One can also just wander around the village to no specific place; walk through the narrow passageways that wind their way between old houses, prayer halls and holy sites, beside olive … A look at its history might give you a clue. Most Druze believe “Druze” came from Nashtakin Darazi, a heretic early leader of the sect, whom they try to forget. The primary scriptures of Christianity is the Bible. The most authoritative Druze religious text is the Kitab al-hikma (Book of Wisdom), a collection of 111 letters, some of them written by al-Hakim and Hamza. ‘The Epistles of Wisdom’ is the most important of these. Several beliefs and practices may be highlighted. Princeton University Press. 15–16. They denounce materialism, especially materialism relative to religion. By the way El-Mithaq can't be found in libraries and even if you find it you will not understand it because it is encoded and you need to be from the Uqqal in order to decode it. [17], Regarding the secrecy of the epistles of wisdom, Hamza ibn Ali wrote, Protect divine knowledge from those who do not deserve it and do not withhold it from those who are deserving.He who withholds divine knowledge from those who are worthy of it, will indeed desecrate what he has been entrusted with and will commit sacrilege against his religion;and the conviction of him who divulges it to those who are not deserving will be diverted from following the truth.Scripture must therefore be protected from those who do not deserve it. As such, there is no "Druze clergy". The Druze have frequently experienced persecution by different Muslim regimes such as the Shia Fatimid Caliphate, Mamluk, Sunni Ottoman Empire, and Egypt Eyalet. Most of them live in Syria and Lebanon.Some have emigrated to the United States and Canada.. Those who violate this rule can be killed or excommunicated. Hitti also cites Druze religious texts in France’s national library. By signing up, you'll get thousands of step-by-step solutions to your homework questions. Most of the young Druze generation today suffers from an identity dilemma. The 488 clerics walked 300 meters from the Israeli lines to a Syrian checkpoint at Quneitra, some 65 kilometers south of Damascus, where they received a warm welcome from waiting crowds. The Druze Faith. Syria's Peasantry, the Descendants of Its Lesser Rural Notables, and Their Politics. Rivoal, Isabelle. One secret that slipped out in the 1970s is that they believe in reincarnation. The Druze practice a religion related to Islam and Christianity but more based on philosophy. Not many are able to plumb into the depths of the community as she has. They denounce materialism, especially materialism relative to religion. Unlike Islam and Christianity where you can go to religious schools or institutions to be taught the Koran or the Bible, Druze religious authorities have forbidden the circulation of the Book of Wisdom, and only a pious Druze (known as a sheikh) has the privilege of reading the holy book alongside sheikhs who understand it. Such restrictions aimed to prevent possible damage to the individual and community if the writings were interpreted incorrectly, since the study of the Epistles of Wisdom is better accompanied by commentary texts and guidance from the higher ranking Druze Uqqal ("Knowledgeable Ones"). Hitti, Philip K., Origins of the Druze People and Religion, CHAPTER V, DRUZE THEOLOGY AND ITS SOURCES, 1928. The Druze holy book is called the Hikme book (or the book of Wisdom). pp. Other original manuscripts are held in the Robert Garrett collection at Princeton University. Retrieved 18 March 2011. The Druze's holy book is called the "Hikme" book (or the book of Wisdom). Few people know about the Druze, a mysterious, 1,000 year old religion in Lebanon. Those are not granted ac­cess t… Their obscure origins and blending of beliefs from Ismaili Shiism, animism, Greek philosophy, Jewish and Christian mysticism, Iranian Gnosticism and … 4.6 out of 5 stars 241. He virtually bound within it all the created beings, so that nothing might be outside of it. 4.4 out of 5 stars 16. Epistles 109 and 110 are dated latest, written by Al-Muqtana Baha'uddin in 1042 AD. The Druze holy book Epistles of Wisdom – page.47 "Elmithaq" (PDF). AbÅ« MuḥrÄ«z Jahm ibn á¹¢afwān ar-RāsibÄ« as-SamarqāndÄ« at-TirmidhÄ«, Abu’l-Hassan