Editing Druze (section)

=== Relationship with Muslims ===
The Druze faith is often classified as a branch of [[Isma'ilism]]; although according to various scholars Druze faith "diverge substantially from Islam, both [[Sunni]] and [[Shia]]".<ref>{{cite book |title=The Princeton Encyclopedia of Islamic Political Thought |last1=Zaman |first1=Muhammad Qasim |last2=Stewart |first2=Devin J. |last3=Mirza |first3=Mahan |last4=Kadi |first4=Wadad |last5=Crone |first5=Patricia |last6=Gerhard |first6=Bowering |last7=Hefner |first7=Robert W. |last8=Fahmy |first8=Khaled |last9=Kuran |first9=Timur |year=2013 |isbn=9780691134840 |pages=139–140 |publisher=[[Princeton University Press]] |quote=Druze who survive as a small minority in Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and Jordan (their estimated number in these countries totaled around one million in the beginning of the 21st century) diverge substantially from Islam, both Sunni and Shīʿa.}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=The Origins of the Druze Religion: An Edition of Ḥamza's Writings and an Analysis of His Doctrine |first=David R. W. |last=Bryer |year=1979 |isbn=9780030525964 |page=239 |publisher=[[University of Oxford Press]] |quote=}}</ref> Even though the faith originally developed out of [[Ismaili Islam]], most Druze do not identify as [[Muslims]],<ref name="Arab America">{{cite web |title=Are the Druze People Arabs or Muslims? Deciphering Who They Are |url=https://www.arabamerica.com/are-the-druze-people-arabs-or-muslims-deciphering-who-they-are/ |website=Arab America |access-date=13 April 2020 |language=en |date=8 August 2018}}</ref><ref name="J. Stewart 2008 33"/><ref>{{cite book |title=The Oxford Handbook of American Islam |first=Yvonne |last=Yazbeck Haddad |year=2014 |isbn=9780199862634 |page=142 |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |quote=While they appear parallel to those of normative Islam, in the Druze religion they are different in meaning and interpretation. The religion is considered distinct from the Ismaili as well as from other Muslims belief and practice... Most Druze consider themselves fully assimilated in American society and do not necessarily identify as Muslims..}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Good Arabs: The Israeli Security Agencies and the Israeli Arabs, 1948–1967 |first=Hillel |last=Cohen |year=2010 |isbn=9780520944886 |page=170 |publisher=[[University of California Press]] |quote=the Druze connection to the Muslims remained a matter of controversy.}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Reorienting the East: Jewish Travelers to the Medieval Muslim World |first=Martin |last=Jacobs |year=2014 |isbn=9780812290011 |page=193 |publisher=[[University of Pennsylvania Press]] |quote=Though their religion is related to that of the Ismailis from a historical standpoint, the Druze—who see themselves as true "unitarians" (muwah.h.idūn)—are usually not considered Muslims.}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Courting Conflict: The Israeli Military Court System in the West Bank and Gaza |first=Lisa |last=Hajjar |year=2005 |isbn=9780520241947 |page=279 |publisher=[[University of California Press]] |quote=[Druze] although today it is widely considered to be a separate religion, some still consider it an Islamic sect}}</ref> and they do not accept the [[Five Pillars of Islam|five pillars of Islam]].<ref name="De McLaurin 1979 114">{{cite book |last=De McLaurin |first=Ronald |title=The Political Role of Minority Groups in the Middle East |publisher=[[University of Michigan Press]] |year=1979 |isbn=9780030525964 |page=114 |quote=Theologically, one would have to conclude that the Druze are not Muslims. They do not accept the five pillars of Islam. In place of these principles the Druze have instituted the seven precepts noted above.}}</ref> Historian David R. W. Bryer defines the Druzes as ''[[ghulat]]'' of Isma'ilism, since they exaggerated the cult of the caliph [[al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah]] and considered him divine; he also defines the Druzes as a religion that deviated from Islam.<ref name="Bryer 1975 52–65"/> He also added that as a result of this deviation, the Druze faith "seems as different from Islam as Islam is from Christianity or Christianity is from Judaism".<ref name="Bryer 1975 239–262">{{cite journal |last=Bryer |first=David R. W. |title=The Origins of the Druze Religion (Fortsetzung) |journal=[[Der Islam]] |year=1975 |volume=52 |issue=2 |pages=239–262 |doi=10.1515/islm.1975.52.2.239 |s2cid=162363556 |url=https://doi.org/10.1515/islm.1975.52.2.239 |issn=1613-0928 |ref={{harvid|Bryer|1975b}} }}</ref>

