Druze

The Druze ( , plural دروز, durūz , druzim ) are a religious community found primarily in Syria , Lebanon , Israel , and Jordan , whose traditional religion is said to have begun as an offshoot of Islam , but is unique in its incorporation of Gnosticism , Neoplatonism and other philosophies, similar to other followers of Ismaili Shi'a Islam . Theologically, Druze consider themselves "an Islamic Unist, reformatory sect". The Druze call themselves Ahl al- Tawhid "People of Unitarianism or Monotheism" or al-Muwaḥḥidūn "Unitarians, Monotheists." Danna, Nissim (December 2003). "Press Release: The Druze Population of Israel" (DOC) .

Arabic text Hebrew text Sixth caliph of the Fatimids , Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah . The Druze ( / d r uː z / ; derzī or durzī , plural دروز durūz ; drūzī plural דרוזים , druzim ), are an ethnoreligious esoteric group originating from the Near East who self identify as unitarians ( Al-Muwaḥḥidūn / Muwahhideen ). According to the narrative of the Druze, Jethro is considered an ancestor of all Druze and revered as the spiritual founder as well as chief prophet, who lived in Midian . The Druze faith is a monotheistic and Abrahamic religion based on the teachings of Plato , Aristotle , Socrates , Akhenaten , Hamza , and Al Hakim . The Epistles of Wisdom is the foundational text of the Druze faith alongside supplemental texts such as the Epistles of India. The Druze faith incorporates elements of Gnosticism , Neoplatonism , Pythagoreanism , Ismailism , Judaism , Christianity , Hinduism , Buddhism and other philosophies and beliefs, creating a distinct and secretive theology known to esoterically interpret religious scriptures and to highlight the role of the mind and truthfulness. The Druze follow theopany , which is the belief that God manifests himself in a human form and in reincarnation or the transmigration of the soul. At the end of the cycle of rebirth, which is achieved through successive reincarnations, the soul is united with the Cosmic Mind ( Al Aaqal Al Kulli ). Although dwarfed by other larger communities, the Druze community played an important role in shaping the history of the Levant , and continues to play a large political role there. However, as an ethnic and religious minority in every country in which they live, they have frequently experienced persecution . Druze are not considered to be Muslims and often labeled as infidels ( Murtadun ). Ali az-Zahir of the Fatimid Caliphate campaigned to exterminate the faith, ethnically cleansing Druze communities in Antioch , Aleppo , and northern Syria. Further attempts were made by the Mamluks and Ottomans . Most recently, Druze were targeted by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant and Al-Qaeda in order to cleanse Syria and neighboring countries of non-Islamic influence. The Druze faith is one of the major religious groups in the Levant , with about 1.5 million adherents and are found primarily in Syria , Lebanon and Israel , with small communities in Jordan and outside the Middle East. The oldest and most densely populated Druze communities exist in Mount Lebanon and in the south of Syria around Jabal al-Druze (literally the "Mountain of the Druzes"). The Druze's social customs differ markedly from those of Muslims or Christians, and they are known to form a close-knit, cohesive community but also integrate fully in their adopted homelands. "The Economist" . 390 ( 8618– 24). 2014: 49 . Department of State. 2006 . International Religious Freedom Report , US State Department , 2005 "Tariq Alaiseme [reportedly to be] vice-president of Venezuela" (in Arabic). Aamama. 2013. : Referring governor Tareck El Aissami . Druze Traditions , Institute of Druze Studies, archived from the original on 14 January 2009 "Druze Population of Australia by Place of Usual Residence (2006)" . Australian Bureau of Statistics . Displacement and Dispossession in the Modern Middle East . Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of World Religions . The Druzes: a new study of their history, faith, and society . A History of Shi'i Islam . History Of Ancient India . MuslimHope – Official Web cite (Christian Debater® P.O. Box 144441 Austin, Tx 78714 (512) 218-8022). 2015. : Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= ( help ) Nisan, Mordechai.

