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UPSC » Daily News Analysis ‘Druze community’ : 15 November

Daily News Analysis ‘Druze community’ : 15 November

Table of Content

Who are the Druze?

    •  Druze ethno-religious community originating in the 11th century.
    • Mostly concentrated in the Levant region
  • Syria 
  • Lebanon
  • Israel
  • Jordan

Religious Beliefs & Practices

  • Druze emerged  as an offshoot of Ismaili Shia Islam but today is considered a distinct monotheistic religion.
  • Their Community divided into
    • Uqqāl – knowledgeable religious elite.
    • Juhhāl – general followers.
  • They do not follow mainstream Islamic practices (e.g., Ramadan fasting, mosque system).
Levant Region
  • Geographical Features
    • A geographical and cultural region in the Eastern Mediterranean.
    • Bounded by
      • Mediterranean Sea (west)
      • Arabian Desert (east)
      • Taurus Mountains (north)
      • Sinai Peninsula & Red Sea (south)
    • Countries Included
      • Syria
      • Lebanon
      • Jordan
      • Israel
      • Palestine
      • Sometimes includes Cyprus and Turkey’s southern coast
  • Historical Significance
    • One of the cradles of civilization and also early agriculture and urbanisation region
    • It was a crossroads of trade routes between Africa, Asia, Europe.
    • Birthplace of Judaism, Christianity, and major Islamic traditions.

Why in News?

  • Recent, Clashes between Druze groups & Syrian military