Druze in Jordan

Jordanian Druze people
Total population
32,000[1]
Languages
Vernacular:
Jordanian Arabic
Religion
Druze

Druze in Jordan refers to adherents of the Druze faith, an ethnoreligious[2] esoteric group originating from the Near East who self identify as unitarians (Muwahhideen).[3]

The Jordanian Druze people are believed to constitute about 0.5% of the total population of Jordan, which is around 32,000.[4] The Druze, who refer to themselves as al-Muwahhideen, or "believers in one God," are concentrated in the rural, mountainous areas west and north of Amman.

History

The Druze faith is a monotheistic Abrahamic religion that does not follow the Five Pillars of Islam, "fasting during the month of Ramadan and making a pilgrimage to Mecca. Thus, they are not regarded by Muslims as Islamic".[5][6] The Druze beliefs incorporate elements of Ismailism, Gnosticism, Neoplatonism and other philosophies. The Druze call themselves Ahl al-Tawhid "People of Unitarianism or Monotheism" or al-Muwaḥḥidūn."

The Druze follow a life style of isolation where no conversion is allowed, neither out of, or into, the religion. When Druze live among people of other religions, they try to blend in, in order to protect their religion and their own safety. They can pray as Muslims, or as Christians, depending on where they are. This system is apparently changing in modern times, where more security has allowed Druze to be more open about their religious belonging."[7]

The Tanukhids inaugurated the Druze community in Jordan when most of them accepted and adopted the new message that was being preached in the 11th century, due to their leaderships close ties with then Fatimid ruler Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah.[8]

Demographics

The Druze, who refer to themselves as al-Muwahhideen, or "believers in one God," are concentrated in the rural, mountainous areas north and west of Amman. The Jordanian Druze are estimated to constitute 0.5% of Jordan's population of approximately 6.5 million, which means they amount to 32,000.[9]

See also

References

  1. ↑ International Religious Freedom Report, US State Department, 2005
  2. ↑ Chatty, Dawn. Displacement and Dispossession in the Modern Middle East. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0521817927.
  3. ↑ Doniger, Wendy. Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of World Religions. Merriam-Webster, Inc. ISBN 0877790442.
  4. ↑ International Religious Freedom Report, US State Department, 2005
  5. ↑ "Druze". druze.org.au. 2015.
  6. ↑ James Lewis (2002). The Encyclopedia of Cults, Sects, and New Religions. Prometheus Books. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  7. ↑ "Druze". druze.org.au. 2015.
  8. ↑ William Harris (19 Jul 2012). Lebanon: A History, 600-2011 (illustrated ed.). Oxford University Press. p. 46. ISBN 9780195181111.
  9. ↑ International Religious Freedom Report, US State Department, 2005
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