Are Alawites the same as Shia?

The Alawis, Alawites (Arabic: علوية‎ Alawīyah), or Nusayris (Arabic: نصيرية‎ Nuṣayrīyah) are a religion which originated from Shia Islam. The Alawites revere Ali (Ali ibn Abi Talib), considered the first Imam of the Twelver school.

How many Alawites are there in Lebanon?

There are an estimated 40,000 Alawites in Lebanon, where they have lived since at least the 16th century. They are recognized as one of the 18 official Lebanese sects, and due to the efforts of an Alawite leader Ali Eid, the Taif Agreement of 1989 gave them two reserved seats in the Parliament.

What religion was Syria before Islam?

Until then, Syria was the main center of Eastern Orthodox Christianity. Conversion to Islam had scarcely begun prior to the invasion, apart from Arab tribes already settled in Syria; except for the tribe of Ghassan, these all became Muslim.

What are the beliefs of Alawites?

Alawi literally means “those who adhere to the teachings of Ali.” — But several beliefs differ sharply from traditional Islam. Named after Ali, Alawites believe he was divine, one of many manifestations of God in a line with Adam, Jesus, Mohammad, Socrates, Plato and some pre-Islamic sages from ancient Persia.

What is Syria called in the Bible?

Aram referred to as Syria & Mesopotamia. Aram (Aramaic: ܐܪܡ‎, romanized: Orom; Hebrew: אֲרָם‎, romanized: Arām), also known as Aramea, was a historical region including several Aramean kingdoms covering much of the present-day Syria, southeastern Turkey, and parts of Lebanon and Iraq.

Who are the Alawis in Syria?

The Alawis, also rendered as Alawites (Arabic: علوية‎ Alawiyyah/Alawīyah), are a sect of Ghulat branch of Shia Islam. primarily centred in Syria. The eponymously-named Alawites revere Ali (Ali ibn Abi Talib), considered the first Imam of the Twelver school.

What happened to the Alawites in Syria?

The Alawite State was later dismantled, but the Alawites continued to be a significant part of the Syrian Armed Forces. Since Hafez al-Assad took power through the 1970 Corrective Movement, the government has been dominated by a political elite led by the Alawite al-Assad family.

What language do Alawites in Syria speak?

Alawites in Syria speak a special dialect (part of Levantine Arabic) famous for the usage of letter (qāf). Lots of terms such as “qrd” (Akkadian: qar(r)ādu), means “hero” or “powerful one”, are still being used especially by rural Alawites.

Who are the Alawites and why do they matter?

During the Syrian Civil War, the Alawites have suffered as a result of their support for the Assad government against the mainly Sunni opposition, with up to a third of young Alawite men killed in the increasingly sectarian conflict.