Hawzah News Agency- Hojjat al-Islam Naqvi explained that to understand the Druze, one must first examine the origins of the Ismaili sect within Shiism. He noted that after the martyrdom of Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq (AS), a split occurred among his followers. While many accepted the Imamate of his son Musa al-Kazim (AS), others believed in the Imamate of his eldest son Ismail, despite his death during Imam Sadiq’s lifetime — a fact Imam Sadiq (AS) had publicly confirmed by inviting prominent Shiites to witness the funeral.
From Ismailism to the Emergence of the Druze
Hojjat al-Islam Naqvi explained that over time, the Ismaili sect itself branched into multiple offshoots. One group believed Ismail had entered occultation and would return as the Mahdi, while others passed the Imamate to his son Muhammad ibn Ismail. The latter group later divided further into subsects, most notably the Qarmatians — who eventually disappeared — and the Fatimids, who established a powerful Shiite caliphate in North Africa and founded institutions such as Al-Azhar in Egypt.
Among the sects that later emerged from the Fatimid branch was the Druze, who trace their origins to the reign of the sixth Fatimid Caliph, Al-Hakim bi Amr Allah, who ruled until 412 AH.
Divinization of Al-Hakim and the Birth of the Druze
According to Naqvi, the Druze sect was founded by a figure known as Druze, an Iranian associate of Al-Hakim's minister. The group promoted the radical and controversial belief that divinity had manifested in Al-Hakim himself — a view that sparked public outrage. Initially, Al-Hakim distanced himself from this claim and sought to suppress the movement. However, Druze and his followers fled Egypt and took refuge in the mountainous regions of Syria and Lebanon, where they continued to propagate their beliefs.
“The Druze declared Al-Hakim to be divine, a belief that pushed them far beyond the bounds of mainstream Shia Islam,” Naqvi stated.
He further explained that the term “Druze” originally referred to tailors, and the sect's eponymous founder was known by this designation.
A Closed and Esoteric Society
Today, the Druze community is primarily located in Lebanon and Syria, where it has retained a distinctive and insular identity. Hojjat al-Islam Naqvi emphasized the highly secretive nature of the Druze, noting that they are known for their extreme introversion and strict communal boundaries. Outsiders are not permitted to convert or access the inner teachings of the faith, which has led to limited understanding of their doctrines.
“Their deeply closed society has resulted in very little leakage of their religious and theological views,” he added.
Legacy and Impact
Hojjat al-Islam Naqvi concluded that the Druze represent one of the more unique offshoots of Ismaili Shiism, having diverged through theological radicalism and sustained themselves through social isolation and communal cohesion. Their presence remains significant in the Levant, where they continue to influence local religious and political dynamics.
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