Book of wisdom druze

Oct 24, 2018 the druze are a unique people who originated in egypt, but have since spread all over the world, with more concentrated numbers in lebanon, syria, israel, and jordan. The epistles of wisdom february 25, 2007 arabic the first volume. If you are a serious student of the middle east israel, syria and lebanon in particular this is a must read. The epistles of wisdom is the foundational text of the druze faith alongside supplemental texts such as the epistles of india. Aug 24, 2011 epistles of wisdomsacred books for druzes in the book the druze faith by sami nassib makarim shows parts of the epistles of wisdom protect yourselves from ignorance with the help of the knowledge of the unity of our lord hamza ibn ali. The druze challenge of survival opinion the harvard crimson. The book of wisdom, or the wisdom of solomon, is a jewish work written in greek and most likely composed in alexandria, egypt. Also called the druse, duruz, duroz, and the tawhid faith, there are about 750,000800,000 of them today, primarily in syria, lebanon, and israel.

Do the druze use any other texts along with the epistles of. As iman is a qualification that the druze reserve for the personality of hamza ibn ali his. Their religious texts are known collectively as kitab al hikma, the book of wisdom. Generally dated to the mid first century bc, the central theme of the work is wisdom itself, appearing under two principal. We are an independent religionhave nothing to do with islam,or any other religion,believe in one.

Druze simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Druze quotes epistles of wisdomsacred books for druzes in the book the druze faith by sami nassib makarim shows parts of the epistles of wisdom protect yourselves from ignorance with the help of the knowledge of the unity of our lord hamza ibn ali i enjoin you to safeguard your fellow men. Elhikma is the arabic term for wisdom and the druze scriptures include material from ancient hermeticism, ancient greek philosophy, hinduism, buddhism, ancient gnostic. May 27, 2015 the epistles of wisdom is the foundational text of the druze faith alongside supplemental texts such as the epistles of india. It abounds with instructions and exhortations to kings and all magistrates to minister justice in the commonwealth, teaching all. They hold the quran to be sacred, but look upon it as an outer shell, holding an inner, esoteric meaning. The druze claim that an understanding of these is necessary, but that their al. Dated from qada 411 february 16 to march 18, 1021, this piece was written a few days after the disappearance of alhakim, 27 sawwal 411 february 1021. Keep in mind that only those who choose to dedicate themselves for a lifetime of religious studies are those who are taught about the religion.

The book of wisdom this book is so called, because it treats of the excellence of wisdom, the means to obtain it, and the happy fruits it produces. Thus, their places of worship are usually very modest, and their religious figures ajawid lead very modest lifestyles. This book was recommended to me by my relatives in lebanon as the most accurate and well researched of all the books regarding the druze. The druze holy book, known as the epistles of wisdom rasa. The druze religion began one thousand years ago and is an off shoot of islam, with a mixture of judaism, christianity, zoroastrianism and other gnostic ideas. The most authoritative druze religious text is the kitab alhikma book of wisdom, a collection of 111 letters, some of them written by alhakim and hamza. Gurumarka khalsa, yogi, spiritual guide and author, total fitness the little book of romanian wisdom is a precious gem for anyone wishing to cultivate the deepseated know. Druze and the chouf mountains ali karim travelog middle east. A number of books and articles have been written about the druze, one of the most.

The druze scripture, called rasahlrasail alhikma letters of wisdom, was primarily written down by almuqtana the cosmic immanence. Gods great love for the druze revelation paints a picture of every nation, tribe and tongue worshiping god at the end of time, and there will be druze people counted in that number. The tawhid religion has derived a good deal of its wisdom and philosophy from greek culture, sufism and indian wisdom. It is a collection of books, of which the first six are most commonly used. Its author, whose name is not known to us, was probably a member of the jewish community at alexandria, in egypt. Regular druze know minimal about their religion barely enough for them to practice anything. The druzes have a distinct set of beliefs and practices, and their manuscripts, kutub alhikma wisdom books, are a collection of epistles and. The druze faith incorporates elements of gnosticism, neoplatonism. I am a druze and here is what i have been taught about my religion.

The druze have several books that comprise their sacred texts which are known as kitab al hikma book of wisdom. The book of wisdom druze the majority of the druze lack this comfort. The druze and the order of the eastern star while reading, during my few days of winter break, i decided to go back through some old articles i read and came across worshipful brother cliff porters article on his time in the middle east and his discussion about the druze when something caught my attention. Druze hold the quran to be sacred, but look upon it as an outer shell, holding an inner, esoteric meaning. In druze thought hamza is the first of the creatures of god. Frankl, tao te ching by lao tzu, the art of war by sun tzu, meditations by marcus aurelius. Druze epistles of wisdom pdf english the epistles of wisdom or rasail alhikma arabic. This is a superb book about the druze faith written by a well known scholar and professor sami nasib makarem. Generally dated to the mid first century bc, 1 the central theme of the work is wisdom itself, appearing under two principal aspects. There exist druze muwahhidun in certain countries and are known by other names. This is a collection of books, of which the first six are most commonly used. They denounce materialism, especially materialism relative to religion. The druze practice a religion related to islam and christianity but more based on philosophy.

The name druze probably comes from darazi, a preacher who was expelled from the druze movement, because he preached that alhakim was. Druze consider jethro, the father in law of moses, to be the primary prophet. Alhakim, a ruler of egypt during the 11th century sponsored the religion which was created by hamza bin ali. Other ancient druze writings include the rasail alhind epistles of india and the previously lost or hidden manuscripts such as almunfarid bidhatihi and alsharia alruhaniyya as well as others including didactic and polemic treatises. Other druze prophets are muhammad, plato, aristotle, moses, john the baptist and jesus.

