Druse, the a religious group living mainly in parts of Lebanon, Syria, and Israel, whose beliefs include ideas from the Bible and the Koran. or Druse Relatively small Middle Eastern religious sect. It originated in Egypt in 1017 and is named for one of its founders, Muammad al-Daraz (d. 1019/20). Strictly monotheistic and based in Islam, particularly Isml Islam, Druze beliefs include an eclectic mixture of elements from Gnosticism, Neoplatonism, Judaism, and Iranian religion. The Druze believe in the divinity of al-kim bi-Amr Allh (985-1021?), sixth caliph of the Ftimid dynasty of Egypt, and expect him to return someday to inaugurate a golden age. The Druze are divided hierachically into two orders the sages, who are fully initiated in the beliefs of the religion, and the ignorant, who constitute the uninitiated lay majority. They permit no converts, either to or from their religion, and no intermarriage. Their religious system is kept secret from the outside world, and they are permitted to deny their faith if their life is in danger. In the early 21st century they numbered about one million, mostly in Syria and Lebanon
an adherent of an esoteric monotheistic religious sect living in the relative security of the mountains of Syria and Lebanon who believes that Al-hakim was an incarnation of God; "a Druze is permitted to conform outwardly to the faith of the unbelieversamong whom he lives
Member of a religious community that constitutes a minority among Arabic-speaking Palestinians in Israel Druze beliefs contain elements of Shia (q v ) Islam, Christianity, and paganism
Druze is a layer of crystals that form within a mineral crust, like the inner cavity of a geode Amethyst crystals are often found in a druze The inner cavity of agate geodes are often lined with a druze of sparkling quartz crystals
an adherent of an esoteric monotheistic religious sect living in the relative security of the mountains of Syria and Lebanon who believes that Al-hakim was an incarnation of God; "a Druze is permitted to conform outwardly to the faith of the unbelievers among whom he lives"