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LOCATION The Druze reside primarily in Lebanon , Israel , Syria , and Jordan . Small communities of expatriates also live in the United States , Canada , Latin America , West Africa , Australia , and Europe . They use the Arabic Language and follow a social pattern very similar to the other Arab s of the region. They are not considered Muslim by most Muslims in the region; although the Druze faith has its origins in Shīˤa Islām , it differs in many respects from the principal branches of Islām. Most Druze consider themselves or East Mediterranean However, this figure may not be accurate as some sites/studies suggest they number around 450,000 [http://www.adherents.com/adh_branches.html#Islam . The Druze call themselves '' Ahl Al-Tawhīd '' " The People Of Monotheism " or '' Al-Muwahhidūn '' "the Monotheists". The origin of the name ''Druze'' is debated but is usually traced to Muħammad Ad-Darazī , an early messenger of the community who is considered a Heretic by the Druze today. HISTORY OF THE DRUZE The religion developed out of Ismaili Islam, a philosophical movement based in the Fātimid Caliphate , in the 10th Century , a time of particular cultural wealth. The religion did not attempt to reform mainstream Islam but to create a whole new religious body influenced by Greek Philosophy , Gnosticism and Christianity , among others. The main actors were ''Tariqu l-Ħakīm'' "Ruler", also known as '' Al-Ħakīm Bi-ˤAmru L-Lāh '' "Ruler in the Name of God" and Hamza Ibn ˤAlī Ibn Aħmad , the main architect of the movement. It was Hamza who first publicly proclaimed that Ħakīm was the "Ruler in the Name of God". Ħakīm was opposed by mainstream Muslim s for what was considered Apostasy . Because the Druze considered Tariq al-Ħakīm to be the incarnation of God, they were persecuted by mainstream Muslim s, especially after Ħakīm's death in 1021 . The Druze believe that Ħakīm disappeared and will return in the End Of Days . The Druze took up '' Taqiyya '' "dissimulation", a practice whereby they conceal their true beliefs and outwardly accept the religious beliefs of those amongst whom they live, even as they secretly retained their true convictions. The Druze have played major roles in the history of the Levant . They were mostly scattered in the Chouf Mountains , which is part of Mount Lebanon , and later the so-named Jabal Al-Durūz (Mount Of The Druzes) in Syria . The Druze also played a major role in the Lebanese Civil War ( 1975 – 1990 ). They organized a Militia (one of the strongest militias in the War) under the leadership of Walid Jumblatt , (son of Kamal Jumblatt ), in opposition to the Maronite Christian Phalangist militia of Bachir Gemayel in the Mount Lebanon area (especially the Chouf ). THE DRUZE TODAY In Lebanon, Syria, and Israel, the Druze have official recognition as a separate religious community with its own religious court system. Their symbol is an array of five colors: Green , Red , Yellow , Blue and White . Each color pertains to a symbol defining its principles: green for ''ˤAql'' "the Universal Mind", red for ''Rūħ'' "the Universal Soul", yellow for ''Kalima'' "the Truth/Word", blue for ''Sabq'' "the Antagonist/Cause" and white for ''Talī'' "the Protagonist/Effect". These principles are why the number '' Five '' has special considerations among the religious community; it is usually represented symbolically as a five-pointed star. In Israel , Druze choose to vote in elections but usually identify themselves as Arab s (but not specifically as Palestinian s) 1 . Some of the Galilean and Carmelean Druzes are well known in Israel as “Israeli patriots”. Lately Azzam Azzam , an Israeli-Druze alleged spy, has become (in Israel’s popular culture) the model of the “ultimate Israeli patriot”. However, many Druze living in the Golan Heights consider themselves Syria n and refuse Israeli citizenship, while the remainder consider themselves Israeli. In general elections, the majority of Druze villages have similar voting patterns as the general public. Some Israeli Druze complain that their villages do not receive the same grants and subsidies that are given to Jew ish communities. Israeli Druze also serve in the ). In April 2006, the spiritual leader of the Druze community in Israel, Sheikh Mowafak Tarif , signed a declaration calling on all non-Jews in Israel to observe the Seven Noahide Laws , as laid down in the Bible and expounded upon in Jewish Tradition . The mayor of the primarily Druze city of Shfaram , in the Galilee , also signed the document. The declaration includes the commitment to make a better "humane world based on the Seven Noachide Commandments and the values they represent commanded by the Creator to all mankind through Moses on Mount Sinai ." Support for the spread of the Seven Noahide Commandments by the Druze leaders reflects the Biblical narrative itself. The Druze community reveres the non-Jewish father-in-law of Moses, Jethro (Yitro), whom they call Shu’eib . According to the Biblical narrative, Jethro joined and assisted the Jewish people in the desert during the Exodus , accepted monotheism, but ultimately rejoined his own people. In fact, the tomb of Jethro in Tiberias is the most important religious site for the Druze community. {Link without Title} PROMINENT DRUZE FIGURES
