Arab ethnoreligious group of the Levant
Factsheet
Total population 800,000–2,000,000
Founder Hamza ibn Ali ibn Ahmad
Regions with significant populations
Total population 800,000–2,000,000
Founder Hamza ibn Ali ibn Ahmad
Regions with significant populations
Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Druze
Druze - Wikipedia
1 month ago - The largest Druze communities are found in Daliyat al-Karmel and Yirka (also known as Yarka). The Druze live in 19 towns and villages scattered across the mountaintops in northern Israel, either in exclusively Druze areas or in mixed communities with Christians and Muslims.
Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Druze_in_Israel
Druze in Israel - Wikipedia
November 9, 2025 - As is the case for the Circassian ... Druzism, the Druze ethnic religion, developed out of Isma'ilism, a branch of Shia Islam, but the Druze do not consider themselves Muslims....
Videos
08:48
Arabs With a Secret Religion? The Origins of the Druze in Syria ...
Who Are the Druze? 90-sec explainer A religion that sealed ...
05:36
Who Are the Druze? Why Israel Is Defending the Druze in Syria | ...
12:37
Why Does Israel Protect the Druze? - YouTube
The more you learn about who the Druze people are, the more ...
25:35
The Deal With Israel That Changed the Druze Forever | Explained ...
How are Druze in Israel unique?
The Druze in Israel are unique among the Arab communities in Israel because of their loyalty to the state and participation in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Arab Muslim and Christian communities in Israel often identify with the Palestinian national movement and are exempted from participation in the IDF.
britannica.com
britannica.com › philosophy & religion › religious movements & organizations
Druze | History, Religion, People, Syria, Israel, Lebanon, Community, ...
What is the origin of the Druze faith?
The Druze faith originated in 11th-century Egypt as an offshoot of Ismaʿīlī Shiʿism during the reign of the sixth Fatimid caliph, al-Ḥākim bi-Amr Allāh. The movement was persecuted under al-Ḥākim’s successor and in Egypt it eventually died out, but the community survived in mountainous areas of Syria and Lebanon.
britannica.com
britannica.com › philosophy & religion › religious movements & organizations
Druze | History, Religion, People, Syria, Israel, Lebanon, Community, ...
Where do most Druze live?
Most Druze live in a largely contiguous section of Lebanon, Syria, and Israel, with smaller communities present in other countries. The Druze have been politically influential in both Lebanon and Syria, while in Israeli society the community has played a unique role as Arabs who are generally very loyal to the state.
britannica.com
britannica.com › philosophy & religion › religious movements & organizations
Druze | History, Religion, People, Syria, Israel, Lebanon, Community, ...
Encyclopedia Britannica
britannica.com › philosophy & religion › religious movements & organizations
Druze | History, Religion, People, Syria, Israel, Lebanon, Community, Arab, & Facts | Britannica
July 20, 1998 - The Druze in Israel are unique among the Arab communities in Israel because of their loyalty to the state and participation in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Arab Muslim and Christian communities in Israel often identify with the Palestinian national movement and are exempted from participation in the IDF.
Quora
quora.com › Are-Druze-Muslims-or-Jews
Are Druze Muslims or Jews? - Quora
The Druze are Druze. The Druze religion is RELATED to both Judaism and Islam - we think. One thing we do know, is that the Druze religion is gnostic, in the sense that - they don’t talk about it to outsiders.
Reddit
reddit.com › r/druze › do the druze actually descend from christians and not muslims?
r/druze on Reddit: Do the Druze actually descend from Christians and not Muslims?
December 27, 2024 -
The Druze despite being considered its own ethno-religion, are often said to be an off-shoot of Ismaili Islam. But how true is that?
According to genetic studies, the Druze are nearly identical to Levantine Christians, and don’t seem to be mixed with Arabs like most Muslims. Does that mean Druze overwhelmingly descend from Levantine Christians who joined the Druze faith when it was allowed to convert, rather than Muslims joining the faith?
Top answer 1 of 2
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You're asking two different questions here. In terms of Tawheed as a theology being an offshoot of Ismaili Islam, it's true, the Ismaili roots of Druzism are very obvious. In terms of our genetic origins and makeup, no one really knows, however genetic testing shows that as a population overall we're the same as the other Levantine populations in Syria and Lebanon AFAIK. The Tanukhids for example were an Arab tribe that migrated from southern Arabia to the Levant in the 2nd century, they were Christianized, then converted to Islam and finally their Emirs of the Chouf mountains converted to Druzism. They were the biggest Arab tribe that joined the Druze call. A big issue with this is that our history wasn't really documented until the 15th-16th century, so no firsthand sources exist about the proto-Druze and the early Druze. Oral traditions differ by agenda, people make a big deal about our fair skin complexion but it's not so different from your average northern Syrian/Lebanese, so God only knows where we really originate from, if I had to bet, I'd just say a mish mash of local Levantine populations.
