Cultural aspects in Christian and Islamic religions - unesdoc - Unesco

‘Uqqal (the
Knowledgeable Initiates)
Unitarian Druze Sheikhs are called ‘’uqqal’ (the
Knowledgeable Initiates) since farida (religious
duty) is for them to use commit (in Arabic ya‘qilu,
hence ‘uqqal) themselves to turn away from all that
is forbidden in the religious law and turn towards
all what is extolled (hamid). They are the ones who
comply with fara’id (all religious duties) and acts
of worship. They endeavor to grasp the depths of
the provisions of their religious school (madhhab)
and the sciences of religion. They refrain from all
that is haram (sinful) and are far form all suspicion
(shubha). They wear a white turban (‘amama) on
shaved heads.
The clothes of the ‘uqqal are quite simple, in fact
modest and decent. The basis is the outer garment (in
colloquial Arabic ‘Qimbaz’) then for practical reasons
it was replaced by a pair of loose trousers. The Abaya
that the Sheikhs wear may be three types:
and social occasions;
usually worn by the elderly among the
Druze;
it is worn only by those whom the Trusted
Sheikhs see to be truthful in Tawhid and in
character; this means to the Druze that this
person has advanced in science, fear of God,
and virtue.
Unitarian Druze women ought to wear clothes
that cover their bodies in full; they are wrapped in
a white scarf that covers the head, the chest, and
the back. Those among them who are religious
also cover their mouth and the lower part of their
face. As to what is commonly known as ‘the round
turban’ (al-‘amama al-mudawwara’) it is related
to a conventional system amongst the Trusted
Sheikhs. In fact, the Trusted Sheikhs chose one or
more amongst them, in whom they see the true
continuation of their righteous forefathers and
their spiritual esoteric knowledge (sirr), as well as
a continuation of what binds followers of Tawhid,
a bond that will go on until the final hour. This is
why their minds meet to crown this trust with a
fine symbol, i.e. this turban (‘amama) that takes
the most complete of all shapes: the circle.
One mutakammil (the one that has a beard) Unitarian Druze Sheikh, in his
religious outfit: a red ‘abaya with a black ‘abaya above it.
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