The Syrian Druzes have participated in politics largely through the Atrash family and its recent prominent figure Sultan Pasha al-Atrash. Funeral arrangements are made immediately after death, and ceremonies are held that day, or the next day, at the latest. Absolute submission and resignation to God's divine will in both secret and public. The belief in reincarnation had first existed among Jewish mystics in the Ancient World, among whom differing explanations were given of the afterlife, although with a universal belief in an immortal soul. trips to the hills of al-Muqattam east of Cairo but never returned. He had a lifelong interest in a little-known religious community, the Druze, which emerged in the eleventh century as an Ismaili schismatic . A human soul will transfer only to a human body, in contrast to the Hindu and Buddhist belief systems, according to which souls can transfer to any living creature. Naff, A. Marriage partners usually come from the same village and frequently from the same extended family (including first cousins). Ethnologue: Languages of the World. . With the habit of secrecy and defensive privacy that the Druze have developed over their persecuted history, the average Druze has little contact with non-Druze, even in the same small village. Weddings are small gatherings. Jumblatt, Walid; the Alawite State in the Lattakia region). ." Almost all unmarried women work within Druze communities. Reincarnation is a key belief of the faith. Rohland, Pam "Druze In the same year, Hamza and his close associates went into retreat, announcing that a period of persecution by al-Hakim's successor, the seventh Fatimid caliph al-Zahir, had begun, and that the affairs of the community were delegated to Baha al-Din. Culture and Politics in Druze Ethnicity. Aug. 25, 2014. LANGUAGES [10] Most Israeli Druze identify ethnically as Arabs. It is buried above ground level just outside the village. Druze are ethnically Arab and Arabic speaking, but many do not consider themselves Palestinian. The cohesiveness and frequent inter-community social interaction however makes it in sort that that most Druze have an idea about their broad ethical requirements and have some sense of what their theology consists of (albeit often flawed). Bloody conflicts between the Druze and Christian communities were rife during the Lebanese Civil War (1975–1990). [113] The second largest political party supported by Druze is the Lebanese Democratic Party led by Prince Talal Arslan, the son of Lebanese independence hero Emir Majid Arslan. Recognition of prophets in the Druze religion is divided into three sort-of subcategories, the prophet themselves (natiq), their disciples (asas), and witnesses to their message (hujjah). Since a Druze considers his body a mere robe for the soul, he does not fear death because it is only a tearing of the robe. In this book we will explore in more detail some aspects of the Arab-Jewish divide, which raise fundamental questions regarding the place of the Arabs and Arab language education in the Jewish State. Found inside – Page 339serve in the army and some Muslim Arab-Israelis do too. ... Nor, for that matter, would the Druze themselves accept a designation as Palestinian. Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of World Cultures. The village of Hurfeish is situated on the road that runs east from the coastal town of Nahariya, and the site of the tomb of the important prophet . The wife may ask for divorce based on impotence, non-support, and desertion or lengthy absence. The Druzes in the Jewish State. In recent years, a number of Druze have joined the ranks of academia and can be found on the faculties of high schools and universities, particularly in the Middle East. (Arabic, Duruz), Arabs who are adherents of an Islamic sect. "Druze Shaykhs and masha'ik al-Din (community and religious leaders) administer the law in matters of marriage, divorce, and inheritance. In 2019, there were 143,000 Druze living in Israel and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, 1.6% of the total population of Israel and the Golan Heights. The term Maʿrūf is derived from the Arabic words ʿarafa (to know), maʿrifah (knowledge), and ʿirfān (esoteric knowledge, gnosis). [153], One of the most important features of the Druze village having a central role in social life is the khalwat—a house of prayer, retreat and religious unity. The Druzes: An Annotated Bibliography. Women are expected to marry at a fairly early age (17 to 20) and become stay-at-home homemakers. The first English translation of this foundational text offered alongside a fantastic historical introduction, this is an excellent and much needed contribution from uniquely qualified scholars”—Stephen Sheehi, author of The Arab Imago: ... A 7-year-old Filipino child who lives with his Filipino mother in her sponsor's house in Saudi Arabia speaks fluent Arabic despite his mother's attempts to t. [215] Since the establishment of the state of Israel, the Druze have demonstrated solidarity with Israel