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The Druze Faith
April 2013 version
Few people know about the Druze, a mysterious,
1,000 year old religion in Lebanon. Also called the
Druse, Duruz, Duroz, and the Tawhid faith, there are
about 750,000-800,000 of them today, primarily in
Syria, Lebanon, and Israel. The Druze call themselves
Muwahhidun (Unitarians). Though they believe
Mohammed was from God, cannot be considered as
Muslims any more than they can be Jews or
Christians. To understand their origin, we have to go
back in time to the time of the Egyptian Fatimid
caliphs.
The Fatimid Dynasty of Caliphs
After the first few caliphs (called the Umayyad
Dynasty), the corrupt ‘Abbasids had pretty much
proven to the Muslim world that power corrupts.
Some might think that perhaps the Caliphate should
have gone to Mohammed’s descendants after all. The
Abbasids were succeeded by the Fatimids, who ruled
from North Africa and later centered in Egypt. Their
name was because the rulers were descended from
Fatima, the daughter of Mohammed’s and his first
wife Khadija. Though ‘Abd al-Rahman offered 100
camels laden with clothing and 10,000 dinars to marry
Fatima, and ‘Uthman offered the same, Mohammed
married her off to a poor man, ‘Ali bin Abi/Abu Talib.
Pious Shi’ite Muslims believed many legends about
Fatima. According to these, when Khadija was
pregnant, the Quraysh would not help, so four women
from Heaven came down to help: Sara wife of
Abraham, Asiya, Mary, and Safira alleged wife of
Moses. Fatima allegedly never menstruated, she gave
birth through her left thigh, while Mary gave birth to
Jesus through her right thigh. Fatima became a houri
of Heaven. All the Muslims in Heaven will have as
many houris as wives as they wish, except that ‘Ali
would have no other wife than Fatima. Some see a
similarity between the veneration of Fatima and the
Roman Catholic veneration of the Virgin Mary.
Fatima was been called “the mother of her father” by
12’er Shi’ites, (Encyclopedia of Islam vol.2 p.845846), perhaps as a prophecy that the twelfth imam
would be named Mohammed.
Fatima will be the first to enter Paradise after
Mohammed in the resurrection. The Sunni hadith
Bukhari vol.4 book 56 ch.24 no.819-820 p.527 also
says this. Gabriel will lead her camel to Allah’s
throne. There she will get down and ask Allah to give
justice to those guilty of the deaths of here sons Hasan
and Husayn/Husain. Fatima will get all of her
followers into Paradise, and just as Catholics pray to
Mary, some Isma’ilis offer prayer to Fatima.
As a side note, there is also an apparition called “Our
Lady of Fatima” in the Catholic religion, but that is
totally unrelated.
Here are all the Fatimid Caliphs
1. Al-Mahdi ‘Obaidallah/’Ubaydullah caliph 297
A.H./909 A.D. -322 A.H./ 3/4/933/934. He
conquered ‘Abbasid Egypt on the second try 919920 A.D.. He claimed to be the Mahdi.
2. Al-Ka’im biamr Allah (Abu’l-Kasim), died 334
A.H. 5/18/945
3. Mansur (Abu Tahir Isma’il), died 3/19/952.
4. Mu’izz lidin Allah (Abu Tamim Ma’ad), 952-976.
22 years old when began to reign
5. al-’Aziz caliph 976-996 A.D., conquered Syria
6. Al-Hakim bi’amr Illahi, 996 - 1021 A.D.
7. al-Zahir, caliph from 1021-1036 A.D.
8. al-Mustansir, 1036-1094 A.D., weak reign.
9. al-Musta’li, caliph from 1094-1101 A.D.
10. al-Amr 1101-1130 A.D.
11. al-Hafiz 1130-1140 A.D.
12. al-Zafr 1149-1154 A.D.
13. al-Fa’iz 1154-1160 A.D.
14. Al-’Adid last Fatimid caliph 1160-1171 A.D.,
deposed by Saladin and the ‘Abbasid army.
