Druze

The Druze are an esoteric religious group of Arabs with a unique theological identity.

They call themselves al-Muwaḥḥidūn, which means "Unitarians." This name reflects their core belief in the absolute unity of God. Their faith is syncretic, meaning it combines elements from many different traditions. These include Christianity, Gnosticism, Neoplatonism, Zoroastrianism, Manichaeism, and Pythagoreanism. While the faith developed from Isma'ilism, a branch of Shia Islam, Druze do not identify as Muslims. Instead, they maintain a distinct identity through their Arabic language and culture.

The Druze faith is built upon several central tenets. The most important are the unity of God, reincarnation, and the eternity of the soul. Reincarnation is the belief that souls are reborn into new bodies. The Druze believe that after completing a cycle of rebirths, the soul eventually reunites with the Cosmic Mind. Their foundational and central text is called the Epistles of Wisdom. This text emphasizes the importance of the mind and the pursuit of truth.

Society within the Druze community is organized into two distinct groups. The first group is known as the uqqāl, or spiritual individuals. These people are entrusted with the faith's secrets and deep religious knowledge. The second group is known as the juhhāl, or secular members. These individuals focus more on worldly matters and daily life.

Because much of their religious practice is kept secret, conversion is not permitted for outsiders. Additionally, interfaith marriages are rare and strongly discouraged within the community.

The history of the faith is defined by a struggle for influence in the early 11th century.

Around 1017, a scholar named Hamza ibn Ali began preaching the Unitarian doctrine in Fatimid Egypt. He gained the support of the sixth Fatimid caliph, al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah. Another early preacher, Muhammad bin Ismail Nashtakin ad-Darazi, also played a major role. However, ad-Darazi caused significant disputes by claiming he should lead the movement. He even gave himself the title "The Sword of the Faith." This behavior led to riots in Cairo and the eventual expulsion of ad-Darazi.

The name "Druze" actually comes from ad-Darazi, despite the community's disapproval of him. The religious texts describe him as an "insolent" person who was narrow-minded and hasty. Some historians believe the name was used by opponents to link the group to his poor reputation. Other theories suggest the name comes from the Arabic word for "she who studies." Regardless of its origin, the name has become the primary way the world identifies the community. This history shows how early disagreements shaped the group's modern identity.

Today, the global Druze population is estimated to be between 800,000 and one million people.

Most adherents live in the Levant region, specifically in Syria, Lebanon, and Israel. In Lebanon, the Druze make up about 5.5% of the population. In Syria, they represent approximately 3%. In Israel, they account for 1.6% of the people. There are also smaller communities in Jordan, such as in the town of Azraq. A growing diaspora exists in countries like the United States and Venezuela. In 2021, Venezuela had about 60,000 Druze, while the United States had around 50,000.

The Druze faith holds many historical and religious figures in high regard. They recognize prophets such as Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad. They also honor the Isma'ili Imam Muhammad ibn Isma'il. A figure named Shuaib is highly respected, as they believe he is the biblical Jethro.

They also view figures like Salman the Persian and al-Khidr as mentors or prophets. Some traditions even suggest that al-Khidr is a reincarnation of Elijah, John the Baptist, or Saint George. These connections demonstrate how the Druze faith interacts with many major world traditions.