and distanced themselves from Arab and Islamic radicalism. From Arabic دُرُوز‎ (durūz). By defining the nationality of the Jews in Israel as the only one recognized by the state, Arab MKs argued, the bill The spies set about agitating trouble and soiling the reputation of the Druze. The Druze are both a unique religious and a unique ethnic group whose history dates back to the 11th century AD. They are allowed to read the Druze secret books and to know of, and participate in, the secret ritual. In The Druze, Robert Benton Betts wrote, "The general picture that emerges is of a brilliant megalomaniac who dreams of uniting the Islamic world under his own aegis at whatever cost - a goal toward which all his political moves, internal reforms, even the creation of a new religious movement with himself as the divine center, were aimed." Encyclopedia of the Modern Middle East and North Africa. [206] On the other hand, Benjamin of Tudela, a Jewish traveler[207] from the 12th century, pointed out that the Druze maintained good commercial relations with the Jews nearby, and according to him this was because the Druze liked the Jewish people. It shall thus become a rule to mankind; and Divine Wisdom shall prevail for all the days to come. Male circumcision, which is universal among Muslims, is not ritually practiced by the Druze. In the same year, Ḥamzah withdrew completely from the public eye and delegated the leadership of the community to Bahāʾ al-Dīn al-Sāmmūqī, who is considered the third important figure in the emergence of the Druze movement. Detroit: Gale Research, 1992. Guests expect large quantities of food and drink. [151] The stripes are a diagrammatic cut of the spheres in neoplatonic philosophy, while the five-pointed star embodies the golden ratio, phi, as a symbol of temperance and a life of moderation. In southern Syria, they are more likely to be wheat farmers. . His last, and final, incarnation was al-Hakim bi-Amrih Alla, who announced himself as the earthly incarnation of God in about 1009. More recent generations of Druze see the logic of having fewer children and providing for them, so the size of modern Druze families is shrinking. It is becoming more common, however, for women to leave the house with other women in pursuit of innocent pleasures such as shopping or going to lectures. Gale Encyclopedia of Multicultural America. 2004). See also Fakhr ad Din II was succeeded in 1635 by his nephew Mulhim Ma'n, who ruled through his death in 1658. Marriage celebrations can be quite extensive, depending on the means of the families involved. Druzites are known for their loyalty to the countries they reside in,[97][page needed][verification needed] though they have a strong community feeling, in which they identify themselves as related even across borders of countries. 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 the Ma'an) or Jabal al-Druze. Although al-Hakim's attitude toward the Druze faith is not fully discernible from the available sources, it can be concluded that al-Hakim did not prevent Druze missionaries from propagating their doctrine; on the contrary, he appears to have allowed their proselytizing activities, approved their writings, and protected their followers. Found insideFamily Law in Lebanon highlights the social ramficiations of this civil war, as Lebanese society divided according to sectarian affiliations, strengthening this facet of identity to the detriment of a wider 'Lebanese' identification. [26] The Druze faith incorporates elements of Isma'ilism,[27] Gnosticism,[28][29] Christianity,[28][29] Zoroastrianism,[30][31] Buddhism,[32][33] Hinduism,[34][35] Neoplatonism,[28][29] Pythagoreanism,[34][35] and other philosophies and beliefs, creating a distinct and secretive theology based on an esoteric interpretation of scripture, which emphasizes the role of the mind and truthfulness. Refer to each style’s convention regarding the best way to format page numbers and retrieval dates. See the following section entitled Religion in this article. In 1305, after the issuing of a fatwa by the scholar Ibn Taymiyyah, calling for jihad against all non-Sunni Muslims like the Druze, Alawites, Ismaili, and Twelver Shia Muslims, al-Malik al-Nasir inflicted a disastrous defeat on the Druze at Keserwan, and forced outward compliance on their part to Orthodox Sunni Islam. The juhhāl are bound by the same laws and tenets of the religion as the ʿuqqāl. The Druze settled in the mountains of the Shuf region of Lebanon, where they became, along with the Maronites, the dominant people in the Lebanese mountains. Hundreds, even thousands, can gather there to honor and remember a deceased person and give condolences to the family. But instead of dispersing throughout the world after their separation, the full range of lineages can still be found within the Druze population. The researchers found the following frequencies of Y-chromosomal and MtDNA haplogroups:[228], A 2016 study based on testing samples of Druze in the Syria (region) in comparison with ancient humans (including Anatolian and Armenian), and on Geographic Population Structure (GPS) tool by converting genetic distances into geographic distances, concluded that Druze might hail from the Zagros Mountains and the surroundings of Lake Van in eastern Anatolia, then they later migrated south to settle in the mountainous regions in Syria, Lebanon and Israel.