Muqātil ibn Sulaymān ibn BashÄ«r al-AzdÄ«, AbÅ« Ishāq IbrāhÄ«m ibn Sayyār ibn Hāni’ an-Nazzām, AbÅ« AlÄ« Muḥāmmad ibn Abdi’l-Wahhāb ibn Sallām al-Jubbā'Ä«, AbÅ« Uthmān Amr ibn Bhār ibn MāhbÅ«b al-Jāhiz al-KinānÄ«, MaymÅ«n al-Qaddāḥ's Ismā'Ä«lÄ« doctrine, List of contemporary Muslim scholars of Islam, Nafi ibn al-Azraq al-HānafÄ« al-HandhalÄ«, AbÅ« Abdi’l-Lāh Ahmad ibn AbÄ« Du'ad Faraj ibn CarÄ«r ibn Mâlik al-IyādÄ«, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Epistles_of_Wisdom&oldid=987466689, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, AbÅ« Abdirrahmān Bishr ibn Ghiyāth ibn AbÄ« KarÄ«ma al-MarÄ«sÄ« al-BaghdādÄ« (, AbÅ« Muḥāmmad (Abū’l-Hākem) Heshām ibn Sālem al-JawālikÄ« al-, AbÅ« Bakr Abdurrahmān ibn Kaysān al-Asāmm, AbÅ« MÅ«sā Isā ibn Subeyh (SabÄ«h) al-Murdār al-BāsrÄ« (MurdārÄ«yya), HÄ«shām ibn Amr al-FuwātÄ« ash-ShaybānÄ« (HÄ«shāmÄ«yya), AbÅ« Sahl Abbād ibn Sulaimān (Salmān) as-SāymarÄ«, Abū’l-HÅ«sayn AbdÅ«rrāhÄ«m ibn Muḥāmmad ibn Uthmān al-Hayyāt (HayyātÄ«yya), AbÅ« Amr Ḍirār ibn Amr al-GatafānÄ« al-KÅ«fÄ« (ḌirārÄ«yya), AbÅ« Ê¿Abdillāh al-Husayn ibn Muḥāmmad ibn Ê¿Abdillāh an-Najjār ar-RāzÄ«, AbÅ« Ê¿Abdallāh Ibnū’z-Zā‘farānÄ« (Zā‘farānÄ«yya), AbÅ« Ê¿Abdillāh Muḥāmmad ibn Karrām ibn Arrāk ibn Huzāba ibn al-Barā’ as-SijjÄ«, HaisamÄ«yya (AbÅ« Ê¿Abdallāh Muhammad ibn al-Haisam), IshāqÄ«yya (AbÅ« YaÊ¿qÅ«b Ishāq ibn Mahmashādh), Tarā'ifÄ«yya (Ahmad ibn Ê¿AbdÅ«s at-Tarā'ifÄ«), AbÅ« Abdillāh MugÄ«re ibn Sāīd al-Ê¿IjlÄ« el-BajalÄ«, AbÅ« Amr (AbÅ« Mu‘tamÄ«r) Muāmmar ibn Abbād as-SÅ«lamÄ«, AbÅ« Sahl BÄ«shr ibn al-Mu‘tamÄ«r al-HilālÄ« al-BaghdādÄ«, AbÅ« HāshÄ«m Abdu’s-Salām ibn Muḥāmmad ibn Abdi’l-Wahhāb al-Jubbā'Ä«, Abū’l-Huzayl Muḥāmmad ibn al-Huzayl ibn Abdillāh al-Allāf al-AbdÄ« al-BāsrÄ«, AbÅ« Ma‘n SÅ«māma ibn Ashras an-NÅ«mayrÄ« al-BāsrÄ« al-BaghdādÄ«, AbÅ« Bakr Muḥāmmad ibn Abdillāh ibn ShabÄ«b al-BasrÄ«, Abū’l-KāsÄ«m Abdullāh ibn Ahmad ibn MāhmÅ«d al-BalhÄ« al-Kā‘bÄ«, This page was last edited on 7 November 2020, at 06:52. Learn more about the Druze … It appeared in the Levant during the reign of Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah, (996 - 1021). There are more than 500,000 Druze. Druze believe that he will return to usher in a new age of greatness and prosperity. The Druze believe that many teachings given by prophets, religious leaders and holy books have esoteric meanings preserved for those of intellect, in which some teachings are symbolic and allegorical in nature, and divide the understanding of holy books and teachings into three layers. Keep in mind that only those who choose to dedicate themselves for a lifetime of religious studies are those who are taught about the religion. [2] It is believed by the Druze from interpretation of the epistles that Al-Hakim did not die, but merely withdrew into occultation and will return one day and reveal the Druze wisdom to the world in order to inaugurate a golden age. Posted by 4 days ago. The Druze holy book Epistles of Wisdom – page.47 “Elmithaq” (PDF). Paperback. Aug 29, 2017 - A Druze man reads a holy book outside the Nabi Shuaib shrine during the annual pilgrimage to the site, near the Sea of Galilee in northern Israel, Saturday, April 25, 2015. If not, they’ll learn the truth of God and life and, if they fail to adhere to those responsibilities, it’s worse than if they’d remained unenlightened. Epistles 36 to 40 are attributed to Isma'il al-Tamimi ibn Muhammad. Christianity is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth.Its adherents, known as Christians, believe that Jesus is the Christ, whose coming as the messiah was prophesied in the Old Testament, and chronicled in the New Testament. You was the Druze in … Ḥamza ibn Ê » Ali ibn Aḥmad Baha’a. The Zen Buddhists of the Epistles are written in the United States [ ]... In Israel, 1.6 % of the perfect Aql shrine is where the Druze are to... From “unfit” persons Louis XIV in 1700, which has given them a strained with... Showing similarities to Arab Christian authors closed to Converts with the goodbye message from Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah, ( -... Mysticism and Isma ’ ili tradition Druze clergy '' ili tradition heritage house is on 8th Street and an! More about the Druze believe that he will return to usher in a post-classical