The Druze sect is one of the Arab communities of the Levant that dates back nearly a thousand years. They refer to themselves as “al-Muwahhidun al-Duruz” (The Druze Unitarians), claiming to believe in the oneness of God, and are also known as “Banu Ma‘ruf” — a name associated with an Arab tribe that initially adopted the Druze faith. The Druze are distinguished by their strong internal cohesion and by their unique five-colored flag.
This article explores who the Druze are, who founded their sect, the meaning behind their symbolic flag, and the significance of their presence.
Who Are the Druze?
The Druze are a religious sect that presents itself as part of Islam outwardly, but adheres to a set of beliefs and mystical interpretations that diverge significantly from core Islamic doctrine. The group traces its founding to the Mount Hermon (Jabal al-Shaykh) region — at the intersection of modern-day Syria, Lebanon, and Palestine — during the Middle Ages.
According to Al Jazeera, some historical studies suggest that the Druze sect was founded during the reign of the Fatimid caliph Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah, by Anushtakin ad-Darazi (whose name means “the tailor”). Other studies identify the true founder as Hamza ibn Ali ibn Ahmad al-Zuzani, with ad-Darazi having migrated to the Levant and gained wider recognition. However, Druze sources reject the association with ad-Darazi, claiming it does not exist in their historical or sacred texts.
The Druze claim belief in the oneness of God and reject anthropomorphic depictions of the Divine. They hold that spiritual guides (imams or da‘i figures) can direct the faithful toward metaphysical truth and moral conduct.
Doctrinal Beliefs of the Druze
While some scholars view the Druze as a breakaway from the Ismaili sect during the Fatimid era (10th century CE), others see it as an entirely distinct religious identity. What is clear is that their creed remains highly secretive, with full teachings only revealed to members who have reached the age of forty.
Central to Druze initiation is the “Covenant of the Guardian of Time”, an eternal oath through which a member formally joins the faith. It begins:
“I place my trust in our Lord al-Hakim, the One, the Absolute, the Self-Sufficient, free from partners and numbers… I bear witness, of my own will and full mental and physical capacity, that I renounce all doctrines, creeds, and religions — all of them — and that I know nothing but obedience to our Lord al-Hakim, exalted be His name.”
Druze society is divided into two main categories:
- Spiritual (Ruḥaniyyūn): Custodians of the sect’s secrets, further subdivided into:
- Rulers (Ru’asa’)
- Wise Elders (‘Uqala’)
- Pious Devotees (Ajawid)
- Material (Jismiyyūn): Those immersed in worldly affairs with no access to spiritual knowledge.
The Druze spiritual leader is known as the Shaykh al-‘Aql (Chief Spiritual Authority).
Religious Practices and Beliefs
Worship and Sacred Spaces
The Druze places of worship are called Khalwāt, where texts are read aloud to attendees. Material-class members are generally not allowed to hear or participate in sacred readings, except during their version of Eid al-Adha, which differs significantly in ritual from the Muslim observance.
Druze theology emphasizes:
- The absolute oneness and transcendence of God
- The inability of human intellect to comprehend God’s attributes
Their central scripture is “Epistles of Wisdom” (Rasā’il al-Ḥikmah) — a collection of 111 letters compiled into 6 volumes, authored between 408 and 434 AH by the sect’s spiritual founders. These were gathered by Amir Jamal al-Din ‘Abdullah al-Tanukhi, a revered Druze scholar.
According to oral tradition, the original compilation included 24 books, but 18 have been lost or deliberately hidden, leaving only six in circulation.
The “Epistles of Wisdom” form the theological backbone of the Druze creed, including mystical doctrines only disclosed to elder members. The texts reflect the influence of:
- Hamza ibn Ali ibn Ahmad
- Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah
- Ancient Greek philosophers such as Plato, Aristotle, Pythagoras, and Zeno the Stoic
Key authors of the Druze scriptures include:
- Hamza ibn Ali (titled al-‘Aql, Qā’im al-Zamān, Hadi al-Mustajibīn)
- Isma‘il ibn Muhammad al-Tamimi (titled al-Nafs, Saffwat al-Mustajibīn)
- Baha’ al-Din al-Samuqi (titled al-Tāli, al-Muqtani)
The texts present metaphysical interpretations of history, including the claim that the Divine manifested in ten human forms — the final of which was Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah.
A Druze Facebook page once published excerpts from these texts describing God appearing in human form and adopting various behaviours over seven-year intervals, such as wearing black, growing hair, isolating women, and riding a donkey — described as signs of Divine manifestation, intended to align with the people’s limited understanding.
Ethical Code of the Druze
The Druze adhere to seven key moral principles, considered the essence of their faith:
- Truthful speech
- Loyalty to fellow believers
- Rejection of falsehood and idolatry
- Disavowal of tyranny and demonic forces
- Upholding divine unity in every era
- Acceptance of divine will
- Submission to divine command, in secret and public
Reincarnation and Marriage Laws
One of the sect’s defining beliefs is reincarnation (tanasukh al-arwah): the soul, upon leaving the body, re-enters another at birth. This cycle is believed to determine reward or punishment in this life.
The Druze prohibit:
- Marriage outside their sect
- Polygamy
While men and women can both initiate divorce, the process is handled through internal religious courts which also manage issues of marriage and inheritance.
The Druze Flag and Its Symbolism
According to WAFA News Agency, the five-colored Druze flag was designed during the leadership of Sultan Pasha al-Atrash, a prominent figure in the Syrian resistance against French colonialism.
Flag colors and their meanings:
- Green: Nature and land
- Red: Courage and sacrifice
- Yellow: Enlightenment and knowledge
- Blue: Purity and modesty
- White: Brotherhood and peace
The Five-Pointed Star
The Druze star, coloured to match the flag, represents the five cosmic principles, also known as “al-Hudud al-Khamsah”:
| Color | Concept | Symbolic Person |
|---|---|---|
| Green | The Mind (al-‘Aql) | Hamza ibn Ali |
| Red | The Soul (al-Nafs) | Abu Ibrahim al-Tamimi |
| Yellow | The Word (al-Kalimah) | Abu ‘Abdullah al-Qurashi |
| Blue | The Precedent (al-Sabiq) | Abu Khayr al-Samari |
| White | The Successor (al-Tali) | Baha’ al-Din al-Samuqi |
While the Druze flag is a religious symbol, it is not seen as nationalistic or political. The sect does not seek to establish a state or independent entity, as its framework remains religious, not political.