Historically the relationship between the Druze and Muslims has been characterized by intense persecution.{{sfn|Artzi|1984|p=166|ps=: "...Europeans who visited the area during this period related that the Druze "love the Christians more than the other believers," and that they "hate the Turks, the Muslims and the Arabs [Bedouin] with an intense hatred."}}<ref name="Swayd 2015 132"/><ref name="K. Zartman 2020 199"/><ref name="Layiš 1982 1"/> The Druze have frequently experienced persecution by different Muslim regimes such as the [[Shia]] [[Fatimid Caliphate]],<ref name=about /><ref name="auto18"/> [[Mamluk]],{{sfn|Hitti|1924}} [[Sunni]] [[Ottoman Empire]],{{sfn|Tucker|2019|pp=364–366}}<ref name="VI22-23" /> and [[Egypt Eyalet]].{{sfn|Fawaz|1994|p=63}}<ref name=goren>Goren, Haim. ''Dead Sea Level: Science, Exploration and Imperial Interests in the Near East.'' pp. 95–96.</ref> The persecution of the Druze included [[massacre]]s, demolishing Druze prayer houses and holy places, and [[forced conversion]] to Islam.{{sfn|Tucker|2019|p=364}} Those acts of persecution were meant to eradicate the whole community according to the Druze narrative.{{sfn|Zabad|2017|p=}}{{page needed|date=October 2024}} Most recently, the [[Syrian Civil War]], which began in 2011, saw persecution of the Druze at the hands of [[Islamic extremism|Islamic extremists]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-33092902 |title=Syria conflict: Al-Nusra fighters kill Druze villagers |work=[[BBC News]] |date=11 June 2015 |access-date=27 July 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/world/2015/06/11/nusra-front-kills-syrian-villagers-from-minority-druze-sect.html |title=Nusra Front kills Syrian villagers from minority Druze sect |date=11 June 2015 |work=thestar.com |access-date=27 July 2015}}</ref>

Since Druze emerged from Islam and share certain beliefs with Islam, its position of whether it is a separate religion or a sect of Islam is sometimes controversial among Muslim scholars.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Druzes in the Jewish State: A Brief History|first=Kais M. 
|last=Firro|year= 2021| isbn= 9789004491915| page =94|publisher=Brill}}</ref> Druze are not considered Muslims by those belonging to orthodox Islamic schools of thought.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Politics of Islamic Revivalism: Diversity and Unity: Center for Strategic and International Studies (Washington, D.C.), Georgetown University. Center for Strategic and International Studies |first=Shireen |last=Hunter |year=2010 |isbn=9780253345493 |page=33 |publisher=[[University of Michigan Press]] |quote=Druze – An offshoot of Shi'ism; its members are not considered Muslims by orthodox Muslims.}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Piety, Politics, and Power: Lutherans Encountering Islam in the Middle East |first=David D. |last=Grafton |year=2009 |isbn=9781630877187 |page=14 |publisher=[[Wipf and Stock Publishers]] |quote=In addition, there are several quasi-Muslim sects, in that, although they follow many of the beliefs and practices of orthodox Islam, the majority of Sunnis consider them heretical. These would be the Ahmadiyya, Druze, Ibadi, and the Yazidis.}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Indigenous Peoples: An Encyclopedia of Culture, History, and Threats to Survival [4 volumes] |first=Victoria R. |last=Williams |year=2020 |isbn=9781440861185 |page=318 |publisher=[[ABC-CLIO]] |quote=As Druze is a nonritualistic religion without requirements to pray, fast, make pilgrimages, or observe days of rest, the Druze are not considered an Islamic people by Sunni Muslims.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://hal-amu.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01789462/document |title='Allah has spoken to us: we must keep silent.' In the folds of secrecy, the Holy Book of the Druze |date=30 January 2017 |publisher=[[Aix-Marseille University]] |quote=Orientalist literature frequently affiliates the Druze religion with the Muslim faith, although it seems as different from Islam as Islam is from Christianity or Christianity is from Judaism (Bryer 1975b, 239). The Muslim consider Druze doctrine to be heresy specifically because it extols the transmigration of the soul (taqammoṣ əl-arwaḥ) and the repeal of religion.}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Islamic Marketing: Understanding the Socio-Economic, Cultural, and Politico-Legal Environment |first=Čedomir |last=Nestorović |year=2016 |isbn=9783319327549 |page =66 |publisher=Springer |quote=As far as the Druze are concerned, many Muslims regard them suspiciously, arguing that they are not in fact Muslims, but rather a religion in their own.}}</ref> [[Ibn Taymiyya]], a prominent Muslim [[scholar]] [[muhaddith]], dismissed the Druze as non-Muslims,<ref>{{cite book|title= Religious Minorities in the Middle East: Domination, Self-Empowerment, Accommodation|first=Anne Sofie|last= Roald|year= 2011| isbn= 9789004207424| page =255|publisher=Brill|quote= Therefore, many of these scholars follow Ibn Taymiyya'sfatwa from the beginning of the fourteenth century that declared the Druzes and the Alawis as heretics outside Islam ...}}</ref> and his [[fatwa]] cited that Druze: "Are not at the level of ′Ahl al-Kitāb ([[People of the Book]]) nor [[Shirk (Islam)|mushrikin]] ([[polytheist]]s). Rather, they are from the most deviant kuffār ([[Infidel]]) ... Their women can be taken as slaves and their property can be seized ... they are to be killed whenever they are found and cursed as they described ... It is obligatory to kill their scholars and religious figures so that they do not misguide others",{{sfn|Zabad|2017|p=126}} which in that setting would have legitimized violence against them as [[Apostasy in Islam|apostates]].<ref>{{cite book |title=Journey to the End of Islam |first=Michael |last=Knight |year=2009 |isbn=9781593765521 |page=129 |publisher=Soft Skull Press}}</ref>{{sfn|Swayd|2009|p=37|ps=: "Subsequently, Muslim opponents of the Druzes have often relied on Ibn Taymiyya's religious ruling to justify their attitudes and actions against Druzes..."}} The [[Ottoman Empire]] often relied on Ibn Taymiyya's religious ruling to justify their persecution of Druze.{{sfn|Swayd|2009|p=25}} In contrast, according to [[Ibn Abidin]], whose work ''[[Radd al-Muhtar 'ala al-Durr al-Mukhtar]]'' is still considered the authoritative text of [[Hanafi]] fiqh today,<ref name="anNabala">an-Nubala (2011)</ref> the Druze are neither Muslims nor apostates.<ref>{{cite book |title=Islam, Modernity, Violence, and Everyday Life |first=A. |last=Ahmad |year=2009 |isbn=9780230619562 |page=164 |publisher=Springer}}</ref>

