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Brill's Islamic History and Civilization
The Nuṣayrī-ʿAlawīs: An Introduction to the Religion, History and Identity of the Leading Minority in Syria
A century after Dussaud's "Histoire et religion des Nosairis" (1900), new light is shed on the medieval history and the mysterious religion of the leading sect in Syria in a comprehensive and updated study of the Nuṣayrī-ʿAlawīs."
352 pages, Hardcover
First published November 23, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
March 6, 2025
Good book, although I wished it went more into the history of the sect, it kind of cuts off at a certain point.
September 16, 2023
Good book. It discusses many things about Alawi religion, its predominantly about the medieval history, and its not about Assad or modern day Syria. I got to learn about their theology of the bab, ma'na and ism. There emanations of God, Ali as the avatar.
Regarding the initiation of Alawites. This process is more nuanced and complex than what I initially expected it to be. There are stages, the marriage, gestation period etc; there is the student, and there is the teacher; there is the brotherhood, the family of other co-religionists. There's a lot of things. There is the wine ceremony, there is the promise never to reveal the hidden teachings or there will be severe punishment.
There is a dimension of strictness to the religion which puts me off, and something to it which I find a little "culty". More based on the description of how its practiced, based on this book, which puts me off. Especialy with the dimension of taqqiya being enforced on its practitioners.
Their authors also have strong antagonism to other rival sects and other sects which they consider as deficient shias, or haters of the ahlul bayt (Sunnis). There's probably diversity of belief today within the Alawite community, but I do trust the book. The book is a religion studies book not anthropology of how the people in the ethnic community practice today, but nevertheless, it has revealed a lot of interesting knowledge to me.
I've actually become more skeptical of their religion after reading about it. I found that with Nusayri history, they had a lot beef with other groups, and a lot of taqqiya. And then they demanded loyalty from their initiates. It didn't seem like a transparent group of people, or one that allowed for critical thinking.
Regarding the initiation of Alawites. This process is more nuanced and complex than what I initially expected it to be. There are stages, the marriage, gestation period etc; there is the student, and there is the teacher; there is the brotherhood, the family of other co-religionists. There's a lot of things. There is the wine ceremony, there is the promise never to reveal the hidden teachings or there will be severe punishment.
There is a dimension of strictness to the religion which puts me off, and something to it which I find a little "culty". More based on the description of how its practiced, based on this book, which puts me off. Especialy with the dimension of taqqiya being enforced on its practitioners.
Their authors also have strong antagonism to other rival sects and other sects which they consider as deficient shias, or haters of the ahlul bayt (Sunnis). There's probably diversity of belief today within the Alawite community, but I do trust the book. The book is a religion studies book not anthropology of how the people in the ethnic community practice today, but nevertheless, it has revealed a lot of interesting knowledge to me.
I've actually become more skeptical of their religion after reading about it. I found that with Nusayri history, they had a lot beef with other groups, and a lot of taqqiya. And then they demanded loyalty from their initiates. It didn't seem like a transparent group of people, or one that allowed for critical thinking.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews