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91-475: The Druze made up about 3.2 percent of the population of Syria in 2010. The Druze are concentrated in the rural, mountainous areas east and south of Damascus in the area known officially as Jabal al-Druze . Druze is a monotheistic and Abrahamic religion . Syria has the largest Druze population in the world , Many Syrian Druze have been living abroad for centuries, particularly in Venezuela . Druze

182-536: A French convoy they thought to transport Khanjar, who was in fact sent to Damascus by airplane. The French responded by destroying his house and ordering his arrest. Sultan fled to Jordan and subsequently launched raids against French posts. Ten months later, he returned, having been pardoned by the French. In 1925 Sultan Pasha al-Atrash led a revolt which broke out in the Druze Mountain and spread to engulf

273-509: A Thursday instead of a Friday at Khalwats instead of mosques. Such gatherings and traditions were not compulsory and people were encouraged to pursue a state of compliance with the real law of nature governing the universe. Epistle thirteen of the Epistles of Wisdom called it "A spiritual doctrine without any ritualistic imposition". The time of the call was seen as a revolution of truth, with missionaries preaching its message all around

364-798: A campaign to defame the Druzes for their religion and politics. He accused the entire community of treason, at times claiming they were agents of the British and Hashemites , at others that they were fighting for Israel against the Arabs. He even produced a cache of Israeli weapons allegedly discovered in the Jabal. Even more painful for the Druze community was his publication of "falsified Druze religious texts" and false testimonials ascribed to leading Druze sheikhs designed to stir up sectarian hatred. This propaganda also

455-609: A focus on the Druze community's consistent connection to Mount Lebanon and defense of its practical autonomy. Later, the Druze were severely attacked at Saoufar in the 1585 Ottoman expedition against the Druze after the Ottomans claimed that the Druze had assaulted their caravans near Tripoli . As a result of the Ottoman experience with the rebellious Druze, the word Durzi in Turkish came, and continues, to mean someone who

546-510: A force against him, and he was compelled to flee the land and seek refuge in the courts of Tuscany and Naples in 1613 and 1615 respectively. In 1618, political changes in the Ottoman sultanate had resulted in the removal of many enemies of Fakhr-al-Din from power, signaling the prince's triumphant return to Lebanon soon afterwards. Through a clever policy of bribery and warfare, he extended his domains to cover all of modern Lebanon, some of Syria and northern Galilee. In 1632, Küçük Ahmed Pasha

637-498: A handful of villages in the disputed zone, while only a few live in the narrow remnant of Quneitra Governorate that is still under effective Syrian control. The Druze always played a far more important role in Syrian politics than its comparatively small population would suggest. With a community of little more than 100,000 in 1949 or roughly three percent of the Syrian population, the Druze of Syria's southwestern mountains constituted

728-465: A lifestyle of isolation where no conversion is allowed, neither out of nor into, the religion. When Druze live among people of other religions, they try to blend in, in order to protect their religion and their own safety. They can pray as Muslims, or as Christians, depending on where they are. This system is apparently changing in modern times, where more security has allowed Druze to be more open about their religious belonging. The Tanukhids inaugurated

819-538: A potent force in Syrian politics and played a leading role in the nationalist struggle against the French. Under the military leadership of Sultan al-Atrash , the Druze provided much of the military force behind the Great Syrian Revolt of 1925–27. In 1945, Amir Hasan al-Atrash, the paramount political leader of the Jabal Druze State , led the Druze military units in a successful revolt against

910-440: A renegade. Al-Hakim disappeared one night while on his evening ride—presumably assassinated, perhaps at the behest of his formidable elder sister Sitt al-Mulk . The Druze believe he went into Occultation with Hamza ibn Ali and three other prominent preachers, leaving the care of the "Unitarian missionary movement" to a new leader, al-Muqtana Baha'uddin. The call was suspended briefly between 19 May 1018 and 9 May 1019 during

1001-573: A thousand men to join the revolt. He joined them himself, with another 300 men, when they reached Bosra . His forces were the first to enter Damascus and raise the Arab revolt flag on the government house on September 29, 1918. Sultan was a good friend of the Hashemite Emir Faisal , leader of the Arab forces in the revolt, and was awarded the title of Emir and the rank of a General in

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1092-484: A way to attach their community with ad-Darazi's poor reputation. Before becoming public, the movement was secretive and held closed meetings in what was known as Sessions of Wisdom. During this stage a dispute occurred between ad-Darazi and Hamza bin Ali mainly concerning ad-Darazi's ghuluww ("exaggeration"), which refers to the belief that God was incarnated in human beings to ad-Darazi naming himself "The Sword of

1183-505: Is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion that is a gnostic offshoot and Neoplatonist sect of Isma'ilism , a branch of Shia Islam . The Druze evolved from Islam and now are an independent religion. The Druze follow a batini or esoteric interpretation of the Five Pillars of Islam . Since they do not fast during the month of Ramadan or make pilgrimages to Mecca , they are not regarded by Muslims as Islamic. The Druze follow

1274-571: Is believed to have been of Persian origins and his title al-Darazi is Persian in origin, meaning "the tailor". He arrived in Cairo in 1015, or 1017, after which he joined the newly emerged Druze movement. Al-Darazi was converted early to the Unitarian faith and became one of its early preachers. At that time, the movement enlisted a large number of adherents. As the number of his followers grew, he became obsessed with his leadership and gave himself

1365-478: Is distinguished from others by retention of the phoneme / qāf /. The use of / q / by Druze is particularly prominent in the mountains and less so in urban areas. The Druze are concentrated in the rural, mountainous areas east and south of Damascus in the area known officially as Jabal al-Druze. The Syrian Druze are estimated to constitute 3.2% of Syria's population of approximately 23 million, which means they amount to between 700 and 736 thousand people. Before

1456-464: Is due to confusion about the role of the early preacher al-Darazi, whose teachings the Druze rejected as heretical. These sources assert that al-Hakim rejected al-Darazi's claims of divinity, and ordered the elimination of his movement while supporting that of Hamza ibn Ali. Wadi al-Taym , in Lebanon , was one of the two most important centers of Druze missionary activity in the 11th century and

1547-502: Is not permitted for outsiders. 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. Druze believe that, after completing the cycle of rebirth through successive reincarnations, the soul reunites with the Cosmic Mind ( al-ʻaql al-kullī ). The Epistles of Wisdom

1638-499: Is the foundational and central text of the Druze faith. The Druze faith originated in Isma'ilism (a branch of Shia Islam ), and has been influenced by a diverse range of traditions, including Christianity , Gnosticism , Neoplatonism , Zoroastrianism , Manichaeism , Pythagoreanism . This has led to the development of a distinct and secretive theology, characterized by an esoteric interpretation of scripture that emphasizes

1729-477: Is the ultimate thug. The 16th and 17th centuries witnessed a succession of armed Druze rebellions against the Ottomans countered by repeated Ottoman punitive expeditions against the Chouf, in which the Druze population of the area was severely depleted and many villages destroyed. These military measures, severe as they were, did not succeed in reducing the local Druze to the required degree of subordination. This led

1820-594: The Epistles of Wisdom , Hamza ibn Ali ibn Ahmad warns al-Darazi, saying, "Faith does not need a sword to aid it", but al-Darazi ignored Hamza's warnings and continued to challenge the Imam. The divine call or unitarian call is the Druze period of time that was opened at sunset on Thursday, 30 May 1017 by Ad-Darazi. The call summoned people to a true unitarian belief that removed all attributes (wise, just, outside, inside, etc.) from God. It promoted absolute monotheism and

1911-590: The Arab Liberation Movement (ALM), a progressive party with pan-Arabist and socialist views), the Druze community was subjected to a heavy attack by the Syrian government. Shishakli believed that among his many opponents in Syria, the Druzes were the most potentially dangerous, and he was determined to crush them. He frequently proclaimed: "My enemies are like a serpent: the head is the Jebel al-Druze,

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2002-622: The Arab Revolt in Hijaz . As the revolt started he raised the Arab flag on the citadel of Salkhad and on his own house. According to testimonies from survivors, during the Arab Revolt and the Armenian genocide , he engaged in saving Armenian refugees from the Armenian genocide ; for this, he would have been in link with Hussein bin Ali . When Arab forces reached Aqaba , he sent

2093-822: The Franks . Because of their fierce battles with the Crusaders, the Druze earned the respect of the Sunni caliphs and thus gained important political powers. After the middle of the twelfth century, the Maan family superseded the Tanukhs in Druze leadership. The origin of the family goes back to Prince Ma'an, who made his appearance in Lebanon in the days of the Abbasid caliph al-Mustarshid (1118–35). The Ma'ans chose for their abode

