answersLogoWhite

0


Best Answer

The Alawites are a religious minority in Syria, Lebanon, and Turkey (with small populations in Western countries due to emigration). They are a relatively distinct Shiite Islam-derived religion. However, when Hafez Assad, an Alawite took power, many non-Alawite Muslims were angry arguing that a non-Muslim (i.e. an Alawite) should not have power over Muslims. Desperate Hafez Assad asked if the Imams of Iran would "certify" that Alawites were Twelver Shiite Muslims. The cerification came and the riots in Syria died down.

Currently, Bashar Assad and his family remain Alawites along with roughly 10% of the Syrian population. They are very afraid that if the Syrian Rebels win, there will be attacks and possibly a genocide against the Alawites.

User Avatar

Wiki User

10y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: Who are the alawites?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Related questions

What do alawites think of al qaeda?

The al qaeda are an enemy of the alawites.


What do alawites think of osama bin laden?

Alawites do not adhere to the radical beliefs of osama bin laden and his extremist muslim views.


Do alawites believe that allah is literally present in their wine?

Most mainline Muslims do not drink alcohol, but, Alawites believe that Allah is Present in the wine, for their rituals.


What is Alawite Shiite Islam?

Alawite Shiite Muslims which are called 3alawiyya (علوية‎) in Arabic are a prominent mystical religious group centered in Syria who are considered to be part of Twelver Shiite Islam. Alawites, similar to other Shiites have incredible reverence for Ali ibn Abi Talib (the fourth Rightly-Guided Caliph). Many non-Alawites have a accused the Alawites of elevating this reverence to level of prophethood or divinity, which would make Alawites non-Muslims. Correspondingly Alawites have consistently denied such remarks. Alawites are most commonly known for their role in governing Syria since Hafez al-Assad and Bashar al-Assad are both Alawites and many government officials in Syria are Alawites. This may soon change if the Sunni rebels succeed in the Syrian Civil War. The largest population of Alawites is in Syria and they represent 12% of the Syrian population (2.6 million people). There are also significant populations of Alawites in Turkey (around 750,000) and in Lebanon (120,000) Alawites were long persecuted for their beliefs by various Sunni Muslim rulers of Syria, until the French took over the French Mandate of Syria. Historically, Alawites were derogatorily called Nusayris after the founder of Alawite Shiite Islam: Ibn Nusayr, but they prefer the term Alawite since it connotes their connection to Ali. It is also worth noting that Alawites are different from Alevis in Turkey, even though these Twelver Shiite groups appear very similar.


How many Alawites are there in the world?

approx 3-4mil.


Do alawites really believe that ali is an incarnation of allah?

Answer 1yes , alawites really believe that ali is an incarnation of allah but they are exaggerator and immas denied them.Answer 2The typical Muslim response, as exemplified by Answer 1, is that Alawites believe that Ali is an incarnation of God and therefore, Alawites are barely Muslims or are Unbelievers. The truth is much more confusing than that, especially since most Alawites are secretive about the tenets of their faith to avoid persecution. Incarnation requires that something exist in the flesh which is not what Alawites claim for Ali. Rather, their argument is that Ali, Mohammed, and Salman the Persian, were not really beings of flesh and blood but Divine Illusions through whose presence God can be known. However, since they are only emanations of the Divine, they are not worshiped but rather are "spiritually studied" in order to see behind the veil of the illusion and grasp the true nature of God.


Is Assad a sunni or shiite?

Answer 1He is Alawite which is a branch of Shiite. but does not seam to he be a 100% practicing shia Muslim because a practicing shia Muslim man does not allow his wife appear in public without Hijab.Answer 2Assad is an Alawite. Alawite Muslims which are called 3alawiyya (علوية‎) in Arabic are a prominent mystical religious group centered in Syria who are considered to be part of Twelver Shiite Islam. Alawites, similar to other Shiites have incredible reverence for Ali ibn Abi Talib (the fourth Rightly-Guided Caliph). Many non-Alawites have a accused the Alawites of elevating this reverence to level of prophethood or divinity, which would make Alawites non-Muslims. Correspondingly Alawites have consistently denied such remarks.


Why do the Alawites support Bashar al-Assad?

Because Bashar al-Assad is Alawite.


What sect of Muslims live in Syria Sunnis or Shiites?

Syria is roughly 80% Sunni. There are some Shiites, primarily Ismailis, but most of the remaining 20% is made of other religious groups like the ruling Alawites, Druze, and Christians. (Alawites and Druze are sometimes considered to be forms of Shiite Islam and sometimes -- properly -- considered to be Post-Islamic Religions that jumped off from Shiite Islam.)


What groups of Syrians are fleeing their homeland?

All groups of Syrians are currently fleeing Syria, from the majority Sunni Arab Muslims, to numerous ethnoreligious minorities, like Ismailis, Kurds, Assyrians, Shiite Arabs, Druze, and Alawites.


What religions make up Israel?

Israel_Central_Bureau_of_Statisticsestimates the population in 2008 was75.4% Jewish,20.6% Arab, and4% minority groups Christian, Alawites, Nestorians, Monophysites, etc.1.6% DruzeIt is also the world headquarters of the Baha'i Faith.


How do people communicate their ideas in Syria?

This is a hard question, In Syria there are different cultures, what people are you talking about, Alawites, Christians, Muslims or others? But generaly people communicate their ideas normally like they do in other places like Europe and others.