In 1959, in an ecumenical move driven by [[President of Egypt|Egyptian president]] [[Gamal Abdel Nasser]]'s effort to broaden his political appeal after the establishment of the [[United Arab Republic]] between [[Egypt]] and [[Syria]] in 1958,<ref>{{cite book |last=Aburish |first=Saïd K. |title=Nasser: the last Arab |date=2004 |publisher=Duckworth |isbn=9780715633007 |pages=200–201 |edition=illustrated |quote=But perhaps the most far reaching change [initiated by Nasser's guidance] was the fatwa commanding the readmission to mainstream Islam of the Shia, Alawis, and Druze. They had been considered heretics and idolaters for hundreds of years, but Nasser put an end to this for once and for all. While endearing himself to the majority Shia of Iraq and undermining Kassem [the communist ruler of Iraq at the time] might have played a part in that decision, there is no doubting the liberalism of the man in this regard.}}</ref> the Islamic scholar [[Mahmud Shaltut]] at [[Al Azhar University]] in [[Cairo]] classified the Druze as Muslims,<ref>{{cite book |first=Rainer |last=Brünner |title=Islamic Ecumenism In The 20th Century: The Azhar And Shiism Between Rapprochement And Restraint |url=https://archive.org/details/islamicecumenism00brun |url-access=limited |date=2004 |publisher=[[Brill Publishers|Brill]] |isbn=9789004125483 |page=[https://archive.org/details/islamicecumenism00brun/page/n371 360] |edition=revised}}</ref> even though most Druze no longer consider themselves Muslim.<ref>{{cite book |title=America & Islam: Soundbites, Suicide Bombs and the Road to Donald Trump |first=Lawrence |last=Pintak |year=2019 |isbn=9781788315593 |page=86 |publisher=[[Bloomsbury Publishing]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=The Templar Spirit: The Esoteric Inspiration, Rituals and Beliefs of the Knights Templar |first=Margaret |last=Jonas |year=2011 |isbn=9781906999254 |page=83 |publisher=Temple Lodge Publishing |quote=[Druze] often they are not regarded as being Muslim at all, nor do all the Druze consider themselves as Muslim}}</ref> The ''fatwa'' declares that the Druze are Muslims because they recite the twofold ''[[Shahada]]'', and believe in the [[Qur'an]] and [[monotheism]] and do not oppose Islam in word or deed.<ref>Asian and African Studies: Vol. 19, No. 3. p. 271</ref> This ''fatwa'' was not accepted by all in the Islamic world, many dissenting scholars have argued the Druze recite the ''Shahada'' as a form of ''[[taqiya]]''; a precautionary dissimulation or denial of religious belief and practice in the face of persecution. Some sects of Islam, including all Shia denominations, don't recognize the religious authority of [[Al Azhar University]], those that do sometimes challenge the religious legitimacy of Shaltut's fatwa because it was issued for political reasons, as Gamal Abdel Nasser saw it as a tool to spread his appeal and influence across the entire [[Arab world]].<ref>Asian and African Studies: Vol. 19, No. 3. p. 277</ref><ref name="Keddie 2002 306"/>

