The provided sources offer an extensive comparison between the Druze faith and the major branches of Islam, namely Sunni and Shia. They trace the historical origins of the Druze from 11th-century Fatimid Egypt, highlighting its theological divergence through concepts like theophany, reincarnation, and a unique ethical code that replaces Islamic ritual practices. The texts detail the core distinctions in their understanding of God, prophecy, sacred texts like the Epistles of Wisdom, and eschatology, emphasizing the Druze rejection of Islamic Five Pillars in favor of Seven Precepts. Finally, the sources explore the complex identity of the Druze as a distinct, closed ethno-religious community often perceived as heretical by mainstream Islam, and their use of dissimulation (taqiyya) for survival.
This page was created on: August 21, 2025