2 of 2
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The question is a bit nuanced. Firstly it is an ethnoreligion, which has ethnic heritage as far back as the time of Jethro, Moshe's (Moses) father in law. Secondly, the Druze which again is ethnic AND religious group---is Abrahamic... It is not Christian or Jewish or Muslim; the ethnoreligion element is similar to Judaism, but one key difference. It is a closed religion. There are no conversions in our out of the tribe (about one million worldwide). They are also not open to giving information about their traditions to outsiders. For western people to have a relatable comparison.. think similar to Amish in the sense of the separation from worldly things as much as possible. Not all are as strict, but that is the essence of things and why the religion is closed. The religion itself only became organized around 1100 current era, I want to say in Egypt under the caliphate at the time. Likely why they are so secretive about their faith as well. While it is not Christian, Jewish or Muslim, it does recognize key elements and figures from other Abrahamic religions. I will say, from what I know of them, they have a belief of reincarnation similar to Judaism, no hell or heaven .... Not in the way Christians believe. In Judaism, we call it Gilgulim Neshama "cycle of the soul". They have similar known traditions to all 3 religions, but what I do also know, is that their most central "prophet" seems to be Jesus, if that helps Christians out with an answer... The closest thing I can give anyway lol. He's seen as a Prophet to them, but a highly, HIGHLY regarded one. It's a layered question with an even more layered answer than I can even give without writing a book. I'm half Arab and I'm also half Mizrahi (Persian) Jewish and religiously Jewish. Ethnoreligions are a tricky thing to explain to people, because it's very much nuanced with many variables. When you're dealing with ethnoreligions it gets very complex, especially when the official religion wasn't cemented until so much later than the others. It doesn't make Druze religion an "offshoot" religion either, which I feel is important to say. I've heard Muslims suggest they're an offshoot of Shia, similar to Alawite, which is not correct. Being in a certain culture, which had certain traditions with regards to treatment of other religions and a history of forced conversions, to suggest that because a culture developed under a theocracy, is a direct part of that culture is a bit reductive. There are many people who are often Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and even Greek you who discover that despite being Christian, their DNA suggests Sephardic Jewish lineage in their profile. Same with Arabs who discover Mizrahi Jewish dna. Forced conversion can cause these surprises later on down the road. I think there are CULTURAL influences, but that their religion is unique and being a closed religion does murky things, but I respect it and the Druze people. I will also say, for my Christian friends. An interesting thing I recently read was that, upon studying the samples from the alleged burial shroud along with the alleged remains of John the Baptist, they were found to have DRUZE mitochondrial DNA, which suggests that, in the time of Jesus, on his mother's side... When the conversion in Judaism was not as strict and when Druze didn't disallow conversion, that at some point, his mother's family had married a member of the Druze tribe. He was still obviously Jewish, a Rabbi, but I thought that was really interesting. What we know is that Druze can be found as far away from the Middle East as Venezuela. So, if you have Hispanic lineage... Not only do you have a 25% chance of having Sephardic Jewish DNA , but also Druze is a possibility. Thought that was a pretty neat facto!
Pew Research Center
pewresearch.org › short reads › religion › religion & politics › 5 facts about israeli druze, a unique religious and ethnic group
5 facts about Israeli Druze, a unique religious and ethnic group | Pew Research Center
July 21, 2025 - Israeli Druze make up roughly 2% ... Their tradition dates back to the 11th century and incorporates elements of Islam, Hinduism and even classical Greek philosophy....
Reform Judaism
reformjudaism.org › druze-community-israel
The Druze Community in Israel | Reform Judaism
April 9, 2013 - The Druze community in Israel consists of Arabic-speaking believers from an 11th Century off-shoot of Ismaili Shiite theology. The religion is considered heretical by orthodox Muslims. Members of the sect reside predominantly in mountainous ...
EBSCO
ebsco.com › research-starters › ethnic-and-cultural-studies › druze
Druze | Research Starters | EBSCO Research
The Druze are a distinct religious community that originated as an offshoot of Islam during the 10th century, though they incorporate elements from various faiths, including Judaism and Christianity.
Hungarian Conservative
hungarianconservative.com › home › a small tribe between jews and muslims: the druze of israel
A Small Tribe Between Jews and Muslims: The Druze of Israel - Hungarian Conservative
January 10, 2024 - Thus the continuing exclusion and discrimination threatens the ‘covenant of blood’. It can be said that the Israeli Druze represent a peculiar and special minority in the Middle East, being neither Muslim, nor Jewish, and not identifying ...
