Seven Pillars of Islam (Druze)

The Druze (a group with Ismaili roots who describe themselves as Muslims, but are not considered by most Muslims to be Muslims) believe in seven pillars of faith. The Druze call these seven ordinances "da‘a'im al-Islam", rather than, as most Muslims do, "arkan al-Islam". [ [http://www.jewishsightseeing.com/israel/daliyat_al_karmil/19990115-druze_qanda.htm Druze Q & A ] ]

The Seven Pillars

The Druze follow the Shī‘a Ismā‘īlī Seven Pillars of Islam, which have three doctrines not included in the Sunni Five Pillars of Islam. In the case of the Druze faith, their three are Walayah, Shahadah and Jihad. Each of the pillars have been renamed to feature their unique esoteric meaning.

List

The ordering of the pillars as understood by Druze is as follows:
# Taslīm "Submission" denotes love and devotion to God, the prophets, the Imām (al-Hakīm) and the du‘āt "missionaries". In Ismā‘īlī doctrine, God is the true desire of every soul, and he manifests himself in the forms of prophets and imāms; the appointed "du‘āt" lead believers to the right path.
# Shahādatayn "Profession of Faith". The Druze never mention ‘Alī, unlike most Ismā‘īlīs, as they believe al-Hakīm supersedes his authority.
# "Sidqu l-Lisān" "speaking Truth (to/about God)": The Druze believe that the meaning of prayer is "sidqu l-lisān" and do not believe in five daily prayers. They do sometimes attend prayers, which is the practice of the "uninitiated" ("juhhāl") and historically was also done for reasons of "taqiyya".
# "Hifzu l-Ikhwān" "Protection of One's Brothers": The Druze practice a culturally complex practice of interdependence instead of a set fee to a religious scholar or organisation (i.e. zakat)
# "Tark ‘Ibādat al-Awthān" "Deserting Idol-Worship": The Druze emphasise the esoteric meaning of the traditional pillar called sawm, by which they mean that which detracts from communion with God is an idol ("wathan").
# Hajj “Pilgrimage”: The Druze interpret this completely metaphorically as "fleeing from devils and oppressors" and rarely go to Mecca. [cite web | url=http://lexicorient.com/e.o/ismailis.htm | title = Isma'ilism | accessdate=2007-04-24]
# "Rīda" "Contentment": The Druze have a long history of military and political engagement, but refer to this pillar solely as the struggle (jihad) to fight that which removes you from the ease of the Divine Presence, a meaning similar to that of the Nizari. In addition, the "‘Uqqāl" "Wise Ones", the religious cadre of the Druze, are pacifists.

ee also

*Sunni Five Pillars of Islam and Six articles of belief and Sixth pillar of Islam
*Shi'a twelvers Roots of Religion and Branches of Religion
*Shi'a Ismaili Seven Pillars of Islam

References