DRUSE, DRUZE
History
The Druse are a fiercely independent group concentrated in Lebanon around
the base of Mount Hermon, and in the mountains behind Beirut and Sidon. A
few villages are also located on the Golan Heights, in Syria and just inside
the Northern border of Israel.
Very little information is known about the Druse religion. It started in the
9th Century CE as a break-away group from Islam. Darazi (a preacher)
and Hamza ibn Ali ibn Ahmad (a Persian mystic) were instrumental in
founding the religion. They announced that God had manifested himself in
human form as al-Hakim Bi-amr Allah, (985 or 996-1021 CE), a Muslim
caliph from Cairo Egypt.
After the death of their leader Baha al-Din in 1031 CE, their
religion became exclusive: they do not accept converts; they do not marry
other than fellow Druse; they do not leave the faith. They currently total
about 200 to 300 thousand members. The Druse keep their religion secret, and
often pose as members of the locally dominant religion.
Beliefs:
- The Druse hold the Qur'an to be sacred, but look upon it as an outer
shell, holding an "inner, esoteric meaning".
- They are firmly monotheistic, believing in a single God.
- They recognize seven major prophets, including Adam, Abraham, and Jesus
(who they believe to be the son of Joseph). Each major prophets had seven
minor prophets; each of the latter had twelve disciples, including Daniel,
Plato and other individuals from Biblical and Greek history.
- They reject the concept of an after-life: of heaven and hell. They
believe in transmigration of the soul: that, at death, one is reborn
into another life.
Practices:
- The Druse have abandoned the Five Pillars of Islam (recitation of
the creed, reciting prayers five times a day, donating to charity, fasting
during the month of Ramadan and making a pilgrimage to Mecca. Thus, they
are not regarded by Muslims as Islamic.
- Their leaders are a group of asthetics called uqqal (sages)
- Their religious meetings are held on Thursdays.
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References
K.L. Crose, "The Mysterious Druse, Christianity Today, 1990-NOV-5,
P. 53
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