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The Ismā'īlī Shi'a (the Nizari, Druze, and Mustaali) have more pillars than those of the Sunni. The Shahadah (profession of faith) is not considered a pillar and is instead seen as the foundation upon which they are built.[1]

Ismā'īlī pillars

Druze list

The ordering of the pillars as understood by Druze is as follows:

  1. Taslīm "submission" denotes love and devotion to God, the prophets, the Imām (al-Hakīm) and the du‘āt "missionaries". In Ismā‘īlī doctrine, God is the true desire of every soul, and he manifests himself in the forms of prophets and imāms; the appointed du‘āt lead believers to the right path.
  2. Shahādatayn "profession of faith".
  3. Sidqu l-Lisān "speaking truth (to/about God)": The Druze believe that the meaning of prayer is sidqu l-lisān
  4. Hifzu l-Ikhwān "protection of one's brothers": The Druze practice a culturally complex system of interdependence instead of a set fee to a religious scholar or organisation (i.e. zakat)
  5. Tark ‘Ibādat al-Awthān "deserting idol-worship": The Druze emphasise the esoteric meaning of the traditional pillar called sawm, by which they mean that which detracts from communion with God is an idol (wathan).
  6. Hajj "pilgrimage": The Druze interpret this completely metaphorically as "fleeing from devils and oppressors"
  7. Rīda "contentment": The Druze have a long history of military and political engagement, but refer to this pillar solely as the struggle (jihad) to fight that which removes one from the ease of the Divine Presence, a meaning similar to that of the Nizari. In addition, the ‘Uqqāl "Wise Ones", the religious cadre of the Druze, are pacifists.

See also

References

  1. ^ Poonawala, Ismail K. (5 April 2012) [15 December 2007]. "Ismāʿīlī jurisprudence". Encyclopædia Iranica.
  2. ^ "Isma'ilism". Archived from the original on 2019-03-08. Retrieved 2007-04-24.