[232]. [104][page needed], When a local paper in 1945 reported that President Shukri al-Quwatli (1943–49) had called the Druze a "dangerous minority", Sultan Pasha al-Atrash flew into a rage and demanded a public retraction. Druze living in small villages still wear traditional clothing. 10, 2018. Mulhim's forces battled and defeated those of Mustafa Pasha, Beylerbey of Damascus, in 1642, but he is reported by historians to have been otherwise loyal to Ottoman rule. However, it is known that they believe in one God. The Druze manuscripts advocate that the sources of tawḥīd are many and include the Hebrew Bible, the New Testament, and the Qurʾān. Thus, God is perceived as the Lahut [the divine] who manifests His Light in the Station (Maqaam) of the Nasut [material realm] without the Nasut becoming Lahut. The Druze Research and Publications Institute. [49], Druze people reside primarily in Syria, Lebanon, Israel and Jordan. The colors can be arranged in vertically descending stripes (as a flag) or a five-pointed star. The community does celebrate Eid al-Adha, however, considered their most significant holiday. This study examines language attitudes and behaviors among the Druze in Israel in order to assess the roles of Arabic and Hebrew in this community. Encyclopedia.com. Armenians in Lebanon, who account for 6% of the population, are generally bilingual in Armenian and Levantine. It was only in the 1970s that Israeli Druze were allowed to obtain drivers licenses. In the war many Christians were displaced and it was only in the 1990s that arrangements were made for their return. They may seek initiation at any age, but their acceptance is based on their character, which is assessed by the initiated ones. He also accused Damascus of being behind the 1977 assassination of his father, Kamal Jumblatt, expressing for the first time what many knew he privately suspected. These drops are partially recorded in a number of ancient and medieval texts, some of which represent versions of older manuscripts with some degree of error. The Ajāwīd serve as models for behavior, truthfulness, and wisdom, and whenever disputes arise their opinions are both revered and followed. Al-Darazī exploited the opportunity of Ḥamzah's withdrawal and not only claimed the title of imām for himself, but also began to falsify Ḥamzah's writings and teachings in order to present al-Ḥākim as divine. https://www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/dictionaries-thesauruses-pictures-and-press-releases/druze, ELIZABETH KNOWLES "Druze They also object to male doctors attending or autopsying women. The Druze speak Arabic, with slight distinctive differences. The Druzes in Palestine in the 1930s and 1940s were a part of the Arab Legion forces despite their feuds with the surrounding Muslim populations. 22 Sep. 2021 . Please contact us right away, we need you!!! The rebellion ended in brutal suppression of the Druze by General Sami Pasha al-Farouqi, significant depopulation of the Hauran region and execution of the Druze leaders in 1910. A traditional Druze war song proclaims, "We are the Children of Maruf! [78][page needed]. (September 22, 2021). Leiden, Neth. Although still a largely rural people with a long tradition of farming, younger Druze are seeking more professional occupations as they arrive in the United States and other countries, where they study and establish businesses. Bibliography Their traditional policy of taqiyah and accommodation to larger protective cultures has helped keep their traditions intact, but this policy may not be enough to preserve their culture in the future. The Seven Druze precepts are:[132], Complicating their identity is the custom of taqiyya—concealing or disguising their beliefs when necessary—that they adopted from Ismailism and the esoteric nature of the faith, in which many teachings are kept secretive. They consider prayer to be a constant state of being, rather than something one does at certain times of day. Jerusalem, 1979. 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. The uqqals oversee the religious life of their particular community, acting almost as intermediaries with God. https://www.encyclopedia.com/environment/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/druze, Swayd, Samy "Druze With the help of the Buhturis, the forefather of the Maʿnis, Prince Maʿn, moved with his supporters to the Shuf in 1120. Most US Druze settled in small towns and kept a low profile, joining Protestant churches (usually Presbyterian or Methodist) and often Americanizing their names. A second important figure in the Druze religious reform movement is Ḥamzah ibn ʿAlī (b. 