Druze

Outside the Fold

الدروز

Overview

A syncretic esoteric religion that emerged from Ismaili Shia Islam in 1017 CE, founded by Hamza ibn Ali and the Fatimid Caliph al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah (who declared himself divine). Incorporates elements of Islam, Neo-Platonism, Gnosticism, and pre-Islamic traditions. The Druze do not accept converts, do not follow the Five Pillars in the conventional sense (most do not pray, fast Ramadan, or perform Hajj), and consider their holy books secret. Concentrated in Lebanon, Syria, and Israel.

Key Beliefs

Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah (Fatimid Caliph, d. 1021 CE) is the final manifestation of Allah
Reincarnation of souls (tanasukh) — denied by all Islamic scholarship
Secret esoteric texts accessible only to the initiated (uqqal)
The Five Pillars are allegorized — most Druze do not perform salah, Hajj, or fasting

Scholarly Evaluation

Outside the fold of Islam by scholarly consensus. Declared kafir by Ibn Taymiyyah (Majmu' al-Fatawa 35:161), al-Qurtubi, Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani, and all major Ahl us-Sunnah scholars. Their veneration of al-Hakim as divine, incorporation of reincarnationism, and abandonment of the Five Pillars constitute a departure from Islam that no minority scholarly opinion has ever defended. The Druze themselves do not claim to be Muslim in most contexts.

Key Figures

Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah (985–1021 CE — venerated as divine
Hamza ibn Ali (founder, d. 1021 CE)

Sources

Majmu' al-Fatawa 35:161 (Ibn Taymiyyah)
Al-Farq bayn al-Firaq (al-Baghdadi)
Al-Milal wal-Nihal (al-Shahrastani)

Founder

Hamza ibn Ali ibn Ahmad

Founded

408h (1017 CE)