"Obeid’s work will receive deep appreciation and high readership by the majority of Druze in the West and other immigrants of Middle Eastern origins."—Intisar Azzam, author of Change for Continuity
"This book is above all a plea directed to all Druze, East and West, to take up the task of fundamental reform. . . . The work’s eight chapters are accompanied by an excellent bibliography."—Choice
Description
As a small sect that emerged from Islam over a thousand years ago, the Druze religion and society has long been cloaked in a tradition of secrecy. Veiled from the outside world, the religious tenets have been vulnerable to distortion, misunderstanding, and misrepresentation. In this book Dr. Anis Obeid, a Druze layman, provides a penetrating analysis of Druze scriptures and beliefs (Tawhid). Presenting a chronological narrative of the foundation and development of the faith, he explains the historical conditions and religious rationale behind this closed religion.
The Druze faith is the product of Abrahamic monotheism as it coalesced with other philosophies, belief systems, and political structures of the West and the East and, as Obeid maintains, should be recognized for its core monotheism, and not fundamentally different from Judaism, Christianity, or Islam. He argues convincingly, with examples and translations from the Druze scriptures, only now accessible to a non-initiate public, that Tawhid is a progressive and dynamic spiritual process based on freedom of choice. This rich exploration of their faith, the author’s appeal for a sincere cultural dialogue will resonate with a wide audience in the West and in the Middle East.
Table of Contents
Foreword, Sami Nasib Makarem
1. Introduction
2. Historical Background
3. Dynastic Islam
4. The Fatimid Caliphate
5. Tenets of the Tawhid Faith
6. Expression of the Tenets in Daily Conduct
7. Challenge and Opportunity
8. Concluding Remarks
Notes
Bibliography
Index
About the Author
Anis Obeid was born and raised in Lebanon. He is a clinical professor of medicine at the Upstate Medical University and director of echocardiography at Crouse Hospital in Syracuse, New York. He is the author of Sada Assinin, a book of Arabic poetry.
6 x 9, 322 pages, 1 maps
December 2023