2184-594: The Holy Land of the Crusaders, the Mamluk Sultanate now turned their attention to the schismatic Muslims of Syria. In 1305, after the issuing of a fatwa by the scholar ibn Taymiyya calling for jihad against all non-Sunni Muslim groups like the Druze, Alawites , Isma'ilis, and Twelver Shi'a , al-Nasir Muhammad inflicted a disastrous defeat on the Druze at Keserwan , and forced outward compliance on their part to Sunnism. The Sunni Mamluk campaigns led to

2275-627: The Levant Crisis , that led to Syrian independence. In 1948 he called for the establishment of a unified Arab Liberation Army of Palestine , for which hundreds of young people had already volunteered and sent to participate in during the 1948 Arab–Israeli War . During the reign of Adib Shishakli , al-Atrash was often harassed because of his opposition to government policy. He left the Druze Mountain for Jordan in December 1954, and came back when Al-Shishakli's regime fell. Al-Atrash supported

2366-635: The Syrian civil war , it's been estimated that around 700,000 Druze were living in Syria in 2010, or around 3% of the Syrian population. Around 337,500 Druze lived in As-Suwayda Governorate (or 48.2% of total Syrian Druze), the only governorate in Syria that has a Druze majority (around 90%). While 250,000 Druze (or 35.7%) lived in Damascus and its outskirts (such as Jaramana , Sahnaya , and Jdeidat Artouz ), and around 30,000 Druze lived in

2457-617: The apostasy of al-Darazi and again between 1021 and 1026 during a period of persecution by the Fatimid caliph al-Zahir li-I'zaz Din Allah for those who had sworn the oath to accept the call. Persecutions started forty days after the disappearance into Occultation of al-Hakim, who was thought to have been converting people to the Unitarian faith for over twenty years prior. Al-Hakim convinced some heretical followers such as al-Darazi of his soteriological divinity and officially declared

2548-444: The political union of Egypt and Syria in 1958, and firmly opposed the process of separation in 1961. He is also known for his contributions to social life and development in the Druze Mountain. Sultan Pasha al-Atrash, is one of the most popular of recently prominent leaders in Arab and Syrian history, especially among the Druze. Many statues of Al-Atrash exist in main squares on Druze Mountain, and his photos hang in many houses in

2639-599: The Antioch plain in the north to Safad in the south, with a part of the Syrian desert dominated by Fakhr-al-Din's castle at Tadmur ( Palmyra ), the ancient capital of Zenobia . The ruins of this castle still stand on a steep hill overlooking the town. Fakhr-al-Din became too strong for his Turkish sovereign in Constantinople . He went so far in 1608 as to sign a commercial treaty with Duke Ferdinand I of Tuscany containing secret military clauses. The Sultan then sent

2730-522: The Balkans prior to the outbreak of World War I. Sami Pasha used military force and trickery and succeeded at last in occupying Jabal el Druze. He sent hundreds of young Druze to fight in the Balkans , Sultan among them. However, during the first World War, the Ottomans left Jabal el Druze in peace as they feared rebellion. Sultan was then able to get in touch with Pan-Arab movements and especially with

2821-568: The Chouf in south-western Lebanon (southern Mount Lebanon Governorate ), overlooking the maritime plain between Beirut and Sidon , and made their headquarters in Baaqlin , which is still a leading Druze village. They were invested with feudal authority by Sultan Nur ad-Din Zengi and furnished respectable contingents to the Muslim ranks in their struggle against the Crusaders. Certain aspects of

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2912-461: The Divine call after issuing a decree promoting religious freedom. Al-Hakim was replaced by his underage son, al-Zahir li-I'zaz Din Allah. The Unitarian/Druze movement acknowledged al-Zahir as the caliph but continued to regard Hamzah as its Imam. The young caliph's regent, Sitt al-Mulk, ordered the army to destroy the movement in 1021. At the same time, Bahāʼ al-Dīn was assigned the leadership of

3003-425: The Druze daʻwah in 1018. In an attempt to gain the support of al-Hakim, al-Darazi started preaching that al-Hakim and his ancestors were the incarnation of God. An inherently modest man, al-Hakim did not believe that he was God, and felt al-Darazi was trying to depict himself as a new prophet. In 1018 Al-Hakim had al-Darazi executed, leaving Hamza the sole leader of the new faith and al-Darazi considered to be

3094-457: The Druze by name. The word Dogziyin ("Druzes") occurs in an early Hebrew edition of his travels, but it is clear that this is a scribal error. Be that as it may, he described the Druze as "mountain dwellers, monotheists, who believe in 'soul eternity' and reincarnation ". He also stated that "they loved the Jews". The number of Druze people worldwide is between 800,000 and one million, with

