🧭 Druze people - layers of their religious history: 🔹 1. Dr
🧭 Druze people - layers of their religious history:
🔹 1. Druze -Druz religion is a small but mysterious and unique religious community, mainly found in Lebanon, Syria, Israel and some extent in Jordan. It is a monotheistic religion, but it has a mixture of many ideologies such as Islam, Greek philosophy, Gnosticism, Hindu-Buddhist.
📜 What is Druz Dharma?
1. Origin and History:
• Druz Dharma started in the 11th century.
• Its foundation laid from a branch of Ismaili Shia Islam.
• It was developed at the time of Fatimid Calipate.
• Khalifa al-Hakim Bi-Amrillah (Al-Hakim Bi-Mr Allah) was considered as an incarnation of God.
• Main Promotion: Hamza Ibn Ali (Hamza IBN Ali)
2. Holy Granth:
• Druz is the main book of religion: “Rasail al-Hikma" (rasa'il al-Hikma)
(Teachings of Hikmat - Total 111 chapters)
3. Secrecy:
• Druz Dharma is a closed community.
Meaning - You do not allow this religion to adopt or leave.
• Only a few selected people can know the deep knowledge of religion which is called Uqqal.
• Common people are called Juhhal, who have to follow only external practical rules.
4. Reincarnation:
• Druz is a major principle of religion that the soul is immortal and the body changes.
• Soon after death the soul is born in a new body.
• Further life is determined according to karma and spiritual development.
•5. Religious theory and ethics:
• Faith in God.
• Not lies, justice, serving others and following self -governance.
• Stay away from alcohol, tobacco and other addictions.
• To give importance to military service, social service and education.
6. Conversion:
• Conversion is not allowed in religion.
• You can be born in this religion, but cannot be your own and you cannot leave it.
🌍 Druz community today:
• Today there are about 10-15 million people in the world.
• The highest number is in Lebanon.
• These people are known for their patriotic and peace loving nature.
🔹 2. Druze before (7th - 10th century):
🕌 Ismaili Shia Muslims:
• Druz religion developed during the 11th century during the Fatimid Calipate.
At that time Ismaili Shia Islam was dominated in Egypt and surrounding areas.
• Many Druz East was Ismaili Shia Muslims.
• When the Khalifa al-Hakim Bi-Amrillah was considered a divine incarnation, a new movement began, which later took the form of Druze religion.
🔹 3. Before Islam (before the Arab region became Islamic - i.e. before the 7th century):
Now comes the most interesting part.
Earlier people who later became Druze were:
🏺 Pre-Islamic Arab Religions
That is, Arab Religion before Islam
These included:
• Paganism (polytheism)-different clan worshiped different gods.
Examples: Goddesses like Hubal, Al-Lāt, Manāt, and al-'uzzá.
• There were some Jews and Christian influences, especially in the northern areas of Siria and Lebanon.
• There were also Arab Christian states like Ghasani and Lakhmi, so it is possible that some druze ancestors have been Christians.
🔄 brief timeline:
Call religion / tradition
👉 Today- Druze religion (from 11th century yet)
7th-11th century- Ismaili Shia
Islam and its former form
1st-7th century- Christian, Jewish, and Pagan Arab Religion
Ancient times- original local beliefs, worship of gods, nature worship etc.
📌 Conclusion:
Druze people came from (mainly levant and Arab region), before Islam:
• There were some polytheistic,
• Some adopted Christianity,
• And some were also associated with the Jewish tradition.
Comments
No comments yet.