The Druze: Islam in It's Most Unusual Form

The Muwahhidoon (which translates from Arabic to 'the monotheists') or Druze as more commonly known, are followers of a supposedly heretical form of Islam that is around a thousand years old. Persecuted by Sunnis and Shiites alike for centuries, the Druze are followers of a faith which probably knows best the meaning and best way of practicing 'taqiyya' or "dissimulation'. Perhaps the most secretive religion in the world, the Druze/Muwahhidoon, despite their small numbers, have been at the focal point of several conflicts that have raged on in the Middle East for decades.

Origins

They call themselves 'Muwahhidoon' but are known by most as Druze. Ironically, the name "Druze" is a name believed to have been derived from Nashtakin ad-Darazi, a man they consider a heretic of their own faith who preached a distorted version of the religion. Most Druze are descendents of a mixture of Arabic and Aramaic peoples. The Druze faith doesn't accept any converts nor allows any of it's practitioners to leave the faith. The origins of the faith can be traced back to Mount. Lebanon in central Lebanon. Most Druze today are found in Syria, Lebanon, the Golan Heights and in Jordan. There are smaller communities throughout Europe and the Americas of Druze.

Founded by Hamza ibn Ali ibn Ahmed, a Persian mystic, he revealed the faith in 1017. Hamza created the group to fight off what he believed to be alterations made to the Ismaili version of Shiite Islam. Al-Hakim, the Caliph of the Fatimid Shiite empire based in Cairo at the time when the faith was revealed, was deified as an incarnation of God as was his distant ancestor, Ali ibn Abi Talib. Ali ibn Abi Talib is a central figure in the vast majority of Islamic sects (both orthodox and minor sects). Whether Al-Hakim himself became a member of the Druze faith is unclear. Regardless, Al-Hakim disappeared and was succeeded by his underage son. Al -Hakim is believed by the Druze to one day come back at the end of times and save the Druze when the world is about to end. Al-Hakim allowed religious freedom under his rule. With the end of his rule though came the rise to power of Al-Hakim's son. The once quickly spreading faith found itself on the defensive.

Persecution

Following the rise to power of Al-Hakim's son Ali az-Zahir and the mysterious disappearance of Al-Hakim, the Druze were suddenly in trouble. Ali az-Zahir was much less tolerant than his father was to what he considered to be, along with the majority of the Muslim world, a newly formed heretical version of Islam. He began at his young age a number of military strikes against the Druze. The Druze accepted him as their Khalifah (emperor/ruler) but not as their Imam (religious ruler). Upon hearing that, Al az-Zahir was ready to take revenge upon the people which had deified his father and not him.

Thousands of Druze died in the years to follow. Children, infants, mothers, elders and men all perished at the hands of the Fatimid armies. In 1026 however, az-Zahir agreed to end the persecution of the Druze. The faith was closed to new converts around twenty years later.

Years more of persecution throughout the Levant (Syria, Lebanon, Palestine/Israel, Jordan) would ensue until the present day. The Druze were a powerful rebellious force against the Ottomans and at many times during history would have a considerable amount of autonomy. During the last century however, the Druze have been of at the focal point of conflicts throughout the region.

Beliefs

The Druze believe Al-Hakim to be an incarnation of God, along with several of his ancestors. One of the most important religious sites for the Druze is the grave of Jethro which is highly revered as being one of the most important prophets. The Druze do not pray like the Muslims five times a day. They reject polygamy (having more than one wife, something allowed in most other Islamic sects). Alcohol consumption and the smoking of tobacco is not allowed. Marriage to non-Druze is discouraged. The consumption of pork, like in other sects of Islam, is not allowed.