Al-Hakim
Al-Hakim bin-Amr Allah was born in 985 A.D.,
became the sixth Fatimid caliph when he was 11 (996
A.D.). al-Hakim was infamous for his cruelty
liberalness, tyranny, and mysterious disappearance
while walking alone in February, 1021 A.D. He was a
chief persecutor of Christians and Jews, yet his mother
was a Christian from Russia. Many consider him a
mad Isma’ili Shi’ite. On the other hand, he is looked
up to by others.
Someone once said that every bad thing has a good
rationalization. According to The Encyclopedia of
Religious Knowledge p.277-278, it was believed that
“His actions, thought they may have appeared at times
to be cruel, were beyond comprehension and their
creative symbolism was known only to Hamza as
imam.”
The famous mathematician Alhazen (died 1038)
claimed he could invent a machine to regulate the
flooding of the Nile River. Hakim (died 1021) invited
him to Egypt to do so. When Alhazen arrived, and saw
that was impossible, he pretended to be mad until
Hakim died.
A Timeline of Hakim’s Persecution
1003 Demolished a church and built the Rashid, a
mosque, on the site
1004 Forced Christians and Jews to wear black belts
and turbans
1005 al-Hakim was a Shi’ite, and he pronounced
curses against the first caliphs and companions of the
prophet, and forced these to be inscribed on mosques.
1007 He repealed having these inscribed on mosques.
He first forbid and then relaxed laws against wine,
brothels, slave singing girls, musical instruments,
singers, musicians.
He forbade women to go outside. Al-Hakim forbade
shoemakers to make shoes for women. (They should
not need to go outside anyway.)
At some point, al-Hakim encouraged supporters,
including worshipping him as visible God. The Druze
faith is named after one of these supporters, Ismail alDarazi / ad-Darazi. Later Druze theology says there
were ten incarnations of God, and al-Hakim was the
last one, according to The Encyclopedia of Missions
vol.1 p.341 (Funk and Wagnalls 1891).
He forbade a particular vegetable, because he believed
Abu Bakr, A’isha, and Mu’awiya like it.
He forbade eating shell fish and fish without scales.
He prohibited games of chess (as Sahih Muslim
teaches), and he ordered all dogs killed.
Al-Hakim burned the entire Jewish quarter in Cairo.
He burned the town of al-Fustat after the people had
circulated a statement saying he had abandoned Islam
by proclaiming that he was divine. Al-Hakim
allegedly amused himself by watching it burn.
1007 Prohibited the Palm Sunday procession in
Jerusalem
1008 Confiscated the property of the churches and
Monasteries in Egypt
1009 Forced Christians and Jews to wear crosses and
bells. Destroyed two churches in Cairo, one in
Damascus, and desecrated their graveyards. Tortured
Christian officials.
1009/1010 Destroyed the church of the Holy
Sepulchre in Jerusalem (Future Crusaders would
remember that). He prohibited the Epiphany
celebration in Cairo and destroyed Christian
monasteries.
1010 Forbade Christians to use wine in the Lord’s
Supper.
1011-1012 al-Hakim passed a butcher shop, grabbed a
meat cleaver, and killed one of the assistants.
1011-1012 Prohibited the display of crosses.
1012-1013 Christians cannot ride on horseback. He
destroyed churches and convents, sparing only the
monastery at Sinai.
1012-1013 Forced subjects to bow to him and call him
our Lord
1013 Some Christians who had allegedly converted to
Islam were still celebrating the Lord’s Supper in their
house. He learned of it but allowed it. He had edicts in
favor of Christians, and rebuilt a monastery, restored
many churches and their possessions. He allowed
some Christian converts to Islam to return back to
Christianity.
Al-Hakim also forbade some Muslim prayers too. He
forbad women to weep at funerals, as Mohammed had
commanded them not to weep.
1021 al-Hakim went walking on a hill one night in
February, 1021, and disappeared without a trace.
