Who are the Nusayris (Alawites)? Nusayris, more commonly kn
Who are the Nusayris (Alawites)?
Nusayris, more commonly known today as Alawites (Arabic: ʿAlawī), are a religious community primarily located in Syria, with smaller populations in Lebanon and southern Turkey. The term Nusayri originates from Muhammad ibn Nusayr, a 9th-century figure who is considered an early founder of the sect.
Although “Nusayri” is the older, historical name, many today prefer the term Alawite, as Nusayri has sometimes been used in a derogatory way by outsiders.
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🔹 Key Facts about the Nusayris / Alawites
📜 Religious Beliefs:
• They follow a branch of Shi’a Islam, but their beliefs are esoteric (secretive, mystical) and include elements of:
• Christianity
• Gnosticism
• Pre-Islamic religions
• Neo-Platonism
• They revere Ali, the cousin and son-in-law of Prophet Muhammad, as a manifestation of God.
• Believe in reincarnation — the soul is reborn in different bodies.
• Religious knowledge is secret and passed down orally to initiates; their scriptures and rituals are not public.
🕌 Relations with Other Muslims:
• Many Sunni scholars historically viewed Alawites as outside the fold of Islam.
• Some Shi’a scholars have accepted them as part of the broader Shi’a tradition, especially in modern times (e.g., Lebanese cleric Musa al-Sadr in the 20th century).
🏛️ Political Role:
• Alawites make up 10–15 percent of Syria’s population.
• The ruling Assad family in Syria (Hafez al-Assad, then his son Bashar al-Assad) is Alawite.
• Since taking power in 1971, Alawites have held key positions in the Syrian military, intelligence, and government, leading to significant political influence.
• Their political dominance has also caused sectarian tensions in Syria, especially during the Syrian civil war.
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