Islam in Lebanon explained

Group:Islam in Lebanon
الإسلام في لبنان
Population:2-3.5 million[1]

Islam in Lebanon has a long and continuous history. According to an estimate by the CIA, it is followed by 63% of the country's total population.[2] Sunnis make up 31.9%,[3] Twelver Shia make up 31.2%,[4] next to smaller percentages of other Shia branches, such as Alawites and Ismailis. The Druze community is designated as one of the five Lebanese Muslim communities (Sunni, Shia, Druze, Alawi, and Ismaili),[5] [6] even though most Druze do not identify as Muslims,[7] [8] [9] [10] [11] and they do not accept the five pillars of Islam.[12]

Under the terms of an agreement known as the National Pact between the various political and religious leaders of Lebanon, the president of the country must be a Maronite, the Prime Minister must be a Sunnite, and the Speaker of Parliament must be a Shiite.

Demographics

See also: Demographics of Lebanon.

Note that the following percentages are estimates only. However, in a country that had last census in 1932, it is difficult to have correct population estimates.

The number of Muslims in Lebanon has been disputed for many years. There has been no official census in Lebanon since 1932. According to the CIA World Factbook,[13] the Muslim population is estimated at around 59.5%[14] within the Lebanese territory and of the 8.6[15] –14[16] million Lebanese diaspora is believed by some to be about 20% of the total population.

The last census in Lebanon in 1932 put the numbers of Muslims (Shia 19%, Sunni 22%, Druze 7%) at 48% of the population (388,400 of 791,700).[17] A study done by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in 1985 put the numbers of Muslims (Shia 41%, Sunni 27%, Druze 7%) at 75% of the population (1,667,000 of 2,228,000).[17]

Current political and religious issues

Although Lebanon is a secular country, family matters such as marriage, divorce and inheritance are still handled by the religious authorities representing a person's faith. Calls for civil marriage are unanimously rejected by the religious authorities but civil marriages conducted in another country are recognized by Lebanese civil authorities.

Atheism is not recognized by the state. However, the Minister of the Interior Ziad Baroud made it possible in 2009 to have the religious sect removed from one’s Lebanese identity card. This does not, however, deny religious authorities complete control over civil family issues inside the country.[18] [19]

Branches

Lebanese Muslims are divided into many branches like Shiites, Sunnis, Druze, Alawites, and Ismailis.

Shia Islam

See main article: article, Shia Islam, Twelver Shia, Alawites, Isma'ilism and Shia Islam in Lebanon.

The Lebanese Shia Muslims are around 27%–29%[20] [21] of the total population. Twelvers are the predominant Shia group, followed by Alawites and Ismailis. The Speaker of Parliament is always a Shi'a Muslim, as it is the only high post that Shi'as are eligible for.[22] [23] [24] [25] The Shiites are largely concentrated in northern and central Beqaa, Southern Lebanon, in south Beirut (southern parts of Greater Beirut).[26] [27]

Sunni Islam

See main article: article, Sunni Islam and Sunni Islam in Lebanon.

The Lebanese Sunni Muslims constitute also about 27%–29% of the total population with the Hanafi and Shafiʽi madhhab being the predominant Sunni groups. Sunni notables traditionally held power in the Lebanese state together, and they are still the only ones eligible for the post of Prime Minister[28] Sunnis form the majority in west Beirut, Tripoli, Sidon, Central and Western Beqaa and hasbaya, ikleem al kharroub, Miniyeh and Danniyeh districts, and Akkar in the north. Several large Sufi orders are active in the country, including the Naqshbandi and Qadiriyya tariqas.

Druze

See main article: article, Druze and Lebanese Druze.