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. Druze have not proselytized since the 11th century, and the religion remains closed to outsiders. Most of the Druze live in Lebanon and Syria, but a few of them have settled in Israel. Strong coffee is often served with meals. Traditionally situated rural Druze in the Middle East lead traditional lives. In the Epistles of Wisdom, Hamza ibn Ali ibn Ahmad warns al-Darazi, saying, "Faith does not need a sword to aid it". In the 2011/2012 school year, some 5,700 . "Druzes of Israel and the Golan Heights." Druze Trilogy 3- Genealogy. The basic cooking ingredients are olive oil, clarified butter, and, sometimes, animal fat. Language: Arabic, Hebrew. Address: P.O. There is an important dialect of Arab language which is called Levantine Arabic and it is spoken by many Israeli Arabs. Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of World Cultures. A total of 311 Israeli Druze were sampled: 37 from the Golan Heights, 183 from the Galilee, and 35 from Mount Carmel, as well as 27 Druze immigrants from Syria and 29 from Lebanon (Slush et al. Emir Mulhim exercised Iltizam taxation rights in the Shuf, Gharb, Jurd, Matn, and Kisrawan districts of Lebanon. The Druze believe that al-Ḥākim and Ḥamzah will reappear, conquer the world, and establish justice, and that the Druze living at that time will be the universal rulers. Druze living in America typically wear Western dress. [118][119] In the eyes of many historians, al-Ḥākim was the most controversial among Fāṭimid caliphs, due partly to rumors about a claim for divinity, which he apparently never made, and partly to his early resolutions against the ritualistic practices of several religious communities. Moreover, in the late eighteenth century the Shihabis converted to Christianity, which further reduced the Druze influence in Mount Lebanon. Druze poets and writers include Samih al-Qasim, a poet from the town of al-Rama in Galilee; and Shaqib Arslan, a Druze prince known as "the prince of eloquence" (amir al-bayan), who was chosen in 1938 to be president of the Arab Academy in Damascus. Implements projects intended to preserve Druze culture. If a Druze couple has only daughters, they keep having children until sons are born. The older generation of Jews . Many Druze still send money to relatives in their homeland and visit as often as they can. These Druze diasporas have established communal associations, such as the American Druze Society, the British Druze Society, the Druze Association of Toronto, the Sidney Druze Society, and La Druzo Brazileiri. At the battle of Ain Dara in 1711 two Druze factions fought—the Qaysis of northern Arabian origin and the Yamanis of southern origin. [59][60][page needed], Little information is known about the early life of al-Darazi. Australian Druze Arabic School - ARABIC. . Betts, Robert Benton. During this external resistance to the new movement, an internal power struggle arose between Ḥamzah and one of the activists mentioned earlier, al-Darazī. In 1843 European foreign powers convinced the Ottoman sultan to pacify the area, and to relinquish affairs in the north to the French-supported Maronites and in the south to the British-backed Druzes. The Druze must speak the truth among themselves (but not among outsiders); they must defend and help each other in times of crises or need (carrying arms for this purpose is sanctioned); they must renounce beliefs negating the oneness of God; they must dissociate themselves from unbelievers; they must recognize al-Hākim as an incarnation of God; they must be content with God's actions; and they must submit to God s will and orders. Typical foods include olives; mountain bread (paper-thin, round, unleavened bread); yogurt; chickpeas flavored with onions, garlic, and tahini (sesame paste); and bulghur (cracked wheat). [194] Scholars argue that Druze recite the Shahada in order to protect their religion and their own safety, and to avoid persecution by Muslims. Moss, Joyce, and George Wilson. The sect's beliefs include loyalty to the country in which they reside, although all maintain close ties with their homeland. LOCATION, SIZE, AND EXTENT Since then, only a few people from each community in each generation are initiated into the details of the faith. The Druze have shrines that they visit frequently, called mazar or maqam, located on the tops or sides of hills and mountains. In 1660, the Ottoman Empire moved to reorganize the region, placing the sanjaks (districts) of Sidon-Beirut and Safed in a newly formed province of Sidon, a move seen by local Druze as an attempt to assert control. This resulted in friction with the new caliph who clashed militarily with the Druze community. CLIMATE (No publication date available.). One must be born a Druze; no one can become one by choice. The family is central to Druze life, and the Druze make frequent formalized visits to their family members. The failure of a woman to bear children (particularly sons) is a frequent cause for divorce.
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