Druze
The Druze are a distinct religious community that originated as an offshoot of Islam during the 10th century, though they incorporate elements from various faiths, including Judaism and Christianity. Primarily located in the Middle East, especially in Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and Israel, the Druze also have populations in the United States, Europe, and Australia. Known as the Muwahhidun, meaning "monotheistic," Druze followers believe in one God, whom they regard as the same deity worshipped in the Abrahamic traditions.
A unique aspect of Druze belief is the emphasis on reincarnation and the notion that spiritual truths were fully revealed by 1050 CE, making conversion impossible. The community is characterized by its closed nature, with rare intermarriage outside the faith, and adherents often blend into surrounding cultures, sometimes practicing other religions for social reasons. The Druze place great importance on the teachings of their founder, al-Hakim, and value principles such as truthfulness, fellowship, and the divine unity of humanity. Although they do not adhere to traditional Islamic practices like daily prayers or the pilgrimage to Mecca, their beliefs promote equality, including the role of women in religious activities. In recent conflicts, particularly related to the Israel-Hamas War, the Druze community has shown strong support for Israel while navigating complex relationships with neighboring states.
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Druze
Druze refers to both a religion and the people who follow it. Druze is derived from the Islamic faith with ties to all three Abrahamic religions. The largest part of the Druze community resides in the Middle East, with followers also found in the United States, Europe, and Australia. Although Druze has Islamic origins, it is considered a separate religion. Druze followers are also known as the Muwahhidun, which means "monotheistic."
Background
The Druze faith is believed to have begun sometime after 986 Common Era (CE) as an offshoot of Islam. Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah was the caliph of Egypt and came to power when he was eleven years old. A caretaker proclaimed al-Hakim to be the commander of believers. This, combined with the belief that the caliph ruled with the authority of God as descendants of the Prophet Muhammad, meant that al-Hakim's religious beliefs were adopted by many of his people. When al-Hakim disappeared in 1021, many of his people continued to follow his beliefs.
The origins of Druze blended Islam with Greek and Hindu influences. Like the other Abrahamic religions—Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, which all consider Abraham a religious ancestor—Druze honors several prophets known to these faiths. These include Adam, Noah, Moses, John the Baptist, Jesus, and Muhammad. They also revere several minor prophets, including the Greek philosopher Plato and the Jewish prophet Daniel. Above all of these, however, Druze honors Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses, and considers it a duty to follow Jethro's command to defend the eternal people, the Jews.
Overview
There are an estimated one million Druze worldwide. The majority of them live in the Middle East, predominantly in Syria, Jordan, Israel, and Lebanon, where the first Druze are believed to have settled. More than one hundred thousand Druze reside in Israel, where they maintain their own legal system for handling marriage, divorce, and adoption. While some Druze continue to live in separate communities, the majority have assimilated into Israeli life, including serving in the military and holding public office. The remainder of the Druze population lives in communities throughout the world, with groups in Europe, Australia, and the United States.
The Druze tradition places little emphasis on religious rituals and observances. To avoid calling attention to themselves, the Druze often worship as Christians, Jews, or Muslims when circumstances warrant. Even though they intermingle with other communities, the Druze are a closed community. They rarely marry outside the Druze faith, and it is almost unheard of for anyone to leave the Druze religion. They also do not allow converts because they believe that the great truths of their faith were revealed by 1050 CE, and that was the final opportunity for individuals to join the faith. The Druze also believe in reincarnation and postulate that no one is alive today who did not have an opportunity to adopt the faith at the time its doctrines were first publicly preached in the ninth century.
Beliefs
The Druze are monotheistic, meaning they believe in one God. They believe that God is the same as the God of Jews, Christians, and Muslims. They also believe that God was incarnated as their founder, al-Hakim, in 1021, shortly before he disappeared. According to Druze beliefs, al-Hakim will return at some point and bring a new golden age.
The Druze consider the Quran to be a sacred book and use it in connection with a book of wisdom known as Al-Ḥikmah al-sharīfah. These texts teach the Druze that at the moment of death, the soul is reborn into a new existence—reincarnated—and that eventually, after enough lives on earth, the soul will finally be reborn into "al-aaqual al kulli," which is perfect agreement with God's will.
Not every Druze reads sacred texts, however. The educated or knowledgeable Druze—the ʿuqqāl—read them, attend meetings about the faith, and share teachings with the others—the juhhāl, or the ignorant. This is not meant as an insulting or discriminatory term but is rather seen as a benefit to the juhhāl, as the Druze believe that knowing more about the sacred texts and teachings imparts a greater burden for holiness on the learned. Although only about 5 percent of the Druze population are among the ʿuqqāl, the Druze society overall believes in equality. This applies to women, who are allowed to be part of the religious elite and take part in all prayers and rituals.
Druze beliefs allow divorce but do not allow polygamy. Believers do not partake of alcohol or tobacco, and Druze do not consume pork. Their faith beliefs are centered on the seven principles or precepts of the faith, which include truthfulness and devotion to the truth; fellowship and care for others; abandoning false beliefs; acceptance of humanity's divine unity; acceptance of the acts of their founder al-Hakim; and submission to al-Hakim's will.
While many of the Druze beliefs are similar to those of Muslims, there are several key differences. Druze do not pray at set times each day and do not recite a creed. They do not make the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, nor do they fast during Ramadan.
Although they have some strict guidelines for conduct, the Druze are not strong believers in ritual prayer and other religious activities. They believe that the rituals and prayers used by the other Abrahamic religions have led to diminishing true faith and a hindered relationship with God. As a result, the Druze do not participate in set prayer services and do not make religious pilgrimages, except to the tomb of Jethro to pay reverence.
The Israel-Hamas War of the mid-2020s brought support for Israel and military involvement from the Druze people, who have served as both fighters in the war and become victims of attacks. The initial October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas strengthened the bond between Israelis and Druze, and besides fighting the military, Druze communities have offered humanitarian aid and intelligence. Although the Druze expressed a desire to remain cooperative with communities in Syria and Lebanon, they also felt the need to support Israel despite internal disputes. Above all, the Druze were hopeful for a peaceful solution.
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