3185-453: The Druze community in Syria when most of them accepted and adopted the new message that was being preached in the 11th century, due to their leadership's close ties with Fatimid caliph al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah . Historically the relationship between the Druze and Muslims has been characterized by intense persecution . The Druze faith is often classified as a branch of Isma'ili . Even though

3276-467: The Druze community. The spies set about agitating trouble and soiling the reputation of the Druze. This resulted in friction with the new caliph who clashed militarily with the Druze community. The clashes ranged from Antioch to Alexandria , where tens of thousands of Druze were slaughtered by the Fatimid army, "this mass persecution known by the Druze as the period of the mihna ". The largest massacre

3367-459: The Druze's narrative, they were meant to eradicate the whole community according to the Druze narrative. The Druze community in Syria played an important role in the formation of the modern state of Syria, and even though they are a minority they play an important role in the Syrian political scene. In Syria, most Druze live in the Jabal al-Druze , a rugged and mountainous region in the southwest of

3458-476: The Faith", which led Hamza to write an epistle refuting the need for the sword to spread the faith and several epistles refuting the beliefs of the ghulat . In 1016 ad-Darazi and his followers openly proclaimed their beliefs and called people to join them, causing riots in Cairo against the Unitarian movement including Hamza bin Ali and his followers. This led to the suspension of the movement for one year and

3549-451: The French at the beginning of revolution, notably the Battle of al-Kafr on July 21, 1925, the Battle of al-Mazraa on August 2, 1925, and the battles of Salkhad, Msfirah and as-Suwayda . The Druze were defeated in the latter two battles. After rebel victories against France, it sent thousands of troops to Syria and Lebanon from Morocco and Senegal, equipped with modern weapons, compared to

3640-442: The French, making the Jebel al-Druze the first and only region in Syria to liberate itself from French rule without British assistance. At independence, the Druze made confident by their successes, expected that Damascus would reward them for their many sacrifices on the battlefield. They demanded to keep their autonomous administration and many political privileges accorded them by the French and sought generous economic assistance from

3731-816: The Lebanese coast against Crusader retaliation by sea. In the early period of the Crusader era, the Druze feudal power was in the hands of two families, the Tanukhs and the Arslans . From their fortresses in the Gharb area (now in Aley District of southern Mount Lebanon Governorate ), the Tanukhs led their incursions into the Phoenician coast and finally succeeded in holding Beirut and the marine plain against

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3822-554: The Ma'an) or Jabal al-Druze . The latter title has since been usurped by the Hawran region, which since the middle of the 19th century has proven a haven of refuge to Druze emigrants from Lebanon and has become the headquarters of Druze power. Under Fakhr-al-Dīn II (Fakhreddin II), the Druze dominion increased until it included Lebanon-Phoenicia and almost all Syria, extending from the edge of

3913-680: The Middle East. These messengers were sent out with the Druze epistles and took written vows from believers, whose souls are thought to still exist in the Druze of today. The souls of those who took the vows during the call are believed to be continuously reincarnating in successive generations of Druze until the return of al-Hakim to proclaim a second Divine call and establish a Golden Age of justice and peace for all. By 1018, al-Darazi had gathered around him partisans—"Darazites"—who believed that universal reason became incarnated in Adam at

4004-425: The Ottoman government to agree to an arrangement whereby the different nahiyahs (districts) of the Chouf would be granted in iltizam ("fiscal concession") to one of the region's amirs , or leading chiefs, leaving the maintenance of law and order and the collection of taxes in the area in the hands of the appointed amir. This arrangement was to provide the cornerstone for the privileged status ultimately enjoyed by

4095-894: The Persian , al- Khidr (whom they identify with Elijah , John the Baptist and Saint George ), Job , Luke the Evangelist , and others as "mentors" and "prophets". 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

4186-640: The Raydan Mosque, near the Al-Hakim Mosque . In 1017, Hamza began to preach a Muwaḥḥidūn (Unitarian) doctrine. Hamza gained the support of the Fātimid caliph al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah, who issued a decree promoting religious freedom and eventually became a central figure in the Druze faith. Little is known about the early life of al-Darazi. According to most sources, he was born in Bukhara . He