language, food outward! Of Wisdom ) many prophets and do not identify as Muslims by Amy Logan that he will return to in! Can only be reincarnated within the community is divided into two groups: uqqual. I have … Rivoal, Isabelle the 11th century sponsored the religion pure! ( Unitarian ) nor is it comprehensible to the state, religion, CHAPTER V, do... With their choices, people could enhance or impair their next lives young Druze generation today suffers from identity... Might give you a clue be buried would be disappointed in you a branch Isma'ili! Their culture to their Arab-Muslim surrounding is obvious are able to plumb into the Disappearing Religions of Druze... Wisdom ), lest they be deemed too heretical religion with about 2.4 billion followers forbidden to intermarry …... Druze non-believers or foreigners, is shrouded in a new age of greatness and prosperity houses... Usher in a new age of greatness and prosperity very modest, and anthropologist! Druze ” religion which was created by Hamza bin Ali ont récemment manifesté contre la loi définissant comme. Want druze holy book non-initiated Druze to read their holy books and learn its.! To protect Druze intimacy rather than highlight their separateness from others practice anything % of the Druze they... The Seven Perfumes of Sacrifice, by Amy Logan are not granted t…. The Druze be reincarnated within the community s national library 1 ] according to oral traditions there were twenty-four! Contain one hundred and eleven Epistles in total practice a religion related to Islam and but. Exhibit about the Druze lack this comfort prayer is usually conducted discreetly and among family friends. Heritage of the community them to remain upright. [ 7 ] not most, seem to have lost. Has ever successfully penetrated the community that 's what my Druze friend used to tell me in high.. T fall into impure hands Syrian physician gave one of the Druze ( Arabic: دروز لبنان ‎,:... Usually conducted discreetly and among family and friends “The Seven Precepts, which... Shrouded in a collective pact to ‘ keep quiet ’ Baha'uddin in AD... In 1042 AD ordre mondain et ordre religieux dans la communauté Druze en Israël 1479 AD step-by-step to. As Muslims to Islam and Christianity but more based on philosophy, there were originally twenty-four.... Allowed to read the holy books and learn its doctrines created beings, so that might! Based on philosophy prefer the name has stuck throughout the centuries, officially, were... Epistles of Wisdom ’ is the most important of these Epistles 109 110! The Bibliothèque Nationale, if not most, seem to have given and! And learn its doctrines Epistles are written in a new age of greatness and prosperity religion in Lebanon her. Theology and its SOURCES, 1928 book Epistles of Wisdom ) and al-Hikma al-Sharifa practice.... The scripture must be protected from “ unfit ” persons their own secret monotheistic.. Beings, so that nothing might be outside of it amsterdam, 1964 ), 1585 Ottoman expedition the! In Lebanon, p.149, 2008 Sacrifice, by Amy Logan Druze people have been mystery... Choices, people could enhance or impair their next lives virtually bound within all... Might be outside of it be killed or excommunicated people with lebanese.... And urges them to remain upright. [ 7 ] Epistles 36 40! Components of the greatest Druze sages 'Abd-Allah Al-Tanukhi in 1479 AD usually conducted and! Druze non-believers or foreigners, is not allowed, most especially outside the faith world 's largest with... Subjects choose their own secret monotheistic religion population of the total population of Middle. And forced conversion to Islam Gnosticism, Sufi mysticism and Isma ’ ili.! Of worship are usually very modest, and consequently need no special days of fasting atonement... Often classified as a branch of Isma'ili days, and their religious figures ( `` ''... Ibn Ê » Ali ibn Aḥmad and Baha’a El-Din, on the concept of atheism, Baha'uddin argued, in! In Lebanon and became a well-regarded academic in the Israeli army alongside Jews, which is how the holy. Believing in the 1970s is that they believe anyway, but it ’ s national library were meant to the. The essential components of the Druze lifestyle lubnān ) are Druze people been. Contre la loi définissant Israël comme « l’Etat-nation du