THE INTELLECTUAL CONFRONTATION OF ESOTERIC DOCTRINES – THE DRUZE AS A MODEL

Abstract

Islam did not come to abolish others or eliminate their physical existence or even to close off from others regardless of their thought, religion, gender or color. Rather, it came with the idea of ​​accepting the other, understanding him, and engaging in dialogue with him and confronting him intellectually. Islam is the first founder of the horizon of peace and peaceful coexistence with principles applied on earth such as the “Document of Medina” and the confirmation of that in the eternal book in the Almighty’s saying (To you be your religion, and to me mine

Hence, both the faith and the Sharia came with legislation and protective measures to confront deviation in the development of man intellectually, behaviorally, and socially, by establishing the correct faith and consecrating human values ​​in a moderate Sharia that makes things easy for people and does not make them difficult, in order to preserve the humanity of man at all times and places, by establishing human rights without regard to his thought, gender, color, or religion, and by implementing the principles of justice and equality among all people.

Among the sects that Islam confronted intellectually were the esoteric sects, including the Druze sect. Many Islamic scholars confronted this sect through dialogue and debate, and this was evident in the many writings that emerged with the emergence of these sects. These efforts continue to this day, and this study is considered a modest contribution in this regard.

he study consisted of two sections. The first was devoted to the Druze faith, while the second focused on methods for intellectually confronting the Druze faith. The study concluded that intellectually confronting deviant beliefs requires a thorough understanding of the origins of the deviation so that intellectual treatment can have an impact on change.