In 2011, the Civil War in Syria began, the consequences of which we see to this day. One of its reasons was the confrontation of Sunni Muslims against the Alawites, who hold high positions under Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The president himself is also an Alavit. Who are they?
Most Alawites live in Syria. There are also large communities in Turkey, Argentina, Lebanon and Germany. There are still Alevites in Turkey - they should not be confused with the Alavites. Most in Syria are Sunni Muslims, so many are unhappy that they are ruled by Alawite President Bashar al-Assad, which strengthens Alawite interests in the state.
Historically, the Alawites lived on the Mediterranean coast in Syria in the Latakia region. They are also widely represented in the capital of the country - Damascus.
Syrian religious and ethnic groups (alavites in western Syria).
Alawite Prerequisites
The faith of the Alawites differs from Sunnis, the largest direction of Islam. The Alavites are closer to the Shiites because they believe that the continuity of power in Islam should be transmitted through the relatives of the Prophet Muhammad. From their point of view, the only true successor to the case of Muhammad was the Caliph Ali ibn Abu Talib, the son-in-law and cousin of the prophet, and not his associates. Therefore, they are called "alavites" - followers of Ali.
In the 7th century, Shiites were divided into two groups: those who consider Ali and his descendants the true heirs of Muhammad, and those who, in addition to this, deified Khalifa Ali and his descendants. The second group is called the term "gulat", which means "adult". Alavita belong to the gulat.
Shiite-Dvunateniki (the largest group of Shiites).
The first movements of the gulat arose in the 7th century with the advent of the Kaisanites - the movement of Al-Mukhtar. They believed that the descendants of Muhammad through the Caliph of Ali were holy people and prophets. In the 9th century, the first Gulat state in eastern Arabia, the Karmat state, arose. In parallel with him, the Shiite Fatimid caliphate arose. Their development coincided with the crusades, which weakened the influence of Shiites in Syria, thereby generating specific Islamic movements. Among such movements, Druze from the south of Syria, assassins and Alavites are distinguished.
Muhammad ibn Nusayr - the first Alavit
The emergence of Alavism is associated with the theological activities of Shiite Muhammad ibn Nusayr. Therefore, the Alavites are also called nusayrites. Ibn Nusayr was the assistant (bab) of the eleventh imam of Shiite-Dvunatenists Hassan al-Askari. During the life of Ibn Nusayr, Shiite-Dvunateniki split due to the lack of a successor to al-Askari. Ibn Nusayr saw himself as the representative of the twelfth hidden imam, but most of the binaries, led by the deputies of the imam, rejected him, which is why Ibn Nusayr went underground and founded Alavism.
Men and women of Alavites.
Followers of Ibn Nusayra were active in Aleppo and Baghdad, but then their center moved to Latakia when the Middle East began to capture sonnits-eljuki.
Alawite Fight
The founder of Salafism, Ibn Taymiya (14th century), criticized the Alawites for using wine and teaching about the reincarnation of the soul. Ibn Taymiya drew attention to the fact that the Alavites believe in a god who is different from Allah. Ali ibn Abu Talib was for them a creature of heaven (god) and earth (imam, ruler).
North African traveler Ibn Battut (died 1377) noted that the Alawites believed in Ali as a god. Also, they did not pray, did not perform ritual ablutions, and did not observe fasting. Mosques built by Mamluk rulers were used as stables.
In the 16th century, the Ottomans tried to fight the Shiites, including the Alawites. But the Alavites were able to survive, and in the 19th century their leaders advocated autonomy in Syria. After the First World War, they began to be regarded as an independent entity within Syria and for the first time designated as "alavites." In the end, the Alawites were able to subjugate the whole of Syria with the Sunni majority.
Alavita Syria
Alavites in Syrian power
The modern regime of Syria began with Hafez al-Assad. He ruled the country from 1971 to 2000. His successor was his son - the current president of Syria, Bashar al-Assad. The Assad family put the Alawite people close to the highest posts in the army and special services. However, there were also influential Sunni families surrounded by Assad. The Syrian branch of the Ba'ath party is also composed of Sunnis.
Nevertheless, it was the Alavites who were more entrenched in the state apparatus, which causes great dissatisfaction on the part of the Sunnis - we see manifestations of their discontent in the current news.
Hafez al-Assad and Bashar al-Assad on a poster.
Alavism as a mixture of Islam and Christianity
Alavites, originating from among Shiites-Dvunatenites, continue to maintain part of Shiite teachings. They are true to Ali ibn Abu Talibu, but at the same time believe in the idea of a woman (representative, teacher), who is the "enemies" of a hidden imam. They have their own sacred text - Kitab al-Majmu, where the creed of the Alawites is partially presented, however, modern Alavites consider the book a fake, because Alavism involves a creed that should not be available to strangers.
After the conquering campaigns of the crusaders, the Alavita borrowed Christian ideas. They “shiitsky” perceived the idea of the Trinity, where Ali ibn Abu Talib acted as “Mana” (esoteric entity), the Prophet Muhammad as “Ism” (esoteric name), and Salman al-Farisi as “Bab” (a gate to the esoteric essence of Ali). Salman al-Farisi was a associate of the Prophet Muhammad and the first Persian to convert to Islam. Mana is the source of everything. Mana (Ali) spawned Ism (Muhammed), and Ism spawned Bab (Salman).
Shiite image of Ali ibn Abu Talib.
Thus, for the Alawites, Ali ibn Abu Talib, the son-in-law and cousin of the Prophet Muhammad, is the God who sent the Prophet Muhammad to the earth to spread his teaching. Therefore, the Alawite Shahada (certificate of faith) is as follows:
I testify that there is no god but Ali ibn Abu Talib, there is no hidden except Muhammad, and there are no other gates besides Salman al-Farisi.
Alavites believe in reincarnation, which is associated with the idea of fall. Initially, people were divine lights, but then fell to the ground to pass a series of rebirths. Only men can reincarnate.
In addition to traditional Muslim holidays, Alavites celebrate Christian holidays such as Christmas, Epiphany and Pentecost. Alavites cultivate Christian saints - Maria Magdalene, Simeon Stolpnik. They also practice the use of bread and wine according to the type of Christian sacrament of the Eucharist.
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