The Festivals of the Nusayriyyah

The Nusayriyyah observe several festivals, some unique to them and others shared with the Shia in general. The most important are:

1. Eid al Ghadir: They celebrate it on the 18th of Dhu al Hijjah. This is a festival observed by the Shia in general. The reason for their observance of it: The Prophet’s salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam brotherhood with ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu at Ghadir Khumm. This is a pond located three miles from al Juhfah, to the left of the road, fed by a spring and surrounded by many trees, this is the thicket known as Khumm. [It is claimed by them that] When the Messenger of Allah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam returned from the Farewell Pilgrimage, he stopped at the pond and established brotherhood among the Sahabah radiya Llahu ‘anhum. However, he did not establish brotherhood between ‘Ali and any of them. Noticing ‘Ali’s disappointment, the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam embraced him and said:

أما ترضى أن تكون منى بمنزلة هارون من موسى إلا أنه لا نبي بعدي

Are you not satisfied to be to me as Harun was to Musa, except that there will be no prophet after me?

He salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam then turned to the Sahabah and said:

من كنت مولاه فعلى مولاه اللهم وال من والاه وعاد من عاداه

Of whomsoever I am the mawla, ‘Ali is his mawla. O Allah, befriend those who befriend him and oppose those who oppose him.

This occurred on the 18th of Dhu al Hijjah in the 10^th year of the Hijrah. The Shia commemorate the night of this festival with prayers and perform two rak’ahs on its morning before noon. Their customs include wearing new clothes, freeing slaves, slaughtering sheep, honoring outsiders as family members, and poets and writers offering congratulations to their elders on this occasion.^[1] For this reason, the Shia celebrate this day, whereas the Nusayriyyah claim it commemorates the Prophet’s salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam designation of ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu as his successor. They say:

إن بيعة غديرهم أثبتت مكانة مقدسة وعلوية لعلي بنزول قوله تعالى اليوم أكملت لكم دينكم وكمال الدين هو ولاية علي

The pledge of Ghadir established a sacred and elevated status for ‘Ali through the revelation of the verse, This day I have perfected for you your religion.^[2] The perfection of religion is the guardianship (wilayah) of ‘Ali.

They add:

إنه لما أعلن كمال الدين كان لا يزال بعض العقائد مكتوماً وخفياً ولذلك بقي إلى هذا اليوم مكتوماً لخصوصيته وبتعبير أصح إن بقاء عقيدة النصيريين مكتومة هو من كمال الدين وإعلانها مضر به لأن الرسول بشر المؤمنين بولاية علي وبذلك كمل الدين ولكنه بقي حريصاً على كتمان البقية ولذلك كان كتمان البقية من كمال الدين أيضاً وهذا هو تعليل تكتم النصيريين في عقيدتهم

When the perfection of religion was announced, some doctrines remained concealed and hidden. Thus, they remain concealed to this day due to their exclusivity. More accurately, the concealment of Nusayri doctrines is part of the perfection of religion, as their disclosure would harm it. The Prophet informed the believers of ‘Ali’s guardianship, thereby completing the religion. However, he remained cautious about concealing the rest, so the concealment of the remainder is also part of the religion’s perfection. This is the Nusayriyyah’s justification for their secrecy.

They also claim:

وهم يقولون أيضاً إن بني هاشم كانوا يعرفون في زمن النبي أحكاماً ما كان يعرفها الأمويون وأن أهل البيت تعلموا علوماً لم يسمعها غيرهم وذلك حين بايع الرسول صلى الله عليه وسلم علياً ثلاث بيعات خفية وهي بيعة الدار وبيعة الخيزرانه وبيعة أم سامى فبيعة خديرخم العلنية لم تكن إلا لإفشاء بعض حقوق أهل البيت والأمر باتباعها واحترامها

The Banu Hashim knew rulings during the Prophet’s time that the Umayyads did not. The Ahlul Bayt learned sciences unheard by others… This occurred when the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam pledged allegiance to ‘Ali in three secret pledges: the Pledge of the House (Bay’at al Dar), the Pledge of Khayzaranah (Bay’at al Khayzaranah), and the public pledge of Ghadir Khumm, which was only to disseminate some rights of the Ahlul Bayt and command their adherence and respect.^[3]

2. Eid al Fitr: They celebrate it on the 1st of Shawwal, like other Muslims (referring to Shia). The Prophet legislated this festival in the 2nd year of the Hijrah. Both Eid al Fitr and Eid al Adha were established in the same year. However, the Nusayriyyah do not celebrate Eid al Fitr after Ramadan fasting but after a fast they themselves believe in, making it entirely distinct from the Muslim Eid al Fitr.^[4]

3. Eid al Adha: They celebrate it on the 12th of Dhu al Hijjah, whereas other Muslims celebrate it on the 10th.

4. Eid ‘Ashura’: They observe it with the Shia on the 10th of Muharram, commemorating the martyrdom of al Hussain ibn ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu in Karbala’. However, the Nusayriyyah believe that al Hussain “did not die but disappeared like Jesus, son of Mary.”

5. The Second Eid al Ghadir: Yawm al Mubahalah (Day of Mutual Cursing) or the Yawm al Kisa (Day of the Cloak), celebrated on the 9th of Rabi’ al Awwal. On this day, the Prophet salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam met a delegation of Christian Banu al Harith from Najran and gathered his five family members (himself, his two grandsons, his daughter, and her husband) under his cloak. He then recited from Surah Al ‘Imran: Say, ‘Come, let us summon our sons and your sons, our women and your women, ourselves and yourselves, then supplicate earnestly and invoke the curse of Allah upon the liars’.^[5] The Nusayriyyah link these five individuals to their five specific prayers, dedicating a prayer to each.^[6]

6. Eid al Nawruz (the New Day): Celebrated at the beginning of spring. It is a festival of Persian origin.^[7]

7. Eid al Mihrajan: Celebrated at the beginning of autumn, also a Persian festival.^[8]

They also share several festivals with Christians, such as Eid al Ghattas (Epiphany), Eid al Sa’if (Palm Sunday), Eid al ‘Ansarah (Pentecost), Eid al Qiddisah Barbara (Feast of Saint Barbara), and Eid al Milad (Christmas). They mark the Eastern Orthodox New Year by offering wine and beef.^[9]

8. Eid al Salib (The Festival of the Cross): The Nusayriyyah celebrate it as a time for harvesting crops, beginning agricultural work, and initiating mutual transactions such as paying grazing fees, rent, and storage costs. They visit fairs held at monasteries for purchases, such as the Dayr al Hamira’ fair in Tall Kakh and the Dayr Mar Ilyas fair in Safita.^[10]

NEXT⇒ The Nusayriyyah and the Druze

^[1] Al Qalqashandi: Subh al A’sha, 2/407.

^[2] Surah al Ma’idah: 3.

^[3] Al Tawil: Tarikh ‘Alawiyyin, pg. 70-75.

^[4] Al Qalqashandi: Subh al A’sha, 2/407.

^[5] Surah Al ‘Imran: 61.

^[6] Al Damluji: Al Uluhiyyah fi al Mu’taqadat al Islamiyyah, pg. 111.

^[7] Al Qalqashandi: