Druze in Syria

Syrian Druze people
Maqam Ain al-Zaman: The headquarters of the Druze community in Syria
Total population
700,000[1]
Languages
Vernacular:
Levantine (Syrian) Arabic
Religion
Druze faith

The Druze made up about 3.2 percent of the population of Syria in 2010.[2] [3] The Druze are concentrated in the rural, mountainous areas east and south of Damascus in the area known officially as Jabal al-Druze.[4]

Druze is a monotheistic and Abrahamic religion.[5][6][7][8][9][10][11] Syria has the largest Druze population in the world,[12] Many Syrian Druze have been living abroad for centuries, particularly in Venezuela.[13]

  1. ^ Irshaid, Faisal (19 June 2015). "Syria's Druze under threat as conflict spreads". BBC News. Archived from the original on 6 March 2019. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  2. ^ "Syria". Central Intelligence Agency. 2 May 2023. Archived from the original on 3 February 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2021 – via CIA.gov.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference TheEconomist was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ "The Druze and Assad: Strategic Bedfellows". The Washington Institute. Archived from the original on 25 September 2019. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
  5. ^ Pintak, Lawrence (2019). America & Islam: Soundbites, Suicide Bombs and the Road to Donald Trump. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 86. ISBN 9781788315593.
  6. ^ Jonas, Margaret (2011). The Templar Spirit: The Esoteric Inspiration, Rituals and Beliefs of the Knights Templar. Temple Lodge Publishing. p. 83. ISBN 9781906999254. [Druze] often they are not regarded as being Muslim at all, nor do all the Druze consider themselves as Muslim
  7. ^ "Are the Druze People Arabs or Muslims? Deciphering Who They Are". Arab America. 8 August 2018. Archived from the original on 20 October 2019. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  8. ^ J. Stewart, Dona (2008). The Middle East Today: Political, Geographical and Cultural Perspectives. Routledge. p. 33. ISBN 9781135980795. Most Druze do not consider themselves Muslim. Historically they faced much persecution and keep their religious beliefs secrets.
  9. ^ Yazbeck Haddad, Yvonne (2014). The Oxford Handbook of American Islam. Oxford University Press. p. 142. ISBN 9780199862634. 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..
  10. ^ "Are the Druze People Arabs or Muslims? Deciphering Who They Are". Arab America. 8 August 2018. Archived from the original on 20 October 2019. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  11. ^ De McLaurin, Ronald (1979). The Political Role of Minority Groups in the Middle East. Praeger Special Studies. Praeger. p. 114. ISBN 9780030525964. Archived from the original on 27 May 2024. Retrieved 18 July 2020. 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..
  12. ^ "Druze | History, Religion, & Facts". Encyclopedia Britannica. Archived from the original on 19 April 2019. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  13. ^ Khalifa, Mustafa (2013), "The impossible partition of Syria", Arab Reform Initiative: 6–7, archived from the original on 9 October 2016, retrieved 31 January 2023