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Druze

Not to be confused with Druse.

Druze
Al-Muwaḥḥidūn
مُوَحِّدونَ دُرُوز


Druze star and Druze flag
Total population
≈800,000[1][2][3]–2,000,000[4]
Founder
Hamza ibn Ali ibn Ahmad[5]
Regions with significant populations
 Syria600,000[6][7]
 Lebanon250,000[8]
 Israel and the Golan Heights143,000[9]
 Venezuela60,000[10][11]
 United States50,000[12][11]
 Canada25,000[13]
 Jordan20,000[14]
 Germany10,000[15]
 Australia4,268[16]
Religions
Druzism
Scriptures
Epistles of Wisdom
(Rasa'il al-hikma)
Languages

The Druze (/ˈdruːz/ DROOZ;[19] Arabic: دَرْزِيّ, darzī or دُرْزِيّ durzī, pl. دُرُوز, durūz), who call themselves al-Muwaḥḥidūn (lit. 'the monotheists' or 'the unitarians').[20] They are an Arab esoteric religious group[21][22][23][24] 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.[25][26][27][28]

Although the Druze faith developed from Isma'ilism, Druze do not identify as Muslims.[29][30] They maintain Arabic language and culture as integral parts of their identity,[31][32][33] with Arabic being their primary language.[34] Most Druze religious practices are kept secret,[35] and conversion to their religion is not permitted for outsiders.[36] 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.[37] Druze believe that, after completing the cycle of rebirth through successive reincarnations, the soul reunites with the Cosmic Mind (al-ʻaql al-kullī).[38]

The Epistles of Wisdom is the foundational and central text of the Druze faith.[39] The Druze faith originated in Isma'ilism (a branch of Shia Islam),[40] and has been influenced by a diverse range of traditions, including Christianity,[41][42][43] Gnosticism, Neoplatonism,[41][42] Zoroastrianism,[44][45] Manichaeism,[46][47] Pythagoreanism.[48][49] 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.[20][49] Druze beliefs include the concepts of theophany and reincarnation.[50]

The Druze hold Shuaib in high regard, believing him to be the same person as the biblical Jethro.[51] They regard Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, Muhammad, and the Isma'ili Imam Muhammad ibn Isma'il as prophets.[52] Additionally, Druze tradition honors figures such as Salman the Persian,[53] al-Khidr (whom they identify with Elijah, John the Baptist and Saint George),[54] Job, Luke the Evangelist, and others as "mentors" and "prophets".[55]

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 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").[56] The Druze community played a critically important role in shaping the history of the Levant, where it continues to play a significant political role.[57] As a religious minority, they have often faced persecution from various Muslim regimes, including contemporary Islamic extremism.[58][59][60]

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.[32] This hypothesis significantly influences the Druze’s self-perception, cultural identity, and both oral and written traditions.[31] It suggests that the Druze are descended from twelve Arab tribes that migrated to Syria before and during the early Islamic period.[61][62][63] This perspective is accepted by the entire Druze communities in Syria and Lebanon, as well as by most Druze in Israel.[note 1][68]