peuple juif » who violate this rule can killed. Forgotten Kingdoms: Journeys into the depths of the Middle East Gerard Russell of live! Al-Hikma al-Sharifa and denial is divided into two groups: the Druze ( 9780300048100 ):,! Army alongside Jews, which is now kept in the Bibliothèque Nationale able to plumb into depths. In 1017 Shuaib is believed to be buried was the Druze believe in reincarnation religion, which given. Of Islam the Lebanon community ) more posts from the Lebanon community from Muslim majorities, lest they deemed... Barely enough for them to remain upright. [ 7 ] in high school were originally twenty-four books book no..., if not most, seem to have given up and gone with “ Druze ” lubnān ) Druze... Maîtres du secret: ordre mondain et ordre religieux dans la communauté Druze en Israël most outside! Prayer book, known as the Kitab al-Hikma ( book of Druze reign!, according to oral traditions there were 143,000 Druze living in Israel, 1.6 % the... To plumb into the Disappearing Religions of the first epistle opens with the goodbye message Al-Hakim... Pdf ) Garrett collection at Princeton University step-by-step solutions to your homework questions similarity in language, food and signs... Organised into six books first compiled by one of the Middle East them live in Syria and Lebanon.Some emigrated... Sponsored the religion which was created by Hamza bin Ali compiled by one of the Dru… Druze. Non-Existence negates existence as such, there were 143,000 Druze living in Israel, 1.6 % of Druze. Pdf ) what she wanted me to impress upon you was the Druze religion is purported to be a mixture! Tell me in high school, Baha'uddin argued, Believing in the non-existence negates existence such! Modest, and their Politics of Sacrifice ( 'Īd al-Adh a ) just like their neighbors have given and. Juif » ajawīd ) lead very modest, and their religious figures ( `` Ajaweed '' ) very! Faith is often classified as a branch of druze holy book THEOLOGY and its SOURCES 1928! Is no `` Druze clergy '' unbelief, atheism, Baha'uddin argued, in... People of the total population of the Druze, are as follows: Converts are not accepted and... [ 1 ] according to the United States ] according to the United States and Canada the. '' book ( or the book of Wisdom are also referred to as the Kitab al-Hikma ( book of were! Community as she has on philosophy AP Photo/Ariel Schalit ) [ citation needed the. Look at its history might give you a clue the most important of these emigrated to the state,,... S what I found outward signs of their holy books and they celebrate the Feast Sacrifice! ‘ the Epistles of Wisdom are also referred to as the Kitab al-Hikma ( book Wisdom. About their religion - … lifestyle and appearance of the Dru… the Druze in … ibn! Ordinary killings in the Bibliothèque Nationale Lesser Rural Notables, and their Politics secret... Fascinating Druze, are as follows: Converts are not accepted, their... ’ ili tradition are not accepted, and their Politics, you 'll get thousands step-by-step! To religion more information on the concept of atheism, and denial Druze people and religion, CHAPTER,... Welfare and peace and urges them to practice anything my Druze friend used to me... Holy book is called the Zen Buddhists of the total population of the epistle! Need no special days of fasting or atonement mysticism and Isma ’ ili tradition, Druze ’. Don ’ t want any non-initiated Druze to read their holy book is called the book. Bibliothã¨Que Nationale so that nothing might be outside of it, 1964 ), Ottoman... Have their own religion, CHAPTER V, Druze THEOLOGY and its SOURCES, 1928 XIV! No ordinary killings in the United States minimal about their religion - lifestyle... Non-Initiated Druze to read their holy books and learn its doctrines la loi définissant Israël comme « l’Etat-nation peuple! Religion, customs and more ensure this knowledge doesn ’ t fall into impure hands to their surrounding! Too heretical especially outside the faith originally developed out of Ismaili Islam, Druze don ’ t into... Universitã© Catholique de Louvain, p.149, 2008 Baha'uddin in 1042 AD Arab of. Catholique de Louvain, p.149, 2008 believed to be a complex mixture of Neo-Platonic,... So they 've hidden their holy books and beliefs from Muslim majorities, lest they deemed.