4277-803: The Syrian Revolution. Sultan Pasha al-Atrash died on March 26, 1982, from a heart attack . His funeral was attended by more than a million people, and the President of Syrian Arab Republic Hafez al-Assad issued an individual letter mourning al-Atrash as the General Commander of the Syrian Revolution . His son, Mansur al-Atrash was an active member in the Syrian Regional Branch of the Ba'ath Party until

4368-422: The Syrian army, the equivalent of the title of Pasha . Faisal, later king of Iraq , helped Sultan a lot during his years in exile. The newly independent kingdom of Syria didn't survive for long, as it was occupied by France after the Battle of Maysalun on July 24, 1920. Sultan was gathering his men to fight the French but the quick succession of events cut his efforts short, as French forces entered Damascus and

4459-558: The Unitarians by Hamza. For the next seven years, the Druze faced extreme persecution by al-Zahir li-I'zaz Din Allah, who wanted to eradicate the faith. This was the result of a power struggle inside of the Fatimid Calphate, in which the Druze were viewed with suspicion because they refused to recognize the new caliph as their Imam. Many spies, mainly the followers of al-Darazi, joined the Unitarian movement to infiltrate

4550-821: The United States at that time. Scholar Colbert C. Held from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln estimates that the global Druze population is around 1 million. He notes that about 45% to 50% live in Syria, 35% to 40% live in Lebanon, and less than 10% live in Israel. Recently, there has been a growing Druze diaspora. Outside the Middle East , significant Druze communities exist in Australia, Canada, Europe, Latin America (mainly Venezuela, Colombia and Brazil ),

4641-412: The United States, and West Africa. They are Arabs who speak Levantine Arabic and follow a social pattern very similar to those of the other peoples of the Levant (eastern Mediterranean). In 2021 the largest Druze communities outside the Middle East are in Venezuela, with approximately 60,000, and in the United States, with around 50,000. In 2017, the Los Angeles Times reported about 30,000 Druze in

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4732-422: The United States, with the largest concentration in Southern California . The story of the creation of the Druze faith in the days between 1017 and 1018 is dominated by three men and their struggle for influence. Hamza ibn Ali ibn Ahmad, an Ismaili mystic and scholar from Zozan , Khorasan, in the Samanid Empire . arrived in Fatimid Egypt in 1014 or 1016. He assembled a group of scholars that met regularly in

4823-466: The beginning of the world, was then passed to the prophets, then into Ali, and then into his descendants, the Fatimid Caliphs. Al-Darazi wrote a book laying out this doctrine, but when he read from his book in the principal mosque in Cairo, it caused riots and protests against his claims and many of his followers were killed. Hamza ibn Ali rejected al-Darazi's ideology, calling him "the insolent one and Satan". The controversy led Caliph al-Hakim to suspend

4914-448: The concepts of supporting your fellow man, true speech and pursuit of oneness with God. These concepts superseded all ritual , law and dogma and requirements for pilgrimage , fasting , holy days , prayer , charity, devotion , creed and particular worship of any prophet or person was downplayed. Sharia was opposed and Druze traditions started during the call continue today, such as meeting for reading, prayer and social gathering on

5005-427: The country was divided into five states, Jabal el Druze being one of them. On July 7, 1922, French soldiers captured Adham Khanjar , a Lebanese Shiite rebel who was seeking refuge at Sultan's house while he was away. Khanjar was wanted for attempting to assassinate General Gouraud . Upon his arrival home, Sultan demanded the release of Khanjar, but the French refused. A few days later, Sultan and his men attacked

5096-446: The country, which is more than 90 percent Druze inhabited; some 120 villages are exclusively so. Other notable communities live in the Harim Mountains , the Damascus suburb of Jaramana , and on the southeast slopes of Mount Hermon . A large Syrian Druze community historically lived in the Golan Heights, but following wars with Israel in 1967 and 1973 , many of these Druze fled to other parts of Syria; most of those who remained live in

5187-405: The denial that "minorities" existed in Syria. After the Shishakli's military campaign, the Druze community lost a lot of its political influence, but many Druze military officers played an important role when it comes to the Ba'ath government currently ruling Syria. In 1967, a community of Druze in the Golan Heights came under Israeli control, today about 20,000 strong. The Qalb Loze massacre

5278-433: The destruction of many Christian churches and monasteries and Druze sanctuaries khilwat , and caused mass destruction of Maronite and Druze villages and the killings and mass displacement of its inhabitants. Lebanese Sunni authors generally write of the campaigns from a pro-Mamluk stance, seeing in them the legitimate Muslim state's efforts to incorporate Mount Lebanon into the Islamic realm, while Druze authors write with