BELIEFS OF THE DRUZE The Druze faith keeps its tenets secret. They are publicly open about very few details of their faith (borrowing from the Shiite practice of Taqiyya ) and they do not accept converts and strongly discourage conversion from their religion to another. This is due to many religious, political and historical reasons: the Druze were violently and brutally persecuted for centuries by other religious communities. The Druze believe in the unity of God, hence comes their own name for themselves: '' Ahl At-Tawhīd ''. They are Monotheists in the same way as Christians, Jews and Muslims. Their Theology has a Neo-Platonic view about how God interacts with the world through emanations and is similar to some Gnostic and other Esoteric sects. They are not, however, influenced by the Sufi philosophy, as many believe. The principles of the Druze faith are: guarding one's tongue (honesty), protecting one's brother, respecting the elderly, helping others, protecting one's homeland, and belief in one God. Another well-known feature of the Druze religion is a fervent belief in human-only Reincarnation for all the members of the community. They do not accept Polygamy , Tobacco Smoking , Alcohol or consumption of Pork , although pork and alcohol may be consumed in many non-religious and/or ''aj-Juhl'' households. Druze religion does not allow them to intermarry with Muslims , Jews or members of any other religions. However, these rules are often disregarded in modern societies. It is also known that Druze believe in five cosmic principles, represented by the five colored Druze star: intelligence/reason (green), soul (red), word (yellow), precedent (blue) and Immanence (white). These virtues take the shape of five different spirits which, until recently, have been continuously reincarnated on Earth as prophets and philosophers including Adam , Pythagoras , Akhenaten , and many others. The Druze believe that, in every time period, these 5 principles were personified in 5 different people who came down together to Earth to teach humans the true path to God and Nirvana , but that with them came 5 other individuals who would lead people away from the right path into 'darkness'. The Druze believe in prophets like Adam , Noah (''Nūħ''), Abraham (''Ibrāhīm''), Sarah , Jacob (''Yaˤqub''), Moses (''Mūsā''), Solomon (''Sulaymān''), John The Baptist (''Yahya''), Jesus Christ (''Isa'') and Muħammad . In contrast to members of the other monotheistic faiths, they also elevate Jethro , Father-in-law of Moses , to the status of major prophet under the Arabic name '' Shuˤayb ''. They also believe in the wisdom of classical Greek Philosopher s such as Plato and Pythagoras . In addition, they have an array of "wise men" that founded the religion in the 11th Century . Individual Prayer does not exist. Druze are not required to follow the Muslim duties of prayer, fasting, nor make pilgrimage to Mecca but may do so, especially if it is dangerous for them if they do not - a practice known as Taqiyya . ˤUqqāl and Juhhāl The Druze are split into two groups. The inner group are called ''al-ˤUqqāl'' (عقال), "the Knowledgeable Initiates". Male ''ˤuqqāl'' grow moustaches, shave their heads, and wear dark clothing with white turbans. Women are considered especially suitable to become ˤUqqāl; they are even regarded to be spiritually superior to men, a belief that greatly contrasts with the surrounding Christian and Muslim communities. Druze women who are ˤuqqāl can opt to wear ''al-mandīl'' or transparent loose white Veil , especially in the presence of religious figures. They wear ''al-mandīl'' on their head to cover their hair and wrap it around their mouth and sometimes over their nose as well. They wear black shirts and long skirts covering their legs to their ankles. Between 10–20% of Druze are ˤUqqāl. The outer group, called ''aj-Juhhāl'' (جهال), "the Ignorant", are not granted access to the secret Druze holy literature. They form the Druze political and military leadership and generally distance themselves from religious issues. One of the faith's holy books is called the ''Kitābu l-Ħikma'' or "Book of Wisdom", largely compiled by a mysterious figure called Al-Muqtana . It has several volumes and compiled in Chapter s each covering a specific issue. The teachings denounce materialism, especially materialism relative to religion. Druze places of worship are usually very modest, and their religious figures (''ajawīd'') lead very modest lifestyles. Prayer is usually conducted discreetly, among family and friends. There is little official hierarchy in the religious community except for the '' Shaykh al-ˤAql'', whose role is more political and social than religious. A religious figure is admired for his wisdom and lifestyle. Contradictory literature surrounds the Druze mainly due to adopted beliefs that were used to protect them from persecutors and due to the rumors and stories of outsiders. For example, it is still unclear to most outsiders whether the Druze follow the same traditions of fasting as Muslims in the month of Ramadan . This is because the Druze have followed these traditions for centuries in order to protect themselves. Many orthodox Druze hold that they should not follow these traditions, but should follow a different fasting tradition still practiced by religious figures instead. The Druze have other fasting traditions, such as fasting during the ten days before Eid Ul-Adha , the last night of which is spent in prayer. The Druze fast is more difficult than the traditional Ramadan fast in that only one light meal is allowed in the evening. NOTES #''Identity Repertoires among Arabs in Israel'', by Muhammad Amara and Izhak Schnell; ''Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies'', Vol. 30, 2004 EXTERNAL LINKS
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