The Nusayri community, with a history spanning over a thousand years, has endured persistent challenges to its existence. Rooted in a syncretic religious tradition, the Nusayris have faced relentless persecution and attempts at eradication by Sunni-majority rulers who viewed them as pagans and heretics. Despite this, the Nusayris have managed to survive as a distinct group, fiercely clinging to their beliefs and cultural identity.
Muhammad ibn Nusayr (the founder of Nusayri sect) and other Ja’fari movements are different because of his support for esoteric beliefs, which are not part of the Ja’fari faith (Twelver Shia). He claimed to be the bab (gate) of Hasan ibn Ali al-Askari, which led both Sunni and Twelver scholars to label him and his followers as ghulat (extremists), kafir (infidels), and batini (esoteric).
Religion
The religion of the Nusayris is secretive and appears to be a blend of extreme Shi’a (Ghulat) beliefs, ancient pagan traditions, Gnostic ideas, and Christian elements. While they are sometimes seen as a branch of Twelver Shi’ism, they are actually an independent religion. They do not follow the five pillars of Islam, and instead of mosques, they gather in private homes for their religious practices. Their festivals include both Persian and Christian holy days. They also have a ceremony similar to the Christian mass and believe in a Trinitarian view of God.
Their Holy Books
TThe Nusayris have two holy books. The first is the Quran al-Karim, which is followed by all Muslims. Nusayris believe that the Quran has two meanings: an exoteric meaning that is accessible to everyone, and an esoteric meaning that cannot be understood by all. They also believe that the Quran has been altered over time and, as a result, has lost its true meaning. The second holy book for the Nusayris is the Kitab al-Majmu, written by Hamdan al-Khasibi. This book is seen as the foundation of their faith and serves as a guide for religious and ritual training.
Deviant Beliefs
The witness (sahada) of Nusayris is written in “Nisbe Chapter” as like:
“I witness that there is no God but Ali ibn Abi Talib, There is no Hijab but Muhammad al-Mahmud, There is no Bab but Salman al-Farisi.”
According to Nusayris, God reveals himself on earth in certain periods known as qubba. In each of these revelations, “Ism” and “Bab” accompany him. Ma’na is God himself, Ism the prophet, and Bab is the gate that assists them.
The “ma’na-isim-bab” (significance-name-door) belief system of the Nusayris is not openly taught because their understanding is meant to be kept secret. As a result, they do not share these beliefs with outsiders, which leads to the creation of generations who are not fully educated about their own faith. According to Nusayri belief, the divinity of Ali is based on a transcendental God. They believe that God reincarnated six times in human form, and in the seventh incarnation, God manifested in Ali during the time of Muhammad (ﷺ).
In Kitab al-Majmu’ in the subject of Genesis, it is suggested that Ali ibn Talib created Muhammad (ﷺ), Muhammad (ﷺ) created Salman al-Farsi, and he created the 5 honorable aytams (incomparables) and finally they created the world. The five aytams are Miqdad ibn Aswad who orders the nature, Abdullah ibn Rawaha who orders the beings, Othman ibn Mudhun who orders the sustenance and illness, Abu Dar alGifari who orders the stars.
Mystery – The Key Element
Mystery plays a crucial role in the Nusayri faith, as it is an esoteric belief system. This mystery is centered around three letters that form the foundation of their beliefs.
عAyn, م Mim , س Sin
The first letter, “ayn,” represents Ali, the second letter, “mim,” represents Muhammad, and the third letter, “sin,” represents Salman al-Farisi. Nusayriyah is closely tied to a specific family lineage, and only those who belong to a Nusayriyah family can be accepted into the sect. Additionally, the Nusayri doctrine of mystery and rituals is exclusively practiced in an all-male context. Women are strictly forbidden from participating in these rituals, and the mystery is never revealed to them. It is also claimed that the Nusayris believe women do not have souls, which is why they refer to Fatima bint Muhammad as “Fatir” to avoid associating her with femininity.
