The druze religious book of wisdom

There exist druze muwahhidun in certain countries and are known by other names. As in the case of determining the racial origins of the druze people, so in the case of ascertaining the origin of their religion, all kinds of theories, some curious and amusing, others fantastic and naive, have been proposed. Provides a brief history of the druze faith, traditions, and society and a wealth of primary and secondary sources on the druzes history and their political significance in the middle east. Thus, their places of worship are usually very modest, and their religious figures ajawid lead very modest lifestyles. Mar 24, 2019 the druze texts are referred to as the hikma texts and they are forbidden even from most of the druze themselves if theyre not initiated ready to receive the knowledge. The druze texts are referred to as the hikma texts and they are forbidden even from most of the druze themselves if theyre not initiated ready to receive the knowledge. 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. Although the druze religious books describe addarazi as the insolent one and as the calf. The druze are spread in numerous countries of the world. The emergence of the druze faith occurred in 1017 ce when the. Also called the druse, duruz, duroz, and the tawhid faith, there are about 750,000800,000 of them today, primarily in syria, lebanon, and israel. Druze simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

The name druze probably comes from darazi, a preacher who was expelled from the druze movement, because he preached that alhakim was literally god. Email citation provides a brief history of the druze faith, traditions, and society and a wealth of primary and secondary sources on the druzes history and their political significance in the middle east. Druze, small middle eastern religious sect characterized by an eclectic system of doctrines and by a cohesion and loyalty among its members at times politically significant that have enabled them to maintain for centuries their closeknit identity and distinctive faith. Druze reject polygamy, believe in reincarnation, and are not obliged to observe most of the religious rituals. In the monotheistic creed we decree that god created all creatures perfectly and subjected them to humanity so that we can rise through worship and our intellect, towards the glory of humanity and since humanity is the topmost honoured reflection of gods image be. The book of wisdom druze the majority of the druze lack this comfort.

We are an independent religionhave nothing to do with islam,or any other religion,believe in one. The druze challenge of survival opinion the harvard crimson. The druze religion is associated with an ethnic group living in the near east. Druze have their own holy book which is the book of wisdom. The druze muwahhidun an introduction by hammud quteish. They hold the quran to be sacred, but look upon it as an outer shell, holding an inner, esoteric meaning. One of those minority groups has been in the headlines lately. Translation what i present here is a provisional translation of the first epistle from the druze holy book, the rasail alhikmah the epistles of wisdom which. Israeli druze make up roughly 2% of the countrys population and live mostly in the northern regions of the galilee, carmel and the golan.

Elhikma is the arabic term for wisdom and the druze scriptures include material from ancient hermeticism, ancient greek philosophy, hinduism, buddhism, ancient gnostic. They do not obey the commandment of the fast of the ramadan. The connection between hakim and the druzes is best substantiated through the religious writings of hamza, the second person associated with the druze faith, who was appointed as a religious leader by hakim. A religion so secretive that even most of its members are forbidden from learning about it. In its relation to man, wisdom is the perfection of knowledge of the righteous as a gift from god showing itself in action. Their holy book, known as the book of wisdom, is not easily accessible nor is it comprehensible to. 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.

Some are characterized as druze and others are known as muwahhidun. Syrias peasantry, the descendants of its lesser rural notables, and their politics. While these reforms did not become part of orthodox islam, the druzes, as well as other islamic sectarian movements, adopted them. The epistles of wisdom february 25, 2007 arabic the first volume. The epistles of wisdom is the foundational text of the druze faith alongside supplemental texts such as the epistles of india. This book is considered secret and only religious sages. The epistles of wisdom is the foundational text of the druze faith. The druze conception of the deity is declared by them to be one of strict and uncompromising unity. Copy of the edict that appeared in the mosques about the occultation of our lord, the iman alhakim. One of the faiths holy books is called the kitabu lhikma or book of wisdom, largely compiled by a mysterious figure called almuqtana. The tenets of the druze religion are a secret, even to many of its members. They denounce materialism, especially materialism relative to religion. This evidence refutes the claims of certain books, namely, that the druze are of. May 25, 2011 most of the young druze generation today suffers from an identity dilemma.

Origins of the druze people and religion forgotten books k. Although sometimes many druze consider themselves part of shia islam, in israel they are considered part of a different ethnic and religious group within the arabicspeaking minority. In 1009, near cairo, egypt, alhakim biamrih alla declared himself to be an earthly incarnation of god. There are approximately,000 druze people living in israel today and many more in surrounding countries, and each and every one of them is precious to god. The most authoritative druze religious text is the kitab alhikma book of wisdom, a collection of 111 letters, some of them written by alhakim and hamza. The factory has enabled the village to develop a large commercial and industrial zone. Druze theology of the forest interfaith center for. Thus, their places of worship are usually very modest, and their religious figures ajaweed lead very modest lifestyles. Generally dated to the mid first century bc, the central theme of the work is wisdom itself, appearing under two principal aspects. Lela casey is the assistant editor at the wisdom daily. I had found the druze to be the most hospitable, friendly but fierce fighters during the war. The epistles of wisdom or rasail alhikmah is a corpus of sacred texts and pastoral letters by teachers of the druze faith.