DW
dw.com › en › syria-who-are-the-druze › a-73311140
Syria: Who are the Druze?
July 17, 2025 - They practice a unique Abrahamic religion (the Abrahamic group includes Christianity, Islam and Judaism) which developed from a branch of Shia Islam. However the Druze do not identify as Muslim.
Aish
aish.com › current › issues › who are the druze?: 8 facts
Who are the Druze?: 8 Facts | Aish
July 17, 2025 - For generations, many Druze faced ... Muslim communities and overlords. Though Druze people speak Arabic, they consider themselves a distinct, unique group. During the British Mandate period, when Great Britain ruled present-day Israel (1923-1948), tensions between Jews and Arabs soared. A series of Arab pogroms against Jewish communities ...
Refworld
refworld.org › reference › countryrep › mrgi › 2018 › en › 64600
World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples - Israel : Druze | Refworld
April 15, 2025 - Their monotheistic religion incorporates many beliefs from Islam, Judaism and Christianity, and is also influenced by Greek philosophy and Hinduism. Druze have not proselytized since the 11th century, and the religion remains closed to outsiders.
NBC News
nbcnews.com › news › world › druze-minority-sect-israel-hamas-war-who-are-rcna164013
Who are the Druze? The minority sect on the sidelines of the Israel-Hamas war
The deadly strike has cast a spotlight on the Druze community, a tight-knit sect, which dates back to the 11th century and draws from Christian, Muslim and Jewish beliefs, while incorporating elements of “Hinduism and even classical Greek ...
Published July 29, 2024
Religion Media Centre
religionmediacentre.org.uk › news › explainer-who-are-the-druze-and-why-are-they-at-the-centre-of-tension-in-the-middle-east-today
Explainer: Who are the Druze and why are they at the centre of tension in the Middle East today? - Religion Media Centre
July 21, 2025 - The Druze follow an esoteric, monotheistic religion that blends elements of other Abrahamic religions, including Judaism and Christianity, as well as several other philosophies such as Hinduism.
Al Jazeera
aljazeera.com › news › explainer
Who are the Druze? A look at the community following a deadly attack | Explainer News | Al Jazeera
Makram Rabah, an assistant professor of history and archaeology at the American University in Beirut who has written extensively on the Druze, told Al Jazeera they are “one of the founding communities of modern Lebanon, Syria and Jordan and Palestine” with a long history in the region. Rabah described their early role as frontier warriors: “Over time, they assumed many political and military responsibilities on behalf of the Muslim Caliphate”, he said, referring to the role the Druze played in the Abbasid Empire, which existed from 750 to 1258.
Published August 1, 2024
Oxford Bibliographies
oxfordbibliographies.com › display › document › obo-9780199840731 › obo-9780199840731-0182.xml
The Druze Community in Israel - Jewish Studies - Oxford Bibliographies
The book analyzes the Druze texts and beliefs and provides a survey of the Druze historical development as a society and as a faith. Obeid suggests that the Druze faith has emerged from Islam; however, it is a progressive and dynamic spiritual process based on freedom of choice. ... Users without ...
Jewish Virtual Library
jewishvirtuallibrary.org › history-and-overview-of-the-israeli-druze
History & Overview of the Israeli Druze
They include a synagogue with a ... honey, and the excellent grapes growing in the region. Some 9,000 people live today in Isfiya: 70% Druze, the rest Christians and Muslims....
IFCJ
ifcj.org › home › resources › who are the druze?
The Druze Religion | The Muwahideen | Who Are the Druze? | IFCJ
January 25, 2023 - Their religion is made up of philosophy, spiritual purity, and a strong connection with God. The Druze religion has its roots in Islam, but although some members consider themselves “Muslim,” they have been recognized as a separate religion.
ONE FOR ISRAEL
oneforisrael.org › home › blog › the druze: key people in israel
The Druze: Key People in Israel - ONE FOR ISRAEL Ministry
March 9, 2025 - The unit was mainly Jewish, even with Orthodox Jews among their number, but they all came to hear about Yeshua, thanks to this one brave Druze young man. The Druze are loyal to Israel, yet speak Arabic.
The Conversation
theconversation.com › solving-the-1-000-year-old-mystery-of-druze-origin-with-a-genetic-sat-nav-68550
Solving the 1,000-year-old mystery of Druze origin with a genetic sat nav
September 29, 2025 - While the spiritual elements of their religion are highly guarded and known only to the elders, the known practices are made up of various religions which include Hinduism, Christianity, Islam and Judaism.