The Alawites, also known as Nusayrites, are an Arab ethnoreligious group that live primarily in the Levant and follow Alawism, a religious sect that splintered from early Shia Islam as a ghulat branch during the ninth century.
There are an estimated 150,000 Alawites in Lebanon, where they have lived since at least the 16th century. The Alawite Muslims also form about 11% of the population of Syria.
Alawites venerate Ali ibn Abi Talib, the “first Imam” in the Twelver school, as the physical manifestation of God.
The group was founded by Ibn Nusayr during the 9th century. Ibn Nusayr was a disciple of the tenth Twelver Imam, Ali al-Hadi and of the eleventh Twelver Imam, Hasan al-Askari. For this reason, Alawites are also called Nusayris.
At the core of the Alawite creed is the belief in a divine Trinity, comprising three aspects of the one God. The aspects of the Trinity are Mana (meaning), Ism (Name) and Bab (Door). Nusayrite beliefs hold that these emanations underwent re-incarnation cyclically seven times in human form throughout history.
Alawite doctrine incorporates elements of Phoenician mythology, Gnosticism, neo-Platonism, Christian Trinitarianism* (for example, they celebrate Mass including the consecration of bread and wine)*; blending them with Muslim symbolism.
Alawite Trinity envisions God as being composed of three distinct manifestations, Ma’na (meaning), Ism (Name) and Bab (Door); which together constitute an “indivisible Trinity”. Ma’na symbolises the “source and meaning of all things” in Alawite mythology. According to Alawite doctrines, Ma’na generated the Ism, which in turn built the Bab. These beliefs are closely tied to the Nusayri doctrine of re-incarnations of the Trinity.
Alawites do not believe in daily Muslim prayers (salah). The central tenet of Nusayrite creed is their belief of Ali ibn Abi Talib being an incarnation of God.[120] Nusayrite testimony of faith translates as “There is no God but Ali.”
I am sure many of our Muslims brothers and sisters will be hearing this for the first time.
Reason I have maintained that people should always seek Knowledge and stop being fixated on only what they were taught.
Peoplesmind