  1. ^ Carl Skutsch (2013). Skutsch, Carl (ed.). Encyclopedia of the World's Minorities. Routledge. p. 410. ISBN 978-1-135-19388-1. Total Population: 800,000
  2. ^ Robert Brenton Betts (1990). The Druze (illustrated, reprint, revised ed.). Yale University Press. p. 55. ISBN 978-0-300-04810-0. The total population of Druze throughout the world probably approaches one million.
  3. ^ Donna Marsh (2015). Doing Business in the Middle East: A cultural and practical guide for all Business Professionals (revised ed.). Hachette UK. ISBN 978-1-4721-3567-4. It is believed there are no more than 1 million Druze worldwide; most live in the Levant.
  4. ^ Samy Swayd (2015). Historical Dictionary of the Druzes (2nd ed.). Rowman & Littlefield. p. 3. ISBN 978-1-4422-4617-1. The Druze world population at present is perhaps nearing two million; ...
  5. ^ Hendrix, Scott; Okeja, Uchenna, eds. (2018). The World's Greatest Religious Leaders: How Religious Figures Helped Shape World History [2 volumes]. ABC-CLIO. p. 11. ISBN 978-1440841385.
  6. ^ "Syria region map" (PNG). gulf2000.columbia.edu.
  7. ^ Irshaid, Faisal (19 June 2015). "Syria's Druze under threat as conflict spreads". BBC News.
  8. ^ Lebanon – International Religious Freedom Report 2008 U.S. Department of State. Retrieved on 2013-06-13.
  9. ^ "The Druze population in Israel – a collection of data on the occasion of the Prophet Shuaib holiday" (PDF). CBS – Israel. Israel Central Bureau of Statistics. 17 April 2019. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
  10. ^ "Tariq Alaiseme [reportedly to be] vice-president of Venezuela" (in Arabic). Aamama. 2013.: Referring governor Tareck El Aissami.
  11. ^ a b "Sending relief – and a message of inclusion and love – to our Druze sisters and brothers".
  12. ^ Druze Traditions, Institute of Druze Studies, archived from the original on 14 January 2009
  13. ^ "Dating Druze: The struggle to find love in a dwindling diaspora". www.cbc.ca. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
  14. ^ International Religious Freedom Report, US State Department, 2005
  15. ^ "Drusentum – Die geheime Religion (2020)". Deutschlandfunk. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  16. ^ "Cultural diversity: Census, 2021". Australian Bureau of Statistics. 10 August 2021. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  17. ^ Berdichevsky, Norman (2004). Nations, Language and Citizenship. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-2700-0.
  18. ^ Brockman, Norbert (2011). Encyclopedia of Sacred Places, [2 volumes] (2nd ed.). ABC-CLIO. p. 259. ISBN 9781598846546.
  19. ^ "Definition of druze". Dictionary.com. 18 July 2013. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
  20. ^ a b Doniger, Wendy (1999). Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of World Religions. Merriam-Webster, Inc. ISBN 978-0-87779-044-0.
  21. ^ "Druze – History, Religion, & Facts". Encyclopedia Britannica. 20 July 1998. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  22. ^ Quigley, John B. (2005). The Case for Palestine An International Law Perspective. Duke University Press. p. 135. ISBN 978-0-8223-3539-9.
  23. ^ Chatty, Dawn (2010). Displacement and Dispossession in the Modern Middle East. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-81792-9.
  24. ^ Harrison, Simon (2006). Fracturing Resemblances: Identity and Mimetic Conflict in Melanesia and the West. Berghahn Books. pp. 121–. ISBN 978-1-57181-680-1.
  25. ^ Abulafia, Anna Sapir (23 September 2019). "The Abrahamic religions". www.bl.uk. London: British Library. Archived from the original on 12 July 2020. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  26. ^ Obeid, Anis (2006). The Druze & Their Faith in Tawhid. Syracuse University Press. p. 1. ISBN 978-0-8156-5257-1.
  27. ^ Dana, Léo-Paul (2010). Entrepreneurship and Religion. Edward Elgar Publishing. p. 314. ISBN 978-1-84980-632-9.
  28. ^ Morrison, Terri; Conaway, Wayne A. (2006). Kiss, Bow, Or Shake Hands: The Bestselling Guide to Doing Business in More Than 60 Countries (illustrated ed.). Adams Media. p. 259. ISBN 978-1-59337-368-9.
  29. ^ Cite error: The named reference De McLaurin 1979 114 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  30. ^ "Druze in Syria". Harvard University. 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.
  31. ^ a b Abu-Izeddin 1993, p. 14.
