The Human Truth Foundation

The Al-Muwaḥḥidūn (Druze)

https://www.humanreligions.info/druze.html

By Vexen Crabtree 2024

#atheism #Christianity #druze #islam #monotheism #polytheism #religion #Zoroastrianism

Druze
Links: Pages on Druze, Other Religions
God(s)Atheist / Monotheist / Polytheist / Other
AdherentDruze
AdherentsDruze
TextsQur'an, Rasa'il al-hikma (Epistles of Wisdom)
AfterlifeReincarnation
Founding
HeritageIslam
Area of OriginLebanon
When1014-1017CE1
FounderBy Hamza ibn Ali ibn Ahmad1
Numbers in the UK (Census results)
2001 2602011 515

A semi-secretive esoteric religion that combines Islam, Christianity and Zoroastrianism, but also with features of a Mystery Religion. Al-Muwaḥḥidūn core beliefs include continual reincarnation until the soul is reunited with the divine, the 8th-century belief that there are hidden meanings in the Quran (which is what makes Druze a 'mystery religion'2 or gnostic3) and that the successors of Ali are "eminently impregnated with the divine essence"2. The Muwaḥḥidūn became most famous when a wayward leader lessenned the strictness of its rules and preached that Haken, the head of their religion, was god incarnate. He gained so many converts that the entire movement became named after him, and declared himself its leader. To this day, the Druze are split between those who accept this denomination, and those who only accept the original ideas. The Lebanon is their principal home, where constitution permits grants the Druze a portion of government4.


1. From the 11th Century: The Muwaḥḥidūn or 'Druze'?

#china #egypt #lebanon #syria

Most sources state that the Druze emerged as an identifiable group at the beginning of the 11th century in the Lebanon2.

The Muwaḥḥidūn became most famous when the Shi'ia missionary Neshtakeen Darazi, sent from Egypt, took the religion in a wild direction, lessenned the strictness of its rules and preached that Haken, the head of their religion, was not just divine, but was god incarnate. He gained so many converts that the entire movement became named after Darazi, and declared himself its leader. He was eventually assassinated.2. To this day, there are still Druze who accept this ideas, although most don't; the movement is named after him regardless, because it is much easier for Westerners to say and write.

[The Druze] obtained adherents in various parts, - in Morocco, in Persia, in Spain, and even in India. Neshtakeen Darazi, armed by Hamze with apostolic powers, succeeded in gathering around him a certain number of followers accepting this doctrine in a small district lying between the Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon, called Wady-el-Tame.

Darazi, elated by his success, assumed the airs of a pontiff; declared himself head of the sect, and, in order to obtain converts, sanctioned the most licentious principles. Hamze, indignant at his treachery and rebellion, formally deposed him from his functions, denounced him emphatically, as the ' Calf,' whom a deluded people had set up as their idol, and contrived at length to have him assassinated by the Druzes themselves in Wady-elTame. The disciple whom Hamze sent to replace him was named Moktana Baha-edeen. He it was who may be said to have placed the Druze religion on the basis on which it at present stands. His numerous tracts and epistles have ever been the chief subjects of study and contemplation in the Druze Holorves. [...]

The schism was never eradicated; and to this day the Druzes are divided into two sects , who, although bound together in a common faith in the Hakem and Hamze, are actuated respectively, in their conduct, by the purer and more orthodox moral and religious teaching of Baha-edeen, or by the dark and unscrupulous libertinism of Darazi. The former, it is but just to say, form a great majority. [...]

The doctrine of the divinity of Hakem, asserted by Hamze, had been scouted in Cairo from its first enunciation. [...]

After Hakem's death, in a. d. 1025, Hamze, consulting his own safety, disappeared altogether. [...] The Druzes still look forward to his reappearance in China, as a mighty conqueror, leading on his faithful followers to victory, dominion, and glory ; for it is their firm belief that their sect exists in the interior of China at the present moment, in overwhelming numbers.

The successor of Hakem adopted [...] rigorous measures for the extirpation of the odious heresy. A decree of extermination was issued against all who had accepted it, throughout Egypt and Syria. In the fastnesses of the Lebanon alone, the sectarians contrived to enjoy a comparative security. Yet even there meetings were held in secluded places, and were conducted with the greatest caution and reserve. A cabalistic language was adopted for mutual recognition [and they only used] stealthy and hazardous reunions [and the community accepted only those] capable of implicit secrecy. [...] Outwardly, the entire sect professed the formulas and practised the ceremonies of orthodox Islamism.

To a sect thus reduced to the defensive, and ever painfully and laboriously concealing its existence, the idea of any further proselytism was clearly impossible. [...] The Druze religion became an hereditary privilege, a sacred deposit, a priceless treasure, to be jealously guarded from profane curiosity.

"The Druzes and the Maronites Under the Turkish Rule" by Charles Churchill (1862)2

2. The State of Jabal al-Druze and the Ebb & Flow of the Druze

#druze #france #islam #israel #judaism #syria

From 1921 to 1936, a small Druze state, with just 50,000 Druze, emerged in the French-governed Syrian region, inbetween Palestine and Damascus. This is the only time the Druze have had their own independent country. From 1925, they aided in the overall effort to repel the French, an effort that was supported by Palestinian communists5. Jabal al-Druze became part of Syria, and some religious textbooks state (wrongly) that the Druze as a whole come from Syria6. They also fought long battles against Jewish forces in the fight for Palestine7 with the New York Times in 1947 saying they "were prepared to supply 10,000 of their famous warriors"8.

The Druze gained new experience when much of their wider community became part of the new state of Israel in 1948. The 15,000-strong Druze community there was granted the ability to send official representatives to regularly represent themselves before the Israeli government from 19509. Many - probably most - Druze hide their identity, stating either Muslim, or Jewish, or whatever is required to remain below the radar and away from persecution.