In 2012, due to a drift towards [[Salafism]] in Al-Azhar, and the ascension of the [[Muslim Brotherhood]] into Egyptian political leadership, the dean of the Faculty of Islamic Studies at Al-Azhar issued a fatwa strongly opposed to the [[Al-Azhar Shia Fatwa|1959 fatwa]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Al-Araby |first=Mohamed |title=Identity politics, Egypt and the Shia |url=http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/News/2376/21/Identity-politics,-Egypt-and-the-Shia.aspx |work=Al-Ahram Weekly |access-date=20 April 2014 |date=25 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140421092900/http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/News/2376/21/Identity-politics,-Egypt-and-the-Shia.aspx |archive-date=21 April 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> 
[[File:PikiWiki Israel 48146 Jethros grave.JPG|thumb|[[Shuaib]] ([[Jethro (biblical figure)|Jethro]]) grave near [[Hittin]], [[Israel]]: Both religions venerate [[Shuaib]].]]
Both religions venerate [[Shuaib]] and [[Muhammad]]: Shuaib ([[Jethro (biblical figure)|Jethro]]) is revered as the chief prophet in the Druze religion,<ref>{{cite book|author1=Sandra Mackey|title=Mirror of the Arab World: Lebanon in Conflict|date= 2009|publisher=W. W. Norton & Company|isbn=9780393333749|page=28|edition=illustrated, reprint}}</ref> and in Islam he is considered a [[Prophets and messengers in Islam|prophet of God]]. Muslims regard Muhammad as the final and paramount prophet sent by God,<ref name="espos12">Esposito (1998), p. 12.</ref>{{full citation needed|date=October 2024}}<ref>{{cite book |last=Clark |first=Malcolm |title=Islam for Dummies |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zPXu561ZpvgC&pg=PT100 |year=2003 |publisher=Wiley Publishing Inc. |location=Indiana |isbn=978-1-118-05396-6 |page=100 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924043530/https://books.google.com/books?id=zPXu561ZpvgC&pg=PT100#v=onepage&q&f=true |archive-date=24 September 2015}}</ref> to the Druze, Muhammad is exalted as one of the seven prophets sent by God in different periods of history.<ref name="Hitti 1928 37"/>{{sfn|Dānā|2008|p=17}}<ref name="Quilliam"/>

In terms of religious comparison, [[Islamic schools and branches]] do not believe in [[reincarnation]],{{Sfn|Nisan|2002|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=keD9z1XWuNwC&pg=PA98 95]}} a paramount tenet of the Druze faith.<ref name="Seabrook, W. B. 1928"/> Islam teaches ''[[dawah]]'', whereas the Druze do not accept converts to their faith. Marriage outside the Druze faith is rare and is strongly discouraged. Islamic schools and branches allow for divorce and permit men [[Polygyny in Islam|to be married to multiple women]], contrary to the views of the Druze in [[monogamy|monogamous]] [[marriage]] and not allowing [[divorce]]. Differences between Islamic schools and branches and Druze include their belief in the [[theophany]],{{Sfn|Nisan|2002|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=keD9z1XWuNwC&pg=PA98 95]}} [[Hamza ibn Ali ibn Ahmad]] is considered the founder of the Druze and the primary author of the Druze manuscripts;<ref name="The World's Greatest Religious Lead"/> he proclaimed that God had become human and taken the form of man, [[Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah]].<ref name="Aga">{{cite book |title=The Aga Khans |first=Willi |last=Frischauer |year=1970| publisher=Bodley Head |page=}}{{page needed|date=October 2024}}</ref><ref name="Poonawala 1999 542"/><ref name="ReferenceC"/> Within Islam, however, such a concept of theophany is a denial of monotheism.

The Druze faith incorporates some elements of Islam,<ref name="Quilliam"/><ref name="auto8"/> and other religious beliefs. Druze Sacred texts include the Qur'an and the [[Epistles of Wisdom]] (''rasail al-hikma'' {{lang|ar|رسائل الحكمة}})<ref name="Religion"/> The Druze community does celebrate [[Eid al-Adha]] as their most significant holiday; though their form of observance is different compared to that of most Muslims.<ref name="auto17"/> The Druze faith does not follow [[Sharia]] nor any of the Five Pillars of Islam save reciting the ''Shahada''.<ref name="Incorporated-1996">{{cite book |author-link=James R. Lewis (scholar) |first=James |last=Lewis |title=The Encyclopedia of Cults, Sects, and New Religions |url=https://books.google.com/books?isbn=1615927387 |access-date=13 May 2015 |year=2002 |publisher=[[Prometheus Books]]}}</ref> Scholars argue that Druze recite the ''Shahada'' in order to protect their religion and their own safety, and to avoid [[persecution by Muslims]].<ref name="Incorporated-1996"/>