The Druze usually believe themselves to be Muslim and believe that all other Muslims are not really Muslim but rather heretics. Most Muslims believe the Druze to either be a heretical form of Islam or a religion of it's own. The Druze of Israel often claim not to be Arab or Muslim and are treated as an entirely different ethnic group of their own in Israel. Israeli Druze, unlike other Muslim and Christians citizens of Israel and like the Jews of Israel, are eligible for the draft in Israel and must serve a set amount of time as soldiers in the military. The Druze of Syria and other Arab states usually consider themselves Arab and Muslim.

The Druze as previously mentioned practice Taqiyya, or dissimulation. When Druze are in a community with few or no Druze, they can and often will pray like and alongside Christians or Muslims. The concept of Taqiyya is not unique to the Druze and is practiced by other Shiite sects as well. It is because of this practice however that it is difficult to estimate the number of Druze in the world. Estimates range from anywhere between 700,000 and 2,000,000 people are practitioners of the faith.

The Druze could be considered to be one of the most secretive faiths in the world not only for it's taqiyya but also because of the split in the faith of those who claim to be a part of it. There are the Juhhal who are 'ignorant'. They know their faith only from what is told to them from generation to generation. These Druze are largely secular.

Based on one's actions in a Druze community or elsewhere, an 'ignorant' individual may become one the Uqqal or one of 'the knower's'. Once a member of the Juhhal is allowed by other Uqqal, he may be allowed to read the texts and teachings of his religion and thus become a member of the Uqqal. These 'Uqqal' are few in number and are at the heart and leadership of the Druze community.

The Druze have no ceremonies nor prayers; they believe that the rites and practices of the three other major monotheistic religions (Islam, Judaism, Christianity) have caused them to turn aside from what they consider the faith of God. Druze are always conscious of God because they have no special prayers to offer to be forgiven for their sins like in other monotheistic religions. They believe that if an individual can be forgiven by God by offering a prayer, pilgrimage or other forms of asking for forgiveness, then that individual will repeat the same sin over and over again and will be forgiven for it without learning from his/her mistake.

Like the five pillars of Sunni Islam and the ten commandments of Judaism and Christianity, the Druze have a similar set of things all Druze must follow.

1. Speaking the truth

2. Supporting your brethren

3. Abandoning the old creeds

4. Purification from heresy

5. Accepting the unity of God

6. Submitting to the will of God

All Druze, regardless of whether 'ignorant' or otherwise, must hold to the above precepts. The Uqqal are expected to practice the above in a more sophisticated and complicated manner.

Druze in the 20^th and 21^st centuries

The Druze have been for centuries both a political and military force in and around Lebanon and southern Syria. Most of their towns are atop hills and mountains which serve the explicit purpose of defense against invaders. While the Druze have almost always had some political/military muscle, perhaps it was most present during the Lebanese civil war.

During the Lebanese civil war, the Druze had it's own militia. This militia, who's leader today is Walid Jumblaat, had aligned and fought with all militias during the Lebanese civil war (1975-1990, several failed agreements and ceasefires were signed during the Lebanese civil war). His and his father's aim (his father was the head of the Druze militia before him) was to secure a victory for the Druze no matter what. Therefore, depending on whoever was winning, the Druze militia switched sides occasionaly and always allied itself with the apparent to-be victor.

The Ba'ath party of Syria, currently lead by Bashir Al-Assad, has a significant amount of Druze members in its largely secular party. Bashir Al-Assad and his family are members of the Alawi sect of Islam. They have been rivals with the Druze for hundreds of years. Alawis, unlike the Druze, are more often accepted by other mainstream Muslims as being Shiite Muslims. Like the Druze, the Alawites of Syria are a minority sect.

Last word

The Druze are a proud people with traditions and beliefs that can only further enrich our overall understanding about the Middle East. They have been persecuted for centuries off and on and are so secretive that most practitioners of the faith only know the bare basics of the faith. With a belief system that could be said to be almost Gnostic in nature, the Druze could hardly be considered Muslim in the traditional sense. A powerful religion both in politics and military strength, the Druze of the Levant are certainly a force to be reckoned with.