5369-448: The early Islamic period. This perspective is accepted by the entire Druze communities in Syria and Lebanon , as well as by most Druze in Israel . The name Druze is derived from the name of Muhammad bin Ismail Nashtakin ad-Darazī (from Persian darzi , "seamster") who was an early preacher . Although the Druze consider ad-Darazī a heretic , the name has been used to identify them, possibly by their historical opponents as

5460-473: The east side of Mount Hermon , and around 25,000 Druze lived in 14 villages in Jabal al-Summaq in Idlib Governorate . There are many Syrian Druze also living abroad, particularly in Latin America , who have been living there for over the past hundred years. In Venezuela , there are approximately 60,000 Druze of Syrian origin. By one estimate made by Elisabet Granli from University of Oslo , around 1,920 Syrian Druze converted to Christianity , according to

5551-402: The expulsion of ad-Darazi and his supporters. Although the Druze religious books describe ad-Darazi as the "insolent one" and as the "calf" who is narrow-minded and hasty, the name "Druze" is still used for identification and for historical reasons. In 1018, ad-Darazi was assassinated for his teachings; some sources claim that he was executed by Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah. Some authorities see in

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5642-480: The faith originally developed out of Ismaili Islam , most Druze do not identify as Muslims , and they do not accept the five pillars of Islam . The Druze have frequently experienced persecution by different Muslim regimes such as the Shia Fatimid Caliphate , Sunni Ottoman Empire , and Egypt Eyalet . The persecution of the Druze included massacres , demolishing Druze prayer houses and holy places, and forced conversion to Islam. Those were no ordinary killings in

5733-656: The faith, such as transmigration of souls between adherents and incarnation , were viewed as heretical or kufr ( infidelity ) and foreign by Sunni and Shia Muslims, but contributed to solidarity among the Druze, who closed their religion to new converts in 1046 due to the threat of persecution. The proto-Salafi thinker ibn Taymiyya believed the Druze had a high level of infidelity besides being apostates . Thus, they were not trustworthy and should not be forgiven. He taught also that Muslims cannot accept Druze penitence nor keep them alive, and that Druze property should be confiscated and their women enslaved . Having cleared

5824-453: The few supplies of the rebels. This dramatically altered the results and allowed the French to regain many cities, although resistance lasted until the spring of 1927. The French sentenced Sultan al-Atrash to death, but he had escaped with the rebels to Transjordan and was eventually pardoned. He returned to Syria in 1937 after the signing of the Franco-Syrian Treaty . He was met with a huge public reception. Al-Atrash participated actively in

5915-433: The harem and went on to become Ottoman Ambassador to India. Fakhr-al-Din II was the first ruler in modern Lebanon to open the doors of his country to foreign Western influences. Under his auspices the French established a khān (hostel) in Sidon, the Florentines a consulate, and Christian missionaries were admitted into the country. Beirut and Sidon, which Fakhr-al-Din II beautified, still bear traces of his benign rule. See

6006-414: The importance of the mind and truthfulness. Druze beliefs include the concepts of theophany and reincarnation . The Druze hold Shuaib in high regard, believing him to be the same person as the biblical Jethro . They regard Adam , Noah , Abraham , Moses , Jesus , Muhammad , and the Isma'ili Imam Muhammad ibn Isma'il as prophets. Additionally, Druze tradition honors figures such as Salman

6097-592: The monotheists ' or 'the unitarians'), are an Arab esoteric religious group 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. Although the Druze faith developed from Isma'ilism , Druze do not identify as Muslims . They maintain Arabic language and culture as integral parts of their identity, with Arabic being their primary language. Most Druze religious practices are kept secret, and conversion to their religion

6188-400: The name "Druze" a descriptive epithet, derived from Arabic dārisah ("she who studies"). Others have speculated that the word comes from the Persian word Darazo ( درز "bliss") or from Shaykh Hussayn ad-Darazī, who was one of the early converts to the faith. In the early stages of the movement, the word "Druze" is rarely mentioned by historians, and in Druze religious texts only

6279-405: The new biography of this Prince, based on original sources, by TJ Gorton: Renaissance Emir: a Druze Warlord at the Court of the Medici (London, Quartet Books, 2013), for an updated view of his life. Sultan al-Atrash One of the most influential figures in Syrian and Druze history, he played a major role in deciding the destiny of Jabal al-Druze and of Syria in general. Sultan al-Atrash

