Alawites

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The following article is from The Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1979). It might be outdated or ideologically biased.

Alawites

(also called Alawi or Nusairis).

(1) Followers of a Shiite sect of the same name. The Alawites took their name from the Caliph Ali, who is venerated as the embodiment of god. The other name, Nusairis, comes from the name of Ibn Nusair (ninth century), who is considered to be the founder of the sect. The Alawites live in Syria and southern Turkey. Their beliefs are close to the beliefs of the Ismailis, but also include elements of ancient Eastern astral cults and of Christianity. The Alawites worship the sun and the moon, believe in the transmigration of souls, celebrate several Christian holidays and have Christian names.

(2) A dynasty in Morocco (from 1664); it is also called the Filali or Filali Sharifs.

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References in periodicals archive ?

In 1976, the Islamist magazine Vesika announced Syria's occupation of Lebanon with the headline "The Don Quixotism of Assad the Alawite"; it described Hafez Al-Assad himself as one whose "Alawism predominated over his Leftism." (28) In 1979, as clashes between the Muslim Brotherhood and the Assad government grew steadily fiercer, many Islamist newspapers and magazines began to feature news stories and opinion columns about Syria.

Relations between Turkey and Syria in the 1980's and 1990's: Political Islam, Muslim Brotherhood and Intelligence Wars/1980 ve 1990'larda Turkiye ve Suriye arasindaki Iliskiler: Siyasi Islam, Musluman Kardesler ve Istihbarat Savaslari

Alawites are also called Nusayris, in reference to Mohammed Ibn Nusayr, a pupil of Shiism's 11th and 12th imams whose exact birth and death dates are not known and who founded Alawism. The French Mandate, which ruled Syria between 1918 and 1946, as well as Lebanon between 1918 and 1943, changed the name of the sect from Nusayris to Alawites to avoid mix-up with Nasara, a term given by many Muslims to Christians derived from the Arabic name of Nazareth, where Jesus Christ was born, according to the newspaper.

Alawites

In terms of Alawism, the Alawite population in Turkey is larger than the Alawite population in Syria.

Deputy FM: Iran Enjoys Stronger Influence Than US

Hafez converted from 'Alawism to become president of Syria after his military coup d'etat against the civilian wing of the ruling Ba'th Party - his orientations are pro-Shi'ite.

Syria's Ba'thists Encourage Converting Sunnis Into Shi'ism - Angering Neighbours

Da'ai al-Islam Shahhal is believed to have incited armed Sunnis during their clashes with neighboring Alawites (Alawism is a branch of Shiism) in Tripoli's poorest neighborhoods.

A brief history of Lebanon's Salafites

While Lebanon's refugee camps are believed to be hideouts for Lebanese, Palestinian and other suspected terrorists, Jabal Mohsen is home to many adherents of Alawism. Alawites are a small offshoot of Shiite Islam, which dominates the Baathist government in neighboring Syria.

Fundamentalists

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