Arabic-speaking esoteric ethno-religious group Video clips from the archive of Israel Channel 2 Israeli News Company showing Israeli Druze men in traditional clothing. The flags shown are Druze flags. Sixth Fatimid caliph , al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah The Druze ( / d r uː z / ; darzī or durzī , plural دروز durūz ; drūzī plural דְּרוּזִים ‎, druzim ) are Arabic -speaking esoteric ethnoreligious group originating in Western Asia who self-identify as The People of Monotheism ( Al-Muwaḥḥidūn ). Jethro of Midian is considered an ancestor of Druze, who revere him as their spiritual founder and chief prophet. It is a monotheistic and Abrahamic religion based on the teachings of Hamza ibn Ali ibn Ahmad and the sixth Fatimid caliph , al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah , and Ancient Greek philosophers such as Plato , Aristotle , Pythagoras , and Zeno of Citium . The Epistles of Wisdom is the foundational text of the Druze faith. The Druze faith incorporates elements of Isma'ilism , a branch of Shia Islam , Gnosticism , Hinduism , Christianity , Neoplatonism , Pythagoreanism , and other philosophies and beliefs, creating a distinct and secretive theology, based on an esoteric interpretation of scripture, which emphasises the role of the mind and truthfulness. Druze believe in theophany and reincarnation or the transmigration of the soul . Druze believe that at the end of the cycle of rebirth, which is achieved through successive reincarnations, the soul is united with the Cosmic Mind ( al-ʻaql al-kullī ). Although dwarfed by other, larger communities, the Druze community played an important role in shaping the history of the Levant , where it continues to play a large political role. As a religious minority in every country in which they are found, they have frequently experienced persecution , except in Lebanon and Israel , where Druze judges, parliamentarians, diplomats, and doctors occupy the highest echelons of society. Even though the faith originally developed out of Isma'ilism , Druze do not identify as Muslims . The Druze faith is one of the major religious groups in the Levant, with between 800,000 and a million adherents. They are found primarily in Syria , Lebanon and Israel , with small communities in Jordan . The oldest and most densely-populated Druze communities exist in Mount Lebanon and in the south of Syria around Jabal al-Druze (literally the "Mountain of the Druzes"). The Druze's social customs differ markedly from those of Muslims or Christians, and they are known to form close-knit, cohesive communities which do not fully allow non-Druze in, though they themselves integrate fully in their adopted homelands. Encyclopedia of the World's Minorities . The Druze (illustrated, reprint, revised ed.). The total population of Druze throughout the world probably approaches one million. Doing Business in the Middle East: A cultural and practical guide for all Business Professionals (revised ed.). It is believed there are no more than 1 million Druze worldwide; most live in the Levant. Historical Dictionary of the Druzes (2 ed.). The Druze world population at present is perhaps nearing two million; ... "Tariq Alaiseme [reportedly to be] vice-president of Venezuela" (in Arabic). Aamama. 2013. : Referring governor Tareck El Aissami . Australian Bureau of Statistics . Nations, Language and Citizenship . Displacement and Dispossession in the Modern Middle East . Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of World Religions . The Druzes: A New Study of their History, Faith, and Society . A History of Shi'i Islam . Syria and the New World Order . The New Encyclopaedia Britannica . Druze religious beliefs developed out of Isma'ill teachings. Various Jewish, Christian, Gnostic, Neoplatonic, and Iranian elements, however, are combined under a doctrine of strict monotheism. The Israelis: Ordinary People in an Extraordinary Land . History of Ancient India . The Israelis: Ordinary People in an Extraordinary Land . The Encyclopedia of Cults, Sects, and New Religions . Theologically, one would have to conclude that the Druze are not Muslims. They do not accept the five pillars of Islam. In place of these principles the Druze have instituted the seven precepts noted above..