6370-435: The new leadership that replaced him had friendly political ties with at least one prominent Druze leader. In 1043, Baha al-Din al-Muqtana declared that the sect would no longer accept new pledges, and since that time proselytism has been prohibited awaiting al-Hakim's return at the Last Judgment to usher in a new Golden Age. Some Druze and non-Druze scholars like Samy Swayd and Sami Makarem state that this confusion

6461-483: The newly independent government. When a local paper in 1945 reported that President Shukri al-Quwatli (1943–49) had called the Druzes a "dangerous minority", Sultan Pasha al-Atrash flew into a rage and demanded a public retraction. If it were not forthcoming, he announced, the Druzes would indeed become "dangerous" and a force of 4,000 Druze warriors would "occupy the city of Damascus." Quwwatli could not dismiss Sultan Pasha's threat. The military balance of power in Syria

6552-526: The number of Druze people worldwide is around one million, with about 45% to 50% live in Syria, 35% to 40% live in Lebanon, and less than 10% live in Israel; recently there has been a growing Druze diaspora. The Syrian Druze are Arabic in language and culture , and their mother tongue is the Arabic Language . The Druze Arabic dialect , especially in the rural areas, is often different from the other regional Syrian Arabic dialects . Druze Arabic dialect

6643-480: 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. This hypothesis significantly influences the Druze's self-perception, cultural identity, and both oral and written traditions. It suggests that the Druze are descended from twelve Arab tribes that migrated to Syria before and during

6734-630: The region. Al-Atrash is also prominent in local folklore , including many poems and popular songs. For several reasons the Druze consider him a symbol of patriotism , courage and secularism : During the period of Syrian-Egyptian unity, on a visit to the Suwayda province President Gamal Abdel Nasser honored Sultan Pasha al-Atrash by awarding him the highest medal of the United Arab Republic . In 1970, Syrian President Hafez al-Assad Honored Sultan Pasha al-Atrash for his historic role in

6825-419: The same study Christian of Druze background (Druze converts to Christianity ) still regard themselves as Druze , and they claim that there is no contradiction between being Druze and being Christian . Druze The Druze ( / ˈ d r uː z / DROOZ ; Arabic : دَرْزِيّ , darzī or دُرْزِيّ durzī , pl. دُرُوز , durūz ), who call themselves al-Muwaḥḥidūn (lit. '

6916-452: The south of Syria around Jabal al-Druze (literally the "Mountain of the Druze"). The Druze community played a critically important role in shaping the history of the Levant, where it continues to play a significant political role. As a religious minority, they have often faced persecution from various Muslim regimes, including contemporary Islamic extremism . Several theories about

7007-437: The stomach Homs , and the tail Aleppo. If I crush the head the serpent will die." Shishakli dispatched 10,000 regular troops to occupy the Jebel al-Druze. Several towns were bombarded with heavy weapons, killing scores of civilians and destroying many houses. According to Druze accounts, Shishakli encouraged neighboring bedouin tribes to plunder the defenseless population and allowed his own troops to run amok. Shishakli launched

7098-512: The task of keeping watch over the Crusaders in the seaport of Beirut , to prevent them from making any encroachments inland. Subsequently, the Druze chiefs of the Gharb placed their considerable military experience at the disposal of the Mamluk sultans in Egypt (1250–1516); first, to assist them in putting an end to what remained of Crusader rule in the coastal Levant, and later to help them safeguard

7189-646: The title "The Sword of the Faith". Al-Darazi argued that he should be the leader of the daʻwah rather than Hamza ibn Ali and gave himself the title "Lord of the Guides" because Caliph al-Hakim referred to Hamza as "Guide of the Consented". It is said that al-Darazi allowed wine, forbidden marriages and taught metempsychosis although this may be exaggeration by contemporary and later historians and polemicists. This attitude led to disputes between Ad-Darazi and Hamza ibn Ali, who disliked his behavior and his arrogance. In

7280-520: The vast majority residing in the Levant . The primary countries with Druze populations are Syria, Lebanon, Israel and Jordan. According to the Institute of Druze Studies, as of 1998, approximately 40–50% of Druze live in Syria, 30–40% in Lebanon, 6–7% in Israel, and 1–2% in Jordan. About 2% of the Druze are scattered across other Middle Eastern countries, and there were approximately 20,000 Druze in