Hamza said that he would come again. (This is similar
to the belief in the reappearance of the 12th imam.)
The Perennial Dictionary of World Religions p.230
says that al-Hakim wanting to be worshipped at God
was a key factor in weakening the Fatimid Dynasty.
Hamza, al-Muqtana, and the Druze
Scriptures
Since that time, the Druze have worshipped alHakim as visible God. Al-Hakim’s vizier, Hamza bin
‘Ali ibn Ahmad, a Persian mystic, helped ensure the
al-Hakim was worshipped as the ultimate One who
created the first cosmic principle. In Druze thought
Hamza is the first of the creatures of God. The Druze
calendar begins 1016/1017 A.D. (A.H.408), when
Hamza publicly declared that al-Hakim was visible
God at the mosque in Cairo.
The Druze scripture, called Rasahl/Rasa’il al-Hikma
(“Letters of Wisdom”), was primarily written down by
al-Muqtana (the cosmic immanence). It also has other
epistles by al-Hakim, Hamza, and others.
Since al-Muqtana disappeared, the Druze have not
been a “proselytizing religion.”
In the Druze Catechism, question 44 says the
‘Alawites split from the Druze because they did not
worship al-Hakim and worshipped ‘Ali instead.
Hamza’s Seven Pillars of the Druze Faith
1. (Truth in words) Speak the truth to other Druze.
However, lying to unbelievers to defend yourself or
the community is OK. They think it fine to appear
to be Muslims to Muslims, or appear as Christians
to Christians, and to say false things about what
they believe.
2. (Watchfulness) Defend each other (including by
force) and help and aid one another
3. Absolute renunciation all former religion, including
non-Druze Islam.
4. Dissociate completely from unbelievers.
5. Recognize al-Hakim as the One visible God.
(Includes recognizing other previous
manifestations of God too)
6. Complete resignation, content with what God does
7. Complete obedience, submitting to the orders of
God, or his agents, until al-Hakim’s return.
Other Druze Beliefs
Al-Hakim is the central focus of the Druze faith. He
is call al-wahda, the manifestation of the divine unity.
Like some Isma’ilis, the Druze believe there have
been many (perhaps 70) incarnations of God. The
True Jesus was an incarnation of Cosmic Intelligence,
but not Mohammed. al-Hakim was the final
incarnation of God.
Cosmic Roles: Like Isma’ilis, they believe in five
cosmic principles (hudud). The Druze believe there
are five humans who assumed these roles.
‘Akl (true Adam / cosmic intelligence) was assumed
by Hamza ibn Ali
Nafs al-Kulliyya (universal soul / cosmic self)
assumed by Isma’il ibn Muhammad al-Tamimi.
Kalima (the word / cosmic utterances) assumed by
Muhammad ibn Wahb al-Qurashi
Sabiq (right wing / preceder / cosmic precendent)
assumed by Salam ibn ‘Abd al-Wahhab
Tali (left wing / follower / cosmic imminence)
assumed by Baha’ al-Din al-Muqtana.
In addition there were dais (missionaries), ma’dhuns
(preachers), mukasirs (persuaders), and the rest of the
true believers.
There were also five false cosmic principles, created
by al-Hakim for the evil side of the universe. AlHakim will abandon these in the last days though.
Muslim Festivals: They celebrate most Muslim
festivals, but they do not observe Ramadan for go on
the Hajj Pilgrimage to Mecca.
inspired by God, but they are not followed anymore.
Druze
Marriage: They also believe that husbands and wives
should be equal in marriage.
The Khidr/Khider (Green One). Like the Sufis they
emphasize al-Khidr. They have a supposed shrine of
the Khidr. Al-Khidr was mentioned in Bukhari vol.1
book 3 ch.44 no.124 p.90-93 as someone Moses
visited who knew things about God that Moses did
not. A Druze told me they believe he is John the
Baptist (Nafs al-Kulliyya, the Universal Soul).
