Al-Darazi | |
|---|---|
الدرزي | |
| Born | Muhammad ibn Isma'il Nashtakin 10th century |
| Died | 1018 or 1019 |
Cause of death | Execution or killed in rioting |
| Occupation | Da'i (Preacher) |
| Known for | Namesake of the Druze religion; rival of Hamza ibn Ali |
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Muhammad ibn Isma'il al-Darazi (Arabic: محمد بن إسماعيل الدرزي; died c. 1018–1019) was an 11th-century Isma'ili preacher and a central figure during the early years of the Unitarian (*Muwahhidun*) movement. While the sect is known as the "Druze" in external literature—a name derived from his own—the community itself historically regards him as a heretic and a "Satanic" figure who betrayed the faith's original teachings.[1]
Life and Arrival in Cairo
Al-Darazi was likely of Persian origin, born in Bukhara (modern-day Uzbekistan). His name is derived from the Persian word darzi, meaning "tailor."[2] He arrived in Cairo around 1015 or 1017 AD, joining the court of the Fatimid Caliph al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah.
Initially, al-Darazi was a disciple of Hamza ibn Ali, the movement's primary theologian. However, al-Darazi's ambition led to a severe schism. He began promoting himself as the "Lord of the Guides" and sought to bypass Hamza's authority to gain direct favor with the Caliph.[3]
Conflict and "Bad Teachings"
The rivalry between Hamza and al-Darazi was both political and theological. Al-Darazi is criticized in Druze history for several "bad" teachings and actions:
- The "Sword of the Faith": Al-Darazi took the militant title Sayf al-Din ("The Sword of the Faith"). Hamza ibn Ali famously rebuked him in the Epistles of Wisdom, stating, "Faith does not need a sword to aid it."[4]
- Public Extremism: While the movement was meant to be esoteric (secret), al-Darazi publicly proclaimed the literal divinity of al-Hakim in the mosques of Cairo. This led to violent riots by the general population who viewed his words as blasphemy.
- Antinomianism: He was accused of allowing "forbidden" acts, including the consumption of wine and incestuous marriages, though modern scholars such as Farhad Daftary suggest these may have been exaggerations used by his rivals to ensure his total excommunication.[2]
Death
By 1018, the chaos caused by al-Darazi’s preaching forced the Caliph to act. Most historical accounts state that al-Darazi was either killed by a mob during the street riots he provoked or was executed by Caliph al-Hakim to restore order and appease the public.[5] After his death, Hamza ibn Ali remained the sole spiritual leader of the faith and officially denounced al-Darazi as "the insolent one" and "Satan."
Legacy
Despite being an outcast, the term "Druze" stuck to the followers of the movement because external observers identified them with al-Darazi's early public preaching. The community continues to refer to themselves as al-Muwahhidun (The Unitarians).[6]
References
- "Muḥammad ibn Ismāʿīl ad-Darazī". Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved 2026-05-10.
- Daftary, Farhad (1992). The Isma'ilis: Their History and Doctrines. Cambridge University Press. pp. 196–198. ISBN 978-0-521-42974-0.
- Swayd, Samy (2009). The A to Z of the Druzes. Scarecrow Press. p. 32. ISBN 9780810870024.
- Makarim, Sami Nasib (1974). The Druze Faith. Caravan Books. ISBN 978-0882060033.
- Esposito, John L. (2003). The Oxford Dictionary of Islam. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0195125580.
- "History of the Muwahhidun". Druze Heritage Foundation. Retrieved 2026-05-10.