Another wellknown feature of the druze religion is a fervent belief in humanonly. Oct 24, 2018 the druze are a unique people who originated in egypt, but have since spread all over the world, with more concentrated numbers in lebanon, syria, israel, and jordan. Their devout faith and social customs outshone the other sects and revealed a people truly content with their faith, culture and postion in life. Epistles of wisdom wikisource, the free online library. The druze challenge of survival opinion the harvard. The wisdom of solomon or book of wisdom is a jewish work, written in greek, and most likely composed in alexandria, egypt. Druze survivors were found principally in southern lebanon and syria. Original translation of a druze epistle religious forums. Druze are not required to follow the muslim duties of prayer, fasting, or pilgrimage to mecca but may do so, especially if it is dangerous for them if they do not.

Makarms book was like a road map to the notion of druze spiritual development and faith. Their religious texts are known collectively as kitab al hikma the book of wisdom. Dated from qada 411 february 16 to march 18, 1021, this piece was written a few days after the disappearance of alhakim, 27 sawwal 411 february 1021. To the initiated druze, the third and last stage of islam is the most crucial namely, alhaqiqa, selfrealization, unity with the one as is humanly possible. This book also provides valuable demographic data on the druze in the region. 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. They are said to have descended from jethro, the priest of midian who was moses fatherinlaw exodus 18. In fact, the druze are very important people in israel, and wed like to show you why. The druze are a unique people who originated in egypt, but have since spread all over the world, with more concentrated numbers in lebanon, syria, israel, and jordan. Home to about 11,000 druze, yirka has a number of important sites, the most significant of which is the tomb of sheikh abu saraya ghanem, an important druze religious scholar of the early eleventh century. Druze epistles of wisdom pdf english the epistles of wisdom or rasail alhikma arabic. The druze holy book, known as the epistles of wisdom ras a. One of the druzes holy books is called the hikma book or the book of wisdom, largely compiled by a mysterious figure called almuqtana. This article explores the cultural dynamics of bond and separateness created around the book of wisdom kitab.

I am a druze and here is what i have been taught about my religion. Prayer is usually conducted discreetly and among family and friends. A history of the druzes begins with an introduction to the early history of the druzes, focusing on the religious, political, and social features that fostered the druze community as a religious minority with its own particular characteristics, facilitating an understanding of the druzes today. The main druze doctrine states that god is both transcendent and immanent, in which he is above. The druze holy book is called the hikme book or the book of wisdom. Dec, 2016 a religious figure is admired for his wisdom and lifestyle. Monotheism is the religious title of the druze community in lebanon and its surrounding areas. The tawhid religion has derived a good deal of its wisdom and philosophy from greek culture, sufism and indian wisdom. Few people know about the druze, a mysterious, 1,000 year old religion in lebanon. Druze follow the teachings of alhakim biamrih alla.

The banu maruf of the levant druze identity and religion. Although the druze religious books describe addarazi as the insolent one and as the calf who is narrowminded and hasty, the name druze is still used for identification and for historical reasons. Do the druze use any other texts along with the epistles of. Most of the young druze generation today suffers from an identity dilemma. The druze claim that an understanding of these is necessary, but that their al. A religious figure is admired for his wisdom and lifestyle. As a result, the faith went underground in hope of survival, as those captured were either forced to renounce their faith or be killed.

For the druze scriptures of the same name, see epistles of wisdom. The full druze canon or druze scripture includes the old testament, the new testament, the quran and philosophical works by plato and those influenced by socrates among works from other religions and philosophers. The epistles of wisdom are also referred to as the kitab alhikma book of wisdom and alhikma alsharifa. Origins of the druze people and religion forgotten books. May 27, 2015 the epistles of wisdom is the foundational text of the druze faith alongside supplemental texts such as the epistles of india. Another wellknown feature of the druze religion is a fervent belief in humanonly reincarnation for all the members of the community. Who are the druze and how might the shroud of turin relate. In 1018, addarazi was assassinated for his teachings. It is a collection of books, of which the first six are most commonly used.

Their monotheistic faith is often described as an offshoot of shia islam, but does not require ritual prayer or mosque attendance. Nov 07, 2007 origins of the druze people and religion forgotten books k. The druzes holy book is called the hikme book or the book of wisdom. The largest massacre was at antioch, where 5,000 druze religious leaders were killed, followed by that of aleppo. Translation what i present here is a provisional translation of the first epistle from the druze holy book, the rasail alhikmah the epistles of wisdom which i began yesterday and completed earlier today. The druze believe that rituals are symbolic and have an individualistic effect on the person, for which reason druze are free to perform them, or not. The druze faith is one of the major religious groups in the. The tawhid religion has derived a good deal of its wisdom and philosophy.