Arab and Arabic-speaking ethnoreligious group of the Levant The Druze ( / ˈ d r uː z / ; , darzī or durzī , pl. دُرُوزٌ , durūz ), who call themselves al-Muwaḥḥidūn (lit. 'the monotheists' or 'the unitarians'), are an Arab and Arabic -speaking esoteric ethnoreligious group from Western Asia who adhere to the Druze faith, an Abrahamic , monotheistic , syncretic , and ethnic religion whose main tenets are the unity of God and the belief in reincarnation and the eternity of the soul. Adherents of the Druze religion call themselves simply " the Monotheists " ( al-Muwaḥḥidūn ). Most Druze religious practices are kept secret. The Druze do not permit outsiders to convert to their religion. Marriage outside the Druze faith is rare and strongly discouraged. The Epistles of Wisdom is the foundational and central text of the Druze faith. The Druze faith incorporates elements of Isma'ilism , Christianity , Gnosticism , Neoplatonism , Zoroastrianism , Buddhism , Hinduism , Pythagoreanism , and other philosophies and beliefs, creating a distinct and secretive theology based on an esoteric interpretation of scripture, which emphasizes the role of the mind and truthfulness. Druze believe in theophany and reincarnation . Druze believe that at the end of the cycle of rebirth, which is achieved through successive reincarnations, the soul is united with the Cosmic Mind ( al-ʻaql al-kullī ). The Druze have a special reverence for Shuaib , who they believe is the same person as the biblical Jethro . The Druze believe that Adam , Noah , Abraham , Moses , Jesus , Muhammad , and Imam Muhammad ibn Isma'il were prophets. Druze tradition also honors and reveres Salman the Persian , al- Khidr (who they identify as Elijah , reborn as John the Baptist and Saint George ), Job , Luke the Evangelist , and others as "mentors" and "prophets". Video clips from the archive of Israel Channel 2 Israeli News Company showing Israeli Druze men in traditional clothing. The flags shown are Druze flags. Even though the faith originally developed out of Isma'ilism , the Druze are not Muslims . The Druze faith is one of the major religious groups in the Levant , with between 800,000 and a million adherents. They are found primarily in Lebanon , Syria , and Israel , with small communities in Jordan . They make up 5.5% of the population of Lebanon, 3% of Syria and 1.6% of Israel. The oldest and most densely-populated Druze communities exist in Mount Lebanon and in the south of Syria around Jabal al-Druze (literally the "Mountain of the Druze"). The Druze community played a critically important role in shaping the history of the Levant, where it continues to play a significant political role. As a religious minority in every country in which they are found, they have frequently experienced persecution by different Muslim regimes, including contemporary Islamic extremism . Encyclopedia of the World's Minorities . The Druze (illustrated, reprint, revised ed.). The total population of Druze throughout the world probably approaches one million. Doing Business in the Middle East: A cultural and practical guide for all Business Professionals (revised ed.). It is believed there are no more than 1 million Druze worldwide; most live in the Levant. Historical Dictionary of the Druzes (2 ed.). The Druze world population at present is perhaps nearing two million; ... "Tariq Alaiseme [reportedly to be] vice-president of Venezuela" (in Arabic). Aamama. 2013. : Referring governor Tareck El Aissami . International Religious Freedom Report , US State Department , 2005 "Drusentum - Die geheime Religion (2020)" . Australian Bureau of Statistics . 10 August 2021 . Nations, Language and Citizenship . Encyclopedia of Sacred Places, 2nd Edition [2 volumes] . The Case for Palestine An International Law Perspective . Displacement and Dispossession in the Modern Middle East . The Druze & Their Faith in Tawhid . Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of World Religions . The Druzes: A New Study of their History, Faith, and Society . A History of Shi'i Islam . Syria and the New World Order . The New Encyclopaedia Britannica . Druze religious beliefs developed out of Isma'ill teachings. Various Jewish, Christian, Gnostic, Neoplatonic, and Iranian elements, however, are combined under a doctrine of strict monotheism. The Druze: realities & perceptions . The Israelis: Ordinary People in an Extraordinary Land . History of Ancient India . A Political and Economic Dictionary of the Middle East . Minorities in the Middle East: A History of Struggle and Self-Expression, 2d ed . Historical Dictionary of the Druzes . The A to Z of the Druzes . The Druze are an ethnoreligious group concentrated in Syria, Lebanon, and Israel with around one million adherents worldwide. The Druze follow a millenarian offshoot of Isma'ili Shi'ism. Followers emphasize Abrahamic monotheism but consider the religion as separate from Islam. Assessing Druze identity and strategies for preserving Druze heritage in North America (MA thesis). Although the Druze are a tiny community, they have played a vital role in the politics of the Levant Stewart, Dona J.