Jesus and the Holy Spirit are the same identity,
according to
http://ismaili.net/~heritage/mirrors/7_other_drouz/dro
uz.html. It also says the Druze claim descent from the
lost tribes of Israel. It also says the Druze consider
Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle as prophets too.
Reincarnation: They believe people are reincarnated
until they reach perfection and ascend to the stars.
This has some similarity to ‘Alawite teaching. Unlike
Hinduism, the Druze believe human males are only
reincarnated as human males, and similar for females.
China they believe has another secret Druze
community.
End times: When persecution of the Druze reaches its
peak, al-Hakim will return along with Hamza and alMuqtana, who disappeared in 1033 A.D. al-Hakim
will conquer the world, and the secret Druze
community allegedly in China today will rejoin those
in Syria. They will conquer Mecca, then Jerusalem,
and all of the world will accept the Druze faith.
Practices: They believe both men and women should
participate in daily prayers. (Sunni Islam hadiths say
women should abstain when they have their period.).
The Druze abstain from stimulants, tobacco, and wine.
They believe stealing and revenge are wrong.
Dissimulation: Like the Ghulat sects in the Muslim
world, they believe in lying about being a Druze when
they need to do so for safety. In addition, they are
permitted to outwardly conform to the prevailing
religion, and practice their own secretly. Thus Druzes
in other lands might call themselves a Syrian Christian
or a Sunni Muslim.
The material world is a “mirror” or emanation of the
Divine Intelligence.
Religious services are on Thursday evenings, the start
of their day of rest (The Perennial Dictionary of
World Religions p.230, Encyclopaedia Britannica
p.684).
All previous religions are not wrong, they are just
“types” of the true religion and are to be interpreted
allegorically. Both the Gospel and the Qur’an were
Initiates/Non-initiates: Since the 15th century, the
Druze, like the ‘Alawites, have an inner group of
initiates (‘Uqqal/’Aql meaning intelligence/sages) and
the majority of the rest of the believers (Juhhal/Jahil
meaning ignorant ones). The Jahil supply the material
needs of the initiates. The Encyclopaedia Britannica
estimates that about 15% are the initiates.
Men initiates usually wear a black robe underneath a
white girdle. For a hat they have a red fez with a white
roll around it.
Women must wear veils, usually black with red
slippers. In fact, many Druze women will not be
unveiled even in the presence of non-Druze women.
Polygamy is not allowed, and women as well as men
can initiate divorce. They join with men in religious
ceremonies, though separated by a semi-transparent
black veil. Women used to not be able to wear silk,
brocade, gold, or silver, but they typically do so now.
Laws: In general the Druze often follow the Hanafite
Muslim legal system. The Hanafites are the most
popular Sunni school.
Old Druze vs. New Druze Beliefs: The Encyclopedia
of Islam (E.J. Brill 1965) vol.2 p.633 says that during
the long period of Druze history much of the extensive
hierarchism disappeared, and a new system of Gnostic
cosmology and cyclical sacred history predominated
by the time of ‘Abd Allah al-Tanukhi (died 885 A.H.
1480 A.D.). The division of Druze into the sages and
ignorant ones was by this time.
Wrong information: Since people knew little about
the Druze, a number of false things have been said
about them.
It was alleged they descended from a Crusader named
the Count of Dreux.
They allegedly worshipped a figure of a calf. The
Encyclopaedia Britannica (1972) volume 7 p.711
says, “perhaps a calf figure which connection is
remote and its role is obscure.” However, it adds that
some Druze vehemently deny its existence.
The Druze allegedly had immoral images, similar to
some sects of Hinduism, but that is wrong, too.
Subsequent Druze History
1300 A.D. Maliku ‘l-Ashraf, the Mameluke Sultan of
Egypt, defeated the Druze and forced them to conform
to Sunni Islam, at least outwardly.
1516 A.D. The Maan family of the Druze supported
the Turk Selim the Grim in his fight against the
Mamelukes.