Belief in Reincarnation
Reincarnation is a fundamental belief in Nusayriyah and is extended in various ways. According to the Nusayris, people are reincarnated based on their actions, with the world seen as a place where people are tested. They believe that for justice to be maintained, individuals must be reincarnated to experience different statuses and situations. For example, someone who faced poverty in a past life may be reincarnated as a wealthy person to be tested with wealth. Likewise, someone born with a disease or physical handicap will be reborn as a healthy person in their next life. This system of reincarnation ensures justice, according to their beliefs.
Those who have committed serious sins are believed to be reincarnated seven times in animal form. This cycle continues until the day of judgment. A believer undergoes seven transformations before reaching their place in heaven. However, those who do not accept Ali as God are believed to be reincarnated as animals, such as horses or donkeys, until they accept this belief.
Their Rituals
For the Nusayris, the rituals of Islam, such as salah (prayer), zakat (charity), and fasting, are required for those who are unaware of the “secrets of absolute truth.” However, those who are knowledgeable of these secrets are exempt from these rituals. The pilgrimage for Nusayris is not to Mecca, but to the tombs and mausoleums of their Sheiks and Elders. They begin their pilgrimages in April, visiting these sites, which are typically painted white.
Fasting, for the Nusayris, symbolizes keeping the secrecy that represents the silence of Abdullah b. Abd al-Muttalib. Despite this, they still recognize the month of Ramadan as a sacred time, similar to other Muslims, and they associate each day with the names of important figures in their faith. As for zakat, it is interpreted as the act of giving the wealth of the rich to the Sheik, supporting the leadership within their community. They have no mosques, but meet meet in private houses for their religious rituals. For their prayer rituals they face towards the Sun.
Fatwa of Ibn Taymiyyah
Below is the Fatwa of Shiek ul-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah regarding Nusayri and their aqeeda:
All Praise is for Allah, Lord of all worlds. These people named “Al-Nusayriyyah”, and other groups from among the Qaraamitah and Baatiniyyah, are greater disbelievers than the Jews and Christians. Nay, they are greater disbelievers than most of the mushrikeen (polytheists from other than Ahl ul-Kitab), and their harm to the Ummah of Muhammad, sallallahu alaihi wa sallam, is greater than the harm of the disbelievers who are in war with Muslims, such as at-Tatar, disbelieving Europeans and others.
For they present themselves in front of ignorant Muslims as supporters and advocates of Ahl ul Bayt, while in reality they do not believe in Allah, or the Messenger, or the Book, or [Allah’s] orders, or prohibitions, or reward, or punishment, or Paradise, or Fire, or in one of the Messengers before Muhammad, sallallahu `alaihi wa sallam, or in a religion from among previous religions. Rather, they take the words of Allah and His Messenger, known to the scholars of Muslims, and they interpret them based on their fabrications, claiming that their interpretations are “hidden knowledge (“ilm `ul-baatin”).
They have no limit in their unbelief with regards to Allah’s Names, His verses, and their distortion of the Speech of Allah, the Most High, and His Messenger from their proper places [usages]. Their aim is the repudiation of Islamic Beliefs and Laws in every possible way, trying to make it appear that these matters have realities that they know, such as that “five prayers” means knowledge of their secrets, “obligatory fast” hiding of their secrets, and “pilgrimage to Bayt al-`Atiq” visit to their shaikhs, and that the two hands of Abu Lahab represent Abu Bakr and Umar, and that “the great news and the manifest imam” (an naba’ul `adheem wal imaamul mubin) is `Ali ibn Abi Talib.
Muslim scholars have written books, unveiling their secrets, exposing their veils, explaining what they are upon from disbelief, infidelity and atheism, by which they are greater disbelievers than the Jews, Christians, and Indian idol-worshipping Brahmans.
It is known to us that the coast of Sham was only taken over by the Christians from their (Nusayri) side. And also that they are always on the side of every enemy against Muslims, so [you find that] they are with Christians against Muslims.
From the greatest afflictions that have befallen them are Muslims’ opening conquest of the coast (of Sham) and defeat of the Christians. Nay, one of the greatest afflictions that has befallen them is Muslims’ victory over Tatar, and from the greatest holidays for them is the Christians conquest of Muslim ports.
[Majmoo` al-Faatwaa 35/145]
