Druze

The Druze (Arabic: duruzī درزي, pl. durūz دروز, Hebrew: druzim ??????) are a small and distinct religious community residing mainly in Lebanon, Israel, Syria, Turkey and Jordan (small communities of expatriates also live in the United States, Canada, Latin America, Australia, and Europe). They use the Arabic language and follow a social pattern very similar to the Arabs of the region. They are not considered Muslim by most Muslims in the region, although most Druze say that their religion is Islamic. Most Druze consider themselves to be Arabs http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_1-2-2004_pg3_5, although some Israeli Druze do not. There are about 1 million Druze worldwide, the vast majority in the Middle East http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3612002.stm.

Beliefs of the Druze

The Druze faith keeps its tenets secret. They are publicly open about very few details of their faith (borrowing from the Shiite practice of taqiyya) and they neither accept converts nor recognize conversion from their religion to another. This is due to many religious, political and historical reasons: the Druze were violently and brutally persecuted for centuries by other religious communities. It is also against their religion to rule their own country. The Druze are to remain loyal to the leaders of the land in which they reside and obey its laws.

Related Topics:
Shiite - Taqiyya

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The Druze believe in the unity of God, whence comes their own name for themselves: Ahl al-Tawhīd (The People of Monotheism). They are monotheists in the same way as Jews and Muslims. Their theology has a Neo-Platonic view about how God interacts with the world through emanations and also is similar to some gnostic and other esoteric sects. They are not however influenced by the Sufi philosophy, as many believe.

Related Topics:
Ahl al-Tawhīd (The People of Monotheism) - Monotheists - Theology - Neo-Platonic - Gnostic - Esoteric - Sufi

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The principles of the Druze faith are: guarding one's tongue (honesty), protecting one's brother, respecting the elderly, helping others, protecting one's homeland, and belief in one God. Another well-known feature of the Druze religion is a fervent belief in human-only reincarnation for all the members of the community. They eschew polygamy, tobacco smoking, alcohol, and consumption of pork. The Druze are not allowed to intermarry with Muslims, Jews, or members of any other religions. However, these rules are often disregarded in modern day societies.

Related Topics:
Reincarnation - Polygamy - Tobacco smoking - Alcohol - Pork

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It is also known that the Druze believe in five cosmic principles, represented by the five colored Druze star: intelligence (green), soul (red), word (yellow), precedent (blue) and immanence (white). These virtues were personified in several people, among them Adam. Sometimes later figures would come to signify the same principle.

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The Druze consider the Old Testament prophets, as well as Jesus and Muhammad, to be true prophets. In contrast to members of the other monotheistic faiths, they elevate Jethro, the father in law of Moses, to status of major prophet. They also believe in the wisdom of classical Greek philosophers such as Plato. In addition, they have an array of "wise men" that founded the religion in the 11th century. Individual prayer, as in Islam, does not exist.

Related Topics:
Old Testament - Jesus - Muhammad - Jethro - Moses - Philosopher - Plato - 11th century - Prayer

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Druze do not make pilgrimage to Mecca.

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uqqal and juhhal

The Druze are split internally into two groups. The inner group are called uqqal, "Knowledgeable Initiates". Male uqqal have moustaches and shaven heads, and wear dark clothing with white hats. The outer group, called juhhal, "the Ignorant", are not allowed access to the secret Druze holy literature. Between 10–20% of Druze are uqqal; the juhhal supply their material needs, and tend to form the Druze political and military leadership. Women can not only become uqqal but are considered especially suitable. About one in 50 uqqal attains the elevated status of ajawīd, gaining a special say in religious and cultural matters.

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One of the Druze's holy books is called the "Hikma Book" or the "Book of Wisdom", largely compiled by a mysterious figure called al-Muqtana. They denounce materialism, especially materialism relative to religion. Thus, their places of worship are usually very modest, and their religious figures (ajawīd) lead very modest lifestyles. Prayer is usually conducted discreetly and among family and friends. There is little official hierarchy in the religious community, except for the Shaykh al-'Aqel, whose role is more political and social rather than religious. A religious figure is admired for his wisdom and lifestyle.

Related Topics:
Al-Muqtana - Shaykh

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Druze women can opt to wear a mandīl or transparent loose white veil, especially in the presence of religious figures. They are considered equal to men in all aspects, and are thought to be spiritually more suited to becoming members of the uqqal than men.

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Today contradictory literature and hoaxes surround the Druze, mainly due to adopted beliefs that were used to protect them from persecutors, or simply due to outsiders telling rumors and stories. For example, it is still unclear to most outsiders whether the Druze follow the same traditions of fasting as Muslims in the month of Ramadan. This is because the Druze have followed these traditions for numerous centuries in order to protect themselves. More orthodox Druze hold that they should not follow these traditions, but should follow a different fasting tradition still practiced by religious figures instead.

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