Ethnoreligious group of the Levant Not to be confused with Druse . The Druze ( / d r uː z / DROOZ ; Arabic : دَرْزِيّ , darzī or دُرْزِيّ durzī , pl. دُرُوز , durūz ), who call themselves al-Muwaḥḥidūn ( lit. ' the monotheists ' or ' the unitarians ' ), are an Arab esoteric religious group from West Asia who adhere to the Druze faith , an Abrahamic , monotheistic , and syncretic religion whose main tenets assert the unity of God, reincarnation , and the eternity of the soul. Although the Druze faith developed from Isma'ilism , Druze do not identify as Muslims . They maintain Arabic language and culture as integral parts of their identity, with Arabic being their primary language. Most Druze religious practices are kept secret, and conversion to their religion is not permitted for outsiders. Interfaith marriages are rare and strongly discouraged. They differentiate between spiritual individuals, known as "uqqāl", who hold the faith's secrets, and secular ones, known as "juhhāl", who focus on worldly matters. Druze believe that, after completing the cycle of rebirth through successive reincarnations, the soul reunites with the Cosmic Mind ( al-ʻaql al-kullī ). The Epistles of Wisdom is the foundational and central text of the Druze faith. The Druze faith originated in Isma'ilism (a branch of Shia Islam ), and has been influenced by a diverse range of traditions, including Christianity , Gnosticism , Neoplatonism , Zoroastrianism , Manichaeism , Pythagoreanism . This has led to the development of a distinct and secretive theology, characterized by an esoteric interpretation of scripture that emphasizes the importance of the mind and truthfulness. Druze beliefs include the concepts of theophany and reincarnation . The Druze hold Shuaib in high regard, believing him to be the same person as the biblical Jethro . They regard Adam , Noah , Abraham , Moses , Jesus , Muhammad , and the Isma'ili Imam Muhammad ibn Isma'il as prophets. Additionally, Druze tradition honors figures such as Salman the Persian , al- Khidr (whom they identify with Elijah , John the Baptist and Saint George ), Job , Luke the Evangelist , and others as "mentors" and "prophets". The Druze faith is one of the major religious groups in the Levant , with between 800,000 and a million adherents. They are primarily located in Lebanon , Syria , and Israel , with smaller communities in Jordan . They make up 5.5% of Lebanon's population, 3% of Syria's and 1.6% of Israel's. The oldest and most densely populated Druze communities exist in Mount Lebanon and in the south of Syria around Jabal al-Druze (literally the "Mountain of the Druze"). The Druze community played a critically important role in shaping the history of the Levant, where it continues to play a significant political role. As a religious minority, they have often faced persecution from various Muslim regimes, including contemporary Islamic extremism . Several theories about the origins of the Druze have been proposed, with the Arabian hypothesis being the most widely accepted among historians, intellectuals, and religious leaders within the Druze community. This hypothesis significantly influences the Druze's self-perception, cultural identity, and both oral and written traditions. It suggests that the Druze are descended from 12 Arab tribes that migrated to Syria before and during the early Islamic period. This perspective is accepted by the entire Druze communities in Syria and Lebanon , as well as by most Druze in Israel . Encyclopedia of the World's Minorities . Doing Business in the Middle East: A cultural and practical guide for all Business Professionals (revised ed.). It is believed there are no more than 1 million Druze worldwide; most live in the Levant. "alwazir tariq aleisami nayiban lirayiys jumhuriat finizwilaa" "الوزير طارق العيسمي نائبا لرئيس جمهورية فنزويلا" [Minister Tareck El Aissami, Vice President of the Republic of Venezuela] (in Arabic). Druze Traditions , Institute of Druze Studies, archived from the original on 14 January 2009 "Dating Druze: The struggle to find love in a dwindling diaspora" . International Religious Freedom Report , US State Department , 2005 "Drusentum – Die geheime Religion (2020)" . Australian Bureau of Statistics . 10 August 2021 . Nations, Language and Citizenship . The Druze are an ethnoreligious group concentrated in Syria, Lebanon, and Israel with around one million adherents worldwide. The Druze follow a millenarian offshoot of Isma'ili Shi'ism. Followers emphasize Abrahamic monotheism but consider the religion as separate from Islam. Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of World Religions . The Case for Palestine An International Law Perspective . Displacement and Dispossession in the Modern Middle East . The Druze & Their Faith in Tawhid . Historically they faced much persecution and keep their religious beliefs secrets. The Druzes: A New Study of their History, Faith, and Society . A History of Shi'i Islam . Syria and the New World Order . The New Encyclopaedia Britannica . Druze religious beliefs developed out of Isma'ill teachings. Various Jewish, Christian, Gnostic, Neoplatonic, and Iranian elements, however, are combined under a doctrine of strict monotheism. The Druze: realities & perceptions . The Israelis: Ordinary People in an Extraordinary Land . History of Ancient India . A Political and Economic Dictionary of the Middle East . Assessing Druze identity and strategies for preserving Druze heritage in North America (MA thesis). University of South Florida . The Druzes in the Jewish State: A Brief History . Studies in Israeli Ethnicity: After the Ingathering . 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