Druze in United States

Introduction / History

Druze refer to themselves as 'Mowahhidoon' (plural) or 'Mowahhid' (singular), which means "monotheistic". They are commonly referred to as "Druze", a name derived from el-Drzi, the name of one of the known propagandists of the Druze religion at its beginning. There are sources suggesting that the Druze were a people of their own even before conversion to the faith of al-Hakim, a Muslim caliph. Unsubstantiated theories say the Druze are descendants of Persian colonists, while another theory says they are of Christian descent, from the time of the crusades. The latter is not very likely, because the first crusade came about 80 years after al-Hakim's disappearance. Druze do not seek their own country, but they are loyal to the country which governs their land. They can be found in Israel, Lebanon, and Syria, and are said to be the best warriors because they are not afraid to die. There is a small number of them in the United States.

Where Are they Located?

There are not many Druze adherents in the US; most live in Lebanon and Israel. Though there are some in Los Angeles, most are scattered all over the country in Detroit, Washington DC, and Dallas-Ft. Worth.

What Are Their Lives Like?

They are facing the challenge of their youth being assimilated into American culture. Many are leaving the faith for the practical reason that they can't find a suitable spouse given the small number of choices.

What Are Their Beliefs?

The religion of the Druze began in the 9th century AD, as a sect of Islam. Darazi, a preacher, and Hamza ibn Ali ibn Ahmad, a Persian mystic, were instrumental in popularizing the religion. They announced that God had manifested himself in human form as al-Hakim Bi-amr Allah (985 or 996-1021 AD), a Muslim caliph from Cairo, Egypt. They now believe that Darazi began to distort the message; his writings are now considered blasphemous.

Druze hold the Qur 'an to be sacred, but look upon it as an outer shell, holding an "inner, esoteric meaning". Their religious texts are known collectively as Kitab Al Hikma, the book of wisdom. This is a collection of books, of which the first six are most commonly used.

They are firmly monotheistic, believing in a single God. They recognize seven major prophets, including Adam, Abraham, and Jesus (whom they believe only to be the son of Joseph). Each major prophet had seven minor prophets; each of the latter had 12 disciples.

Druze believe in the transmigration of the soul. That is, at death, one's soul is instantaneously reincarnated (in time and space), and it is reborn into another life. Their concept of heaven and hell is spiritual in nature. It is believed that heaven is the ultimate happiness that the soul encounters when it unites and meets its creator. Hell is the bitter feeling of being deprived endlessly of the glorious presence of the Almighty.

What Are Their Needs?

Spiritually the Druze need to meet their maker in a personal way, opposed to an esoteric mental exercise offered in their religion.

Prayer Points

Pray for Druze adherents to seek and find a relationship with their creator through Jesus Christ.
Pray that believers in the US will actively try to win the Druze to the one whom they regard as no more than a prophet.
Pray that the Druze will be given plenty of opportunities to respond to Jesus.
Pray for a disciple making movement among the Druze in the US that will spread to Lebanon and Israel.

Text Source:   Keith Carey