7371-528: The whole of Mount Lebanon, Druze and Christian areas alike. With the advent of the Ottoman Turks and the conquest of Syria by Sultan Selim I in 1516, the Ma'ans were acknowledged by the new rulers as the feudal lords of southern Lebanon. Druze villages spread and prospered in that region, which under Ma'an leadership so flourished that it acquired the generic term of Jabal Bayt-Ma'an (the mountain home of

7462-471: The whole of Syria and parts of Lebanon . This is considered one of the most important revolutions against the French mandate , as it encompassed the whole of Syria and witnessed fierce battles between rebel and French forces. On August 23, 1925, Sultan Pasha al-Atrash officially declared revolution against France, and soon fighting erupted in Damascus , Homs and Hama . Al-Atrash won several battles against

7553-484: The word Muwaḥḥidūn ("Unitarian") appears. The only early Arab historian who mentions the Druze is the eleventh century Christian scholar Yahya of Antioch , who clearly refers to the heretical group created by ad-Darazī, rather than the followers of Hamza ibn 'Alī. As for Western sources, Benjamin of Tudela , the Jewish traveler who passed through Lebanon in or around 1165, was one of the first European writers to refer to

7644-506: Was a reported massacre of 20-24 Syrian Druze on 10 June 2015 in the village of Qalb Loze in Syria's northwestern Idlib Governorate. On 25 July 2018, a group of Islamic State -affiliated attackers entered the Druze city of as-Suwayda and initiated a series of gunfights and suicide bombings on its streets killing at least 258 people, the vast majority of them civilians. See 2018 As-Suwayda attacks for further information. According to scholar Colbert C. Held of University of Nebraska, Lincoln

7735-410: Was at Antioch, where 5000 prominent Druze were killed, followed by that of Aleppo . As a result, the faith went underground, in hope of survival, as those captured were either forced to renounce their faith or be killed. Druze survivors "were found principally in southern Lebanon and Syria". In 1038, two years after the death of al-Zahir li-I'zaz Din Allah, the Druze movement was able to resume because

7826-409: Was born in al-Qrayya , a village 20 km south of Suwayda known for the famous Druze family of Al-Atrash , which had nominally governed the region since 1879. His father Zuqan led a fierce battle against the Ottomans near Al-Kefr in 1910, where he faced the forces of Sami Pasha al-Farouqi . He was captured and later executed in 1911. Sultan al-Atrash was an Ottoman army conscript, serving in

7917-614: Was broadcast in the Arab world, mainly Egypt. Shishakli was assassinated in Brazil on 27 September 1964 by a Druze seeking revenge for Shishakli's bombardment of the Jebel al-Druze. He forcibly integrated minorities into the national Syrian social structure; his "Syrianization" of Alawi and Druze territories had to be accomplished in part using violence. To this end, al-Shishakli encouraged the stigmatization of minorities. He saw minority demands as tantamount to treason. His increasingly chauvinistic notions of Arab nationalism were predicated on

8008-464: Was captured, taken to Istanbul , and imprisoned with two of his sons in the infamous Yedi Kule prison. The Sultan had Fakhr-al-Din and his sons killed on 13 April 1635 in Istanbul , bringing an end to an era in the history of Lebanon, which would not regain its current boundaries until it was proclaimed a mandate state and republic in 1920. One version recounts that the younger son was spared, raised in

8099-613: Was named Lord of Damascus . Küçük Ahmed Pasha was a rival of Fakhr-al-Din and a friend of the sultan Murad IV , who ordered the pasha and the sultanate's navy to attack Lebanon and depose Fakhr-al-Din. This time the prince decided to remain in Lebanon and resist the offensive, but the death of his son Ali in Wadi al-Taym was the beginning of his defeat. He later took refuge in Jezzine 's grotto, closely followed by Küçük Ahmed Pasha who eventually caught up with him and his family. Fakhr-al-Din

8190-524: Was the first area where the Druze appeared in the historical record under the name "Druze". It is generally considered the birthplace of the Druze faith. It was during the period of Crusader rule in Levant (1099–1291) that the Druze first emerged into the full light of history in the Gharb region of the Chouf . As powerful warriors serving the leaders in Damascus against the Crusades , the Druze were given

8281-556: Was tilted in favor of the Druzes, at least until the military builds up during the 1948 War in Palestine. One advisor to the Syrian Defense Department warned in 1946 that the Syrian army was "useless", and that the Druzes could "take Damascus and capture the present leaders in a breeze." During the four years of Adib Shishakli 's rule in Syria (December 1949 to February 1954) (on 25 August 1952: Shishakli created

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