At their peak under Fakru’d-din Maan II, the Druze
controlled Antioch, Palmyra, Beirut, Sidon, Latakia,
and Tripoli under the Turks. He unsuccessfully
rebelled from the Turks twice.
They had many civil wars; in 1711 the Shehab Druze
defeated the Turks and other Druze at Ein/Ain Dara.
There was frequent civil war in Lebanon. The Druze
massacred Christians in 1840, at Hasbeya, and
4/30/1845. The Druze and Muslims combined to
slaughter 2,500 Maronites in Damascus on 7/9/1860.
The French occupied Lebanon after that. The Druze
fought the Egyptians in 1930, the Turks in 1852, and
were defeated by the Turks in 1896. The Turshun
Druze tried to revolt from the Turks in 1906.
During World War I they assisted Lawrence and the
British against the Turks. After the French did not
listen to their needs, The Druze rebelled from the
French in 7/25/1925, finally being completely
defeated in 1927. See The First Encyclopedia of Islam
vol.2 (E.J. Brill) p.1075-1076 for more info.
Similarities, Yet Profound Differences
The Druze are interesting in that they respect
Mohammed as a prophet, and believe the Qur’an was
sent by God, yet their beliefs are so different from
what is taught in the Qur’an. They believe their beliefs
supersede the “truth” God gave in the Qur’an.
Like Muslims the Druze respect Jesus as a prophet,
and believe the Bible was given by God, yet the
beliefs of both Druze and Muslims are so different
from what is taught in the Bible. In a few respects the
Druze are closer to the Bible than Muslims; they
belief that Jesus is a manifestation of God. However,
in other respects Muslims are closer, such as not
worshipping al-Hakim, no other manifestations of
God, and no reincarnation. Both Druze and Muslims
believe their founders and their scriptures supersede
the truth of the Bible. Apparently the fact that their
“truth” contradicts the fundamental message of the
New Testament does not concern them.
Does the Truth Matter?
The Druze are remarkable for holding to their
tradition for almost a thousand years, in the face of
war and persecution. The spirit behind al-Hakim
should be very proud. If you think of loyalty as always
a good virtue, then the Druze, ‘Alawites in the world
of Islam, the Thuggees and Khonds in the world of
Hinduism, and the people who perished in Jim Jones’s
People’s Temple in the world of Christianity, are all
the most virtuous of people.
No, Misplaced loyalty is not a virtue. Misplaced
loyalty is in fact disloyalty and treason to where your
loyalty should lie.
Bible Verses Relating to the Druze
“I the LORD do not change.” (Malachi 3:6a)
“Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”
Hebrews 13:8
“I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the
serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led
astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.
For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus
other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a
different spirit from the one you received, or a
different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up
with it easily enough.” (2 Corinthians 11:3-4 NIV)
“I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the
one who called you by the grace of Christ and are
turning to a different gospel – which is really no
gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you
into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of
Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should
preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you,
let him be eternally condemned! As we have already
said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to
you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be
eternally condemned!” (Galatians 1:8-9 NIV)
The Druze of North America have an English site at
www.Druze.com.
References
Encyclopaedia Britannica. (1958) volume 7.
Encyclopaedia Britannica (1972) volume 7 p.711.
The Encyclopedia of Islam has numerous articles
relating to the Druze. There are multiple editions of
the Encyclopedia of Islam though, all published by
E.J. Brill.
First Encyclopedia of Islam
Encyclopedia of Islam editors B. Lewis Ch. Pellat, and
J. Schacht. (1965)
Encyclopedia of Islam New Edition. (1995)
Douglass, J.D. (general editor) Encyclopedia of
Religious Knowledge 2nd edition. Baker Book
House. 1991.
Crim, Keith, Roger A. Bullard and Larry D. Shinn
(editors) The Perennial Dictionary of World
Religions. Harper & Row. 1981. (830 pages)
http://ismaili.net/~heritage/mirrors/236_druz/win19b.
html