Druze facts for kids
Druze star
|
|
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| ≈800,000–2,000,000 | |
| Founder | |
| Hamza and Al Hakim | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 Syria |
600,000 |
 Lebanon |
200,000 |
 Israel |
150,000 |
 Jordan |
20,000 |
 Venezuela |
60,000 |
 United States |
50,000 |
 Canada |
25,000 |
 Australia |
20,000 |
 Germany |
14,000 |
| Religions | |
| Unitarian Druze | |
| Scriptures | |
| Epistles of Wisdom (Rasa'il al-hikma) | |
| Languages | |
The Druze are an Arabic-speaking people of the Middle East.
There are more than 500,000 Druze. Most of them live in Syria and Lebanon. Some have emigrated to the United States and Canada.
The Druze practice a religion related to Islam and Christianity but more based on philosophy. Al-Hakim, a ruler of Egypt during the 11th century sponsored the religion which was created by Hamza bin Ali. The name Druze probably comes from Darazi, a preacher who was expelled from the Druze movement, because he preached that Al-Hakim was literally God.
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 Arabic-speaking minority.
The Druze in Lebanon had a major political influence and were the rulers of Lebanon before the 1860s. After the 1860s, they shared the ruling of Mount Lebanon with the Maronites and were later considered the 4th major religious sect after independence. They played a key role in fighting against the Lebanese Christian right during the early 1980s. The Druze ended their fighting against the Lebanese Christian right in late 1990. In 1990 and 1991, they gained representation in Lebanon's government in accordance with a 1989 peace agreement.
Images for kids
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Sixth Fatimid caliph, al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah
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Druze woman wearing a tantour during the 1870s in Chouf, Ottoman Lebanon
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Meeting of Druze and Ottoman leaders in Damascus, about the control of Jebel Druze
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Druze warriors preparing to go to battle with Sultan Pasha al-Atrash in 1925
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Druze celebrating their independence in 1925.
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Druze leaders meeting in Jebel al-Druze, Syria, 1926
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Prophet Job shrine in Niha village in the Chouf region.
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Israeli Druze Scouts march to Jethro's tomb. Today, thousands of Israeli Druze belong to such "Druze Zionist" movements.
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Druze dignitaries celebrating the Nabi Shu'ayb festival at the tomb of the prophet in Hittin, Israel.
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Druze clerics in Khalwat al-Bayada.
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The Druze Maqam al-nabi Yahya (John the Baptist) in As-Suwayda Governorate.
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Jethro shrine and temple of Druze in Hittin, northern Israel
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Druze Prayer house in Daliat al-Karmel, Israel
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Druze sheikh (ʻuqqāl) wearing religious dress
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Israeli Druze family visiting Gamla; wearing religious dress.
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Druze women making Druze pita in Isfiya, Israel.
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Shuaib (Jethro) grave near Hittin, Israel: Both religions venerate Shuaib.
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Christian Church and Druze Khalwa in Shuf: Historically; the Druzes and the Christians in the Shuf Mountains lived in complete harmony.
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Left to right: Christian mountain dweller from Zahlé, Christian mountain dweller of Zgharta, and a Lebanese Druze man in traditional attire (1873).
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The Druze Maqam Al-Masih (Jesus) in As-Suwayda Governorate: Both religions revere Jesus.
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Maqam Al-Khidr in Kafr Yasif.
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Oliphant house in Daliyat al-Karmel.
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See also
In Spanish: Drusos para niños