The Lebanese Druze constitute 5% of the population and can be found primarily in Mount Lebanon and the Shouf District. Under the Lebanese political division (Parliament of Lebanon Seat Allocation) the Druze community is designated as one of the five Lebanese Muslim communities (Sunni, Shia, Druze, Alawi, and Ismaili).[5] [6] Most Druze do not identify as Muslims.[29] [30] [31] [32] [33]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2012 Report on International Religious Freedom - Lebanon . . 20 May 2013 . 15 December 2013.
  2. https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/lebanon/#people-and-society "Lebanon: people and society"
  3. https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/lebanon/#people-and-society "Lebanon: people and society"
  4. https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/lebanon/#people-and-society "Lebanon: people and society"
  5. Book: Lebanon Country Study Guide Volume 1 Strategic Information and Developments . 2009-06-07 . Ibp USA . 9781438774824 . 2019-04-24 .
  6. Book: Lebanon Country Study Guide Volume 1 Strategic Information and Developments - Google Books . 2009-06-07 . Ibp USA . 9781438774824 . 2019-04-24 .
  7. Book: Pintak, Lawrence. America & Islam: Soundbites, Suicide Bombs and the Road to Donald Trump. Bloomsbury Publishing. 2019. 9781788315593. 86.
  8. Book: Jonas, Margaret. The Templar Spirit: The Esoteric Inspiration, Rituals and Beliefs of the Knights Templar. Temple Lodge Publishing. 2011. 9781906999254. 83. [Druze] often they are not regarded as being Muslim at all, nor do all the Druze consider themselves as Muslim.
  9. Web site: 8 August 2018. Are the Druze People Arabs or Muslims? Deciphering Who They Are. 13 April 2020. Arab America. en.
  10. Book: J. Stewart, Dona. The Middle East Today: Political, Geographical and Cultural Perspectives. Routledge. 2008. 9781135980795. 33. Most Druze do not consider themselves Muslim. Historically they faced much persecution and keep their religious beliefs secrets..
  11. Book: Yazbeck Haddad, Yvonne. The Oxford Handbook of American Islam. Oxford University Press. 2014. 9780199862634. 142. While they appear parallel to those of normative Islam, in the Druze religion they are different in meaning and interpretation. The religion is considered distinct from the Ismaili as well as from other Muslims belief and practice... Most Druze consider themselves fully assimilated in American society and do not necessarily identify as Muslims...
  12. Book: De McLaurin, Ronald. The Political Role of Minority Groups in the Middle East. Michigan University Press. 1979. 9780030525964. 114. Theologically, one would have to conclude that the Druze are not Muslims. They do not accept the five pillars of Islam. In place of these principles the Druze have instituted the seven precepts noted above...
  13. Web site: CIA - The World Factbook - Middle East :: Lebanon . . . Washington, DC, USA . August 1, 2012 . August 4, 2012.
  14. Web site: Statistics Lebanon Beirut-based research firm.
  15. Web site: Bassil promises to ease citizenship for expatriates . Dailystar.com.lb . 2019-04-24 . 2018-09-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180902011911/http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Lebanon-News/2014/May-01/255048-bassil-promises-to-ease-citizenship-for-expatriates.ashx#axzz30yVHukzf . dead .
  16. Web site: Country Profile: Lebanon . https://web.archive.org/web/20030731063643/http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket%2FXcelerate%2FShowPage&c=Page&cid=1007029394365&a=KCountryProfile&aid=1018721190906 . dead . 31 July 2003 . . 3 April 2007 . 17 November 2017 .
  17. Web site: Contemporary distribution of Lebanon's main religious groups . Central Intelligence Agency . 2013-12-15.
  18. Piero Gheddo (2009-02-13) LEBANON Religious affiliation to disappear from Lebanese documents – Asia News. Asianews.it. Retrieved on 2013-09-26.
  19. http://www.barcodenation.co.uk/identity-blog/2009/02/religious-affiliation-can-be-removed-from-lebanese-id-cards/ Religious Affiliation Can Be Removed From Lebanese ID Cards
  20. Web site: International Religious Freedom Report 2008 – Lebanon. September 19, 2008. 2008 Report on International Religious Freedom. US Department of State. 2009-01-08.
  21. Web site: Countries with more than 100,000 Shia Muslims . . 21 September 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130118183951/http://pewforum.org/uploadedfiles/Orphan_Migrated_Content/Muslimpopulation.pdf . 18 January 2013 .
  22. Web site: Lebanon-Religious Sects . GlobalSecurity.org . 2010-08-11.
  23. Web site: March for secularism; religious laws are archaic. NOW Lebanon. 2010-08-11. https://web.archive.org/web/20120312055843/http://www.nowlebanon.com/NewsArchiveDetails.aspx?ID=163321. 2012-03-12. dead.
  24. Web site: Fadlallah Charges Every Sect in Lebanon Except his Own Wants to Dominate the Country. . 2010-08-11.
  25. Web site: Aspects of Christian-Muslim Relations in Contemporary Lebanon . . Hartford, CT, USA . George J. . Hajjar . hartsem.edu . August 4, 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120827094237/http://hartsem.edu/aspects-christian-muslim-relations-contemporary-lebanon . August 27, 2012 .
  26. Web site: Minority Rights Group International : Lebanon : Lebanon Overview . Minorityrights.org .
  27. http://www.minorityrights.org/5062/lebanon/ithnaashari-shias.html Lebanon Ithna'ashari Shias Overview
  28. Web site: Lebanon . . Washington, DC, USA . state.gov . August 4, 2012.
  29. Book: Pintak, Lawrence. America & Islam: Soundbites, Suicide Bombs and the Road to Donald Trump. 2019. 9781788315593. 86. Bloomsbury Publishing.
  30. Book: Jonas, Margaret. The Templar Spirit: The Esoteric Inspiration, Rituals and Beliefs of the Knights Templar. 2011. 9781906999254. 83. Temple Lodge Publishing. [Druze] often they are not regarded as being Muslim at all, nor do all the Druze consider themselves as Muslim.
  31. Web site: Are the Druze People Arabs or Muslims? Deciphering Who They Are . Arab America . 13 April 2020 . en . 8 August 2018.
  32. Book: J. Stewart, Dona. The Middle East Today: Political, Geographical and Cultural Perspectives. 2008. 9781135980795. 33. Routledge. Most Druze do not consider themselves Muslim. Historically they faced much persecution and keep their religious beliefs secrets..
  33. Book: Yazbeck Haddad, Yvonne . The Oxford Handbook of American Islam. 2014. 9780199862634. 142. Oxford University Press. While they appear parallel to those of normative Islam, in the Druze religion they are different in meaning and interpretation. The religion is considered distinct from the Ismaili as well as from other Muslims belief and practice... Most Druze consider themselves fully assimilated in American society and do not necessarily identify as Muslims...

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