The book of wisdom was written about fifty years before the coming of christ. Druze follow the teachings of alhakim biamrih alla. The little book of romanian wisdom english and romanian. Epistles of wisdom wikisource, the free online library. The druze are a unique people who originated in egypt, but have since spread. In 1009, near cairo, egypt, alhakim biamrih alla declared himself to be an earthly incarnation of god. Few people know about the druze, a mysterious, 1,000 year old religion in lebanon. Sep 15, 2016 the epistles of wisdom or rasail alhikma is a corpus of sacred texts and pastoral letters by teachers of the druze faith, which has currently close to a million faithful, mainly in lebanon. The epistles of wisdom are also referred to as the kitab alhikma book of wisdom and alhikma alsharifa. Translation what i present here is a provisional translation of the first epistle from the druze holy book, the rasail alhikmah the epistles of wisdom which i began yesterday and completed earlier today. Druze sacred texts mention sheikh abu arus, who was responsible for the propagation of the druze faith in the region, and was buried in the village. The full druze canon or druze scripture includes the old.

Provides a brief history of the druze faith, traditions, and society and a wealth of primary and secondary sources on the druzes history and their political significance in the middle east. The village of hurfeish is situated on the road that runs east from the coastal town of nahariya, and the site of the tomb of the important prophet. The druze muwahhidun an introduction by hammud quteish. A history of the druzes begins with an introduction to the early history of the druzes, focusing on the religious, political, and social features that fostered the druze community as a religious minority with its own particular characteristics, facilitating an understanding of the druzes today. The druze are spread in numerous countries of the world.

The druze faith incorporates elements of shia islams ismailism, gnosticism, neoplatonism, pythagoreanism, hinduism and other philosophies and beliefs, creating a distinct and secretive theology known to interpret esoterically religious scriptures, and to highlight the role. The druze possess a religious book8 entitled kutub alhikma or rasail al hikma the. Jul 18, 2019 very little is known about the exact contents of druze books of wisdom due to the secrecy that has shrouded their faith following a history of oppression and disinformation by larger islamic sects in the arab world. It is written in the person of solomon, and contains his sentiments.

Do the druze use any other texts along with the epistles. Very little is known about the exact contents of druze books of wisdom due to the secrecy that has shrouded their faith following a history of oppression and disinformation by larger islamic sects in the arab world. What i present here is a provisional translation of the first epistle from the druze holy book, the rasail alhikmah the epistles of wisdom which i began yesterday and completed earlier today. Wisdom is one of the apocryphaldeuterocanonical books of the bible. The epistles of wisdom is the foundational text of the druze faith.

This article explores the cultural dynamics of bond and separateness created around the book of wisdom kitab. Mar 24, 2019 the druze texts are referred to as the hikma texts and they are forbidden even from most of the druze themselves if theyre not initiated ready to receive the knowledge. He writes with style and elegance and shares with the reader what a true druze believer knows. The druze are an arabicspeaking people of the middle east there are more than 500,000 druze. Their religious texts are known collectively as kitab al hikma the book of wisdom. Some have emigrated to the united states and canada the druze practice a religion related to islam and christianity but more based on philosophy. The difference lies in the fact we also believe in the other book, the book of wisdom. Druze religious authorities have forbidden the circulation of the book of wisdom, and only a pious druze known as a sheikh has the. Who are the druze and how might the shroud of turin relate.

It is a wisdom book, bearing similarity to the canonical works. Yes, in addition to kitab alhikma epistles of wisdom aka alhikma alsharifa collected in 6 volumes, they have 1the exegesis of the epistles of wisdom several volumes written by alamir alsayyid jamal aldin abdalla altanukhi who is c. Do the druze use any other texts along with the epistles of wisdom. Original translation of a druze epistle religious forums. The druze holy book, known as the epistles of wisdom ras a. This book also provides valuable demographic data on the druze in the region. T he religion of the druze is based on the unity of life and belongs to an esoteric tradition often misunderstood in a volatile region where the major religions have been invoked to wage wars. As in the case of determining the racial origins of the druze people, so in the case of ascertaining the origin of their religion, all kinds of theories, some curious and amusing, others fantastic and naive, have been proposed. Book of wisdom wikimili, the best wikipedia reader. Druze also believe in reincarnation and in the country where they reside, their affairs are governed by a. The epistles of wisdom or rasail alhikma is a corpus of sacred texts and pastoral letters by teachers of the druze faith, which has currently close to a. Alhakim, a ruler of egypt during the 11th century sponsored the religion which was created by. Some are characterized as druze and others are known as muwahhidun.

Druze and the chouf mountains sidon and tyre after leaving mresti, we drove once again through the chouf mountain roads to another druze town called mukhtara, which is the home of walid jumblatt, the defacto druze community leader, and the leader of the lebanese progressive socialist party. Druze, small middle eastern religious sect characterized by an eclectic system of doctrines and by a cohesion and loyalty among its members at times politically significant that have enabled them to maintain for centuries their closeknit identity and distinctive faith. The druze challenge of survival opinion the harvard. The book of wisdom or wisdom of solomon is a jewish work, written in greek, and most likely composed in alexandria, egypt. Some of the teachings are symbolic or allegorical and some divine. Their holy book, known as the book of wisdom, is not easily accessible nor is it comprehensible to. They are firmly monotheistic, believing in a single god. The druze are a unique people who originated in egypt, but have since spread all over the world, with more concentrated numbers in lebanon, syria, israel, and jordan. This book is considered secret and only religious sages. Scholars believe that the book represents the most classical greek language found in the septuagint, having been written during the jewish hellenistic period the 1st or 2nd century bc. The banu maruf of the levant druze identity and religion. Israeli druze have faithfully protected israel and defended jewish lives.