Druze, The : Culture, History, Prospects

The Druze, a much-misunderstood Muslim sect primarily inhabiting the Levant, have endured centuries of persecution by orthodox elements hostile to Islam's rich sectarian diversity on account of their esoteric divergence from mainstream Islam. As a result, they have become a 'fighting minority', as described by one of their most illustrious leaders. Druze religious belief branched out from tenth- and eleventh-century Shi'ism, and includes elements derived from Islamic mysticism. It enshrines all religious schools, but posits istelf as the sole path to mystical knowledge. Druze teachings are kept secret, so libel and slander by their opponents have been generally left uncorrected. The Druze have preferred taqiyya (dissimulation) when independence or freedom of belief proved unattainable, which has exacerbated ignorance of their faith. Such mystification makes any enquiry into Druze doctrine or history a delicate endeavour. In this valuable study, however, Abbas Halabi (himself from a prominent Druze family and closely involved in Lebanese Druze policy) elucidates misconceptions about Druze origins. Halabi elaborates on the political role played by the Druze in the history of the region, and evaluates their chances of survival in an era when religious tolerance and political democracy are still nascent.