Islam and Muslims
Druze
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The Druze comprise another sect which is not widely regarded as being
"truly" Islam by many Muslims. This group diverged from mainstream
Islam in the eleventh century when some Isma'ilis started to believe that God
became manifest in the personality of a prophet or imam. They were declared to be
heretics when the eleventh century leader Muhammad Bin Ismail ad Darazi declared
that the Fatimid Caliph Hakim (996-1021) was actually divine.
The Druze derive their name from Darazi, who was an Iranian mystic. They refer to
themselves as Mowahhidoon (plural) or Mowahhid (singular), but the rest of the world
has labeled them based upon Darazi. His followers still sometimes pray to Hakim and
call him "Our Lord," and even hope for him to reappear one day. The Druze
also regard Jethro, father-in-law of Moses, as their chief prophet and make annual
pilgrimages to his tomb in lower Galilee. The main person behind the movement's
beliefs was Hamzah ibn 'Ali (d. 1021). He not only preached the divinity of al-Hakim
but also claimed that he himself was the cosmic intellect.
Even more than the Alawis, the Druze have always kept their doctrine and ritual
secret to avoid persecution - both from regular Druze and from Muslims. Although
an important principle for them is to always tell the truth to each other, they
are permitted to lie to outsiders - especially when it comes to protecting the
secrets of their religious beliefs.
The only members who are initiated into the mysteries of the faith are those who
demonstrate extreme piety, devotion and the correct demeanor. The initiated
(uqqal; sing., aqil) are a very small minority and may include women. Most Druze,
however, remain juhhal, or ignorant ones. Evidently their religion is
rather complex, and involves a combination of neo-Platonic thought, Sufi
mysticism, and Iranian religious traditions.
Soon after they were founded they stopped making new converts and have instead
perpetuated themselves through their children. Until recently, most girls were married
between the ages of 12 and 15, and most men at the age of 16 or 17. Their day of
worship is Thursday, rather than Friday, and they reject much of Islamic legal
practice. The Druze scripture is called the Rasa'il al-hikmah (Epistles of Wisdom),
most of which was created by Hamzah's successor, Baha al-Din al-Muqtana.
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