ONLINE Session of the Islamic History and Thought Lecture Series:
“The Druzes, from Ismaili Esotericism to the Formation of a Doctrinal School of Law”
by Wissam Halawi (University of Lausanne), Institute for Ismaili Studies, Aga Khan Centre London,
17 March 2021, 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm GMT
Focusing on the 5th / 11th century, Dr. Halawi will show how Druzism was in line with Ismaili doctrine at that time, while developing a substantive law influenced by Sunni fiqh and customary law.
The Fatimid Ismailis around 408 AH / 1017 CE.
The Druze emerged in Syria in the closing years of the reign of the Fatimid Imam-caliph al-Hakim (r. 386-411 AH / 996 AH-1021 CE). Starting with al-Darazi (or al-Darzi), after whom the group came to be known as al-Daraziyya (or al-Durziyya), they organised a movement in Cairo emphasising the messianic role of al-Hakim and attributing divinity to him. The consolidation of Druze doctrines began with their scholar and leader, Hamza b. ‘Ali, who also succeeded in developing a da‘wa organisation for the movement that spread across Syria.
The Druze teachings are mainly founded on the letters of al-Hamza, written between 1017-1020 CE, and transmitted within the community from generation to generation through initiated scholars. The Druze also refer to themselves as Muwahhidun or Unitarians. They have developed their own scholarship and have distinctive practices. The Druze live in various regions of Syria, Lebanon and Israel, with smaller settlements in the Americas, Australia and West Africa.
" style="box-sizing:border-box;color:#75757a;text-decoration-line:none;padding:0px;margin:0px;font-size:initial !important;font-weight:initial !important;">Druze dogma was developed in the 5th / 11th century in Cairo during the reign of the sixth Fatimid caliph al-Ḥākim. The founders of this dogma, notably Ḥamza, were Ismaili missionaries who, in their writings known as al-Ḥikma or the Rasāʾil al-Ḥikma, established a new Ismaili Shi'ite doctrine, which parted from the mainstream Fatimid doctrine.Accused of extremism and exaggeration (ghuluww), the Druze movement was then banned from Cairo under the caliphate of al-Ẓāhir, so it only developed in the Syrian mountains. Rural clan leaders in Syria had indeed converted to Druzism during the daʿwa (1017-1043) and continued to pass on their doctrine secretly until the 9th / 15th century. In this talk, Dr Halawi will show how Druzism was in line with Ismaili doctrine at that time, while developing a substantive law influenced by Sunni fiqh and customary law.
Date: 17 March 2021
Time: 2.00 pm – 4.00 pm GMT
Location: Online (Zoom)
Q&A: At any time during the lecture, attendees can submit questions to the speaker through the Q&A option at the bottom of the control panel. As time allows, the speaker will address as many questions as they can during the Q&A session at the end of the presentation.
Recording: Please note that the session will be recorded and published on the IIS website.
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, Institute for Ismaili Studies, Aga Khan Centre London, 17 March 2021, 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm GMT Focusing on the 5th / 11th century, Dr. Halawi will show how Druzism was in line with Ismaili doctrine at that time, while developing a substantive law influenced by Sunni fiqh and customary law.The Druze dogma was developed in the 5th / 11th century in Cairo during the reign of the sixth Fatimid caliph al-Ḥākim. The founders of this dogma, notably Ḥamza, were Ismaili missionaries who, in their writings known as al-Ḥikma or the Rasāʾil al-Ḥikma, established a new Ismaili Shi'ite doctrine, which parted from the mainstream Fatimid doctrine.Accused of extremism and exaggeration (ghuluww), the Druze movement was then banned from Cairo under the caliphate of al-Ẓāhir, so it only developed in the Syrian mountains. Rural clan leaders in Syria had indeed converted to Druzism during the daʿwa (1017-1043) and continued to pass on their doctrine secretly until the 9th / 15th century. In this talk, Dr Halawi will show how Druzism was in line with Ismaili doctrine at that time, while developing a substantive law influenced by Sunni fiqh and customary law.Date: 17 March 2021Time: 2.00 pm – 4.00 pm GMTLocation: Online (Zoom)Q&A: At any time during the lecture, attendees can submit questions to the speaker through the Q&A option at the bottom of the control panel. As time allows, the speaker will address as many questions as they can during the Q&A session at the end of the presentation.Recording: Please note that the session will be recorded and published on the IIS website.Speaker(s)Dr Wissam HalawiDr Wissam Halawi is an Assistant Professor at the University of Lausanne (Switzerland), Institute of History and Anthropology of Religions (IHAR). He is a social historian of the Islamic world in mediaeval times, and works on rural Shiite and Christian minorities in the Middle East. His publications include: Les Druzes aux marges de l’Islam. Ésotérisme et normativité en milieu rural XIVe-XVIe siècle (Paris, 2021).Information: https://www.iis.ac.uk/events/druzes-ismaili-esotericism-formation-doctrinal-school-law?utm_source=hnet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=IHTLS&source=https://dmluoj0wft2i7.cloudfront.net/thumbnails/media_slide_16x9/cdn/images/602f8bc0eac72.jpg "LinkedIn")
, Institute for Ismaili Studies, Aga Khan Centre London, 17 March 2021, 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm GMT Focusing on the 5th / 11th century, Dr. Halawi will show how Druzism was in line with Ismaili doctrine at that time, while developing a substantive law influenced by Sunni fiqh and customary law.The Druze dogma was developed in the 5th / 11th century in Cairo during the reign of the sixth Fatimid caliph al-Ḥākim. The founders of this dogma, notably Ḥamza, were Ismaili missionaries who, in their writings known as al-Ḥikma or the Rasāʾil al-Ḥikma, established a new Ismaili Shi'ite doctrine, which parted from the mainstream Fatimid doctrine.Accused of extremism and exaggeration (ghuluww), the Druze movement was then banned from Cairo under the caliphate of al-Ẓāhir, so it only developed in the Syrian mountains. Rural clan leaders in Syria had indeed converted to Druzism during the daʿwa (1017-1043) and continued to pass on their doctrine secretly until the 9th / 15th century. In this talk, Dr Halawi will show how Druzism was in line with Ismaili doctrine at that time, while developing a substantive law influenced by Sunni fiqh and customary law.Date: 17 March 2021Time: 2.00 pm – 4.00 pm GMTLocation: Online (Zoom)Q&A: At any time during the lecture, attendees can submit questions to the speaker through the Q&A option at the bottom of the control panel. As time allows, the speaker will address as many questions as they can during the Q&A session at the end of the presentation.Recording: Please note that the session will be recorded and published on the IIS website.Speaker(s)Dr Wissam HalawiDr Wissam Halawi is an Assistant Professor at the University of Lausanne (Switzerland), Institute of History and Anthropology of Religions (IHAR). He is a social historian of the Islamic world in mediaeval times, and works on rural Shiite and Christian minorities in the Middle East. His publications include: Les Druzes aux marges de l’Islam. Ésotérisme et normativité en milieu rural XIVe-XVIe siècle (Paris, 2021).Information: https://www.iis.ac.uk/events/druzes-ismaili-esotericism-formation-doctrinal-school-law?utm_source=hnet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=IHTLS "Facebook")