books except on their only holiday, which coincides with the Muslim Eid al-Adha. Regarding the truth behind the name of the sect, the Unitarians paid a high price for being called “Druze,” and this name was attached to them “falsely and slanderously,” and he confirmed that reality and facts prove that they are Muslims and Unitarians. The uniqueness of the Levant lies in its being a land of minorities, including the Almohad sect, whose predominant characteristic has been Arabism since their inception and acceptance of the Islamic faith, and they were sent to the coast of the Islamic state to defend it against the Romans and Byzantines.
The Druze flag features five colors: green, red, yellow, blue, and white, each symbolizing different principles or elements. The Druze typically speak Arabic and share many cultural traits with their surrounding Arab communities.
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