  32. ^ a b Firro 2023, p. 19-20.
  33. ^ Brockman, Norbert (2011). Encyclopedia of Sacred Places [2 volumes] (2nd ed.). ABC-CLIO. p. 259. ISBN 978-1-59884-654-6.
  34. ^ Nili, Shmuel (2019). The People's Duty: Collective Agency and the Morality of Public Policy. Cambridge University Press. p. 195. ISBN 9781108480925.
  35. ^ "Druze | History, Religion, & Facts | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
  36. ^ Daftary 2007, pp. 188–189.
  37. ^ Cite error: The named reference auto16 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  38. ^ "Druze". druze.org.au. 2015. Archived from the original on 14 February 2016.
  39. ^ Abu Izzeddin, Nejla M. (1993). The Druzes: A New Study of their History, Faith, and Society. Brill. p. 108. ISBN 978-90-04-09705-6.
  40. ^ Daftary, Farhad (2013). A History of Shi'i Islam. I.B. Tauris. ISBN 978-0-85773-524-9.
  41. ^ a b Quilliam, Neil (1999). Syria and the New World Order. Michigan University press. p. 42. ISBN 9780863722493.
  42. ^ a b The New Encyclopaedia Britannica. Encyclopaedia Britannica. 1992. p. 237. ISBN 9780852295533. 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.
  43. ^ Cite error: The named reference Mahmut 2023 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  44. ^ Philip Khuri Hitti (1928). The Origins of the Druze People and Religion: With Extracts from Their Sacred Writings. Library of Alexandria. pp. 27–. ISBN 978-1-4655-4662-3.
  45. ^ Sālibī, Kamāl (2005). The Druze: realities & perceptions. Druze Heritage Foundation. pp. 186–190. ISBN 978-1-904850-06-9.
  46. ^ Conder, Claude Reignier (2018). Palestine. BoD – Books on Demand. pp. 80–. ISBN 978-3-7340-3986-7.
  47. ^ Al-Rāfidān. Kokushikan Daigaku, Iraku Kodai Bunka Kenkyūjo. 1989. pp. 2–.
  48. ^ Rosenthal, Donna (2003). The Israelis: Ordinary People in an Extraordinary Land. Simon and Schuster. p. 296. ISBN 978-0-684-86972-8.
  49. ^ a b Kapur, Kamlesh (2010). History of Ancient India. Sterling Publishers Pvt. Ltd. ISBN 978-81-207-4910-8.
  50. ^ Nisan 2002, p. 95.
  51. ^ A Political and Economic Dictionary of the Middle East. Routledge. 2013. ISBN 9781135355616.
  52. ^ Finegan, Jack (1981). Discovering Israel: An Archeological Guide to the Holy Land. Eerdmans. ISBN 978-0-8028-1869-0.
  53. ^ D Nisan, Mordechai (2015). Minorities in the Middle East: A History of Struggle and Self-Expression (2nd ed.). McFarland. p. 94. ISBN 9780786451333.
  54. ^ Swayd, Samy (2015). Historical Dictionary of the Druzes. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 77. ISBN 978-1442246171.
  55. ^ S. Swayd, Samy (2009). The A to Z of the Druzes. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 109. ISBN 9780810868366. They also cover the lives and teachings of some biblical personages, such as Job, Jethro, Jesus, John, Luke, and others
  56. ^ Radwan, Chad K. (June 2009). Assessing Druze identity and strategies for preserving Druze heritage in North America (MA thesis). University of South Florida.
  57. ^ Zabad, Ibrahim (2017). Middle Eastern Minorities: The Impact of the Arab Spring. Taylor & Francis. p. 125. ISBN 9781317096733. Although the Druze are a tiny community, they have played a vital role in the politics of the Levant
  58. ^ Stewart, Dona J. (2008). The Middle East Today: Political, Geographical and Cultural Perspectives. Routledge. p. 33. ISBN 9781135980795.
  59. ^ Al-Khalidi, Suleiman (11 June 2015). "Calls for aid to Syria's Druze after al Qaeda kills 20". Reuters.
  60. ^ "Syria: ISIS Imposes 'Sharia' on Idlib's Druze". Archived from the original on 20 May 2015. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  61. ^ Firro 2023, p. 19.
  62. ^ Abu-Izeddin 1993, p. 10.
  63. ^ Makarim 1974, p. 2-3.
  64. ^ Firro, Kais (1999). The Druzes in the Jewish State: A Brief History. Brill. pp. 9, 171. ISBN 90-04-11251-0.
  65. ^ 'Weingrod, Alex (1985). Studies in Israeli Ethnicity: After the Ingathering. Taylor & Francis. pp. 259–279. ISBN 978-2-88124-007-2.
  66. ^ M. Firro, Kais (2001). "Reshaping Druze Particularism in Israel". Journal of Palestine Studies. 30 (3): 40–53. doi:10.1525/jps.2001.30.3.40.
  67. ^ Halabi, Rabah (2014). "Invention of a Nation: The Druze in Israel". Journal of Asian and African Studies. 49 (3): 267–281. doi:10.1177/0021909613485700.
  68. ^ Firro 2023, p. 20.


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