Business Listing of Druze in the Encyclopedia of the Orient
Druze in the Encyclopedia of the Orient
Country: Lebanon
History, theology, life style, meanings and other information about the Druze in Lebanon and the World.
DruzeArabic: duruz #299; (singular) dur #363;z(plural) XARTICLEDRUZE IN THE MIDDLE EASTLast column: % Druze of the populationIsrael80,0001.1%Jordan15,0000.2%Lebanon210,0005.7%Syria300,0001.7%Total *)605,000B0.1%Other countries75,000*) Calculated for the total population of North Africa and the Middle East, approx. 460,000,000.Religion and group of people with somewhere between 350,000 (estimate of Western scholars) and 900,000 (figures presented by the Druze) members (LexicOrient estimates that around 600,000 live in the Middle East and nearly 700,000 all over the world), living in Lebanon, Syria, Israel, and Jordan, often in mountainous regions. There are also important Druze communities abroad, living in Europe and USA.While the Druze are not regarded as Muslims by other Muslims, they regard themselves as Muslims as well as carriers of the core of this Islam. The Druze seem, to a large extent, to have originated from a group of Shiis, the Ismailis, but they have diverged much, and the Koran does not seem to be a part of their religion.The Druze call themselves muwahhidun, monotheists.THEOLOGYThe theology of Druze religion is called hikma and its main theme is that God incarnated himself in the Fatimid caliph al-Hakim, who they claim disappeared in 1021. While most Muslims believe he died in 1021, the Druze disagree and believe that al-Hakim is awaiting to return to the world in order to bring a new golden age to true believers.Druze believe in one God and claim that the qualities of God cannot be understood or defined by humans. Al-Hakim is worshiped in Druze religion, he is called Our Lord, and his cruelties and eccentricities are all interpreted symbolically.But while God incarnated himself in al-Hakim in his unity, other aspects of God can be incarnated in other human beings. These aspects are represented with 5 superior ministers. Under the ministers, one finds three other groups: functionaries, preachers, and heads of communities. The knowledge of about this hierarchal system is the highest knowledge in the Druze religion.Frequently one hears from sources about a calf in Druze religion. It is believed that the calf is a central symbol which represents the negative forces in the world.The moral system of Druze religion consists of seven principles:Love of truthTaking care of one anotherRenouncing all other religionsAvoiding the demon (the calf) and all wrongdoersAccepting divine unity in humanityAccepting all of al-Hakims actsActing in total accordance to al-Hakims willCentral in the Druze world system is the belief in reincarnation, through which all souls are reborn as humans, good as well as bad. Good people have a more fortunate rebirth than bad people. Behind this system is the belief that humans cannot reach perfection and unite with God.Hell and heaven in Druze religion are viewed differently from most other Middle Eastern religions, and bear clear resemblances with Gnostic philosophy and religion, as heaven is only spiritual, when m
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