Editing Druze (section)

== Prayer houses and holy places ==
[[File:PikiWiki Israel 6935 In the holy place of jethro.jpg|thumb|Jethro shrine and temple of Druze in [[Hittin]], northern [[Israel]]]]
Holy places of the Druze are archaeological sites important to the community and associated with religious holidays;<ref name=dhp>{{cite web|title=Holy places of the Druze |url=http://www.al-amama.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=848|publisher=Aamama|issue=64}}</ref> the most notable example being [[Nabi Shu'ayb]], dedicated to [[Jethro (Bible)|Jethro]], who is a central figure of the Druze religion. Druze make pilgrimages to this site on the holiday of [[Ziyarat al-Nabi Shu'ayb]].<ref>{{cite book|author1=Kais Firro|title=The Druzes in the Jewish State: A Brief History|url=https://archive.org/details/druzesjewishstat00firr|url-access=limited|date=1999|publisher=Brill|isbn=9004112510|page=[https://archive.org/details/druzesjewishstat00firr/page/n107 95]}}</ref>

[[File:DrusischerTempel.jpg|thumb|Druze prayer house in [[Daliyat al-Karmel|Daliat al-Karmel]], [[Israel]]]]
One of the most important features of the Druze village having a central role in social life is the ''khilwa'' or ''{{Transliteration|ar|[[Khalwat al-Bayada|khalwat]]}}''—a house of prayer, retreat and religious unity. The ''{{Transliteration|ar|khalwat}}'' may be known as ''{{Transliteration|ar|[[majlis]]}}'' in local languages.<ref>{{cite web|title=Khalwah the prayer place of the Druze |url=http://www.druzesect.com/?p=184|publisher=Druze sect site|date=2010-08-29|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203003230/http://www.druzesect.com/?p=184 |archive-date=3 December 2013}}</ref>

The second type of religious shrine is one associated with the anniversary of a historic event or death of a prophet. If it is a [[mausoleum]] the Druze call it [[Mazar (mausoleum)|''mazār'']] and if it is a [[shrine]] they call it [[Maqam (shrine)|''maqām'']]. The holy places become more important to the community in times of adversity and calamity. The holy places and [[shrine]]s of the Druze are scattered in various villages, in places where they are protected and cared for. They are found in [[Syria]], [[Lebanon]] and [[Israel]].<ref name=dhp />