III.

History

An Iranian preacher named Hamza bi-Amr Allah had preached in Egypt alongside al-Darazi before the two clashed over leadership. Building upon the missionary work, Hamza claimed the status of imam, or spiritual leader. He was succeeded as leader of the Druze by Baha al-din al-Muqtana. Most of the Druze scriptures, called the Rasail al-Hikmat al-Sharifa (“Messages of the Noble Wisdom”), date from this early period of the religion. The Druze stopped seeking converts to their sect in 1043, shortly after Druze scripture ceased to be revealed. Today, the faith passes from one generation to the next within Druze families who have descended from the early members of the community.

The Druze traditionally dwelt as isolated tribes in Lebanon led by their own amirs (rulers). These tribes fell under the rule, in name at least, of the Ottoman Empire from the 16th century until 1918. But under the leadership of three Druze political families, they maintained a considerable degree of autonomy (self-government) and regional control by opposing the military forces sent by Ottoman sultans to force them into submission. In 1860 bloody conflicts broke out in Lebanon between the region’s Christians, known as Maronites, and the Druze. These conflicts arose in part over localized political control and in part as a result of Druze families converting to Maronite Christianity. European colonial powers intervened to protect the Christians. A French force occupied Lebanon, and in 1864 a Christian governor-general was appointed. These events marked the end of the political importance of the Lebanese Druze. In Syria the Druze were engaged periodically in struggles against the Ottoman government until 1910, mainly on the issues of taxes and military service.

During World War I (1914-1918) most Druze remained neutral. On September 1, 1918, however, an armed force of Syrian and Lebanese Druze gave assistance to Faisal I, an Arab leader who in turn helped British forces capture the city of Damascus (now capital of Syria) from the Ottomans a month later. After World War I ended France took control of Syria and Lebanon through a mandate from the League of Nations. Late in 1920 the Druze entered into negotiations with the French government, which was dividing Syria into autonomous zones. On March 4, 1921, an agreement was concluded that granted autonomy to a region with the highest concentration of Druze: the Syrian plateau region of Jabal Druze (“Mountains of the Druze”). But the French retained tight control over Syria and meddled in Druze affairs.

In April 1925 the Druze petitioned the French authorities for a hearing to discuss French breaches of the 1921 agreement. On July 11, 1925, General Maurice Sarrail, the high commissioner for the French mandate, ordered his delegate at Damascus to summon the Druze representatives. Upon arrival the Druze leaders were arrested and exiled by the French to the oasis of Palmyra, precipitating a Druze revolt that eventually gave impetus to the independence struggles of Syria and Lebanon.

After the Middle Eastern countries in which they live gained independence, the Druze remained politically active. They have served in their countries’ armed forces and have been elected to the legislatures and appointed to ministerial positions in the cabinets of Israel, Lebanon, and Syria. A Lebanese Druze leader founded Lebanon’s Progressive Socialist Party, which promotes social change, and the Druze continue to dominate that party. During the Lebanese Civil War (1975-1990) Druze soldiers fought primarily on the side of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and other Muslims against the Maronite Christians and Christian militias. In Syria the Druze have participated in the regionalist wing, as opposed to the Arab-unity wing, of the ruling Baath party. Druze in Israel have a status separate from that of other Arabic speakers, and, unlike other Arabs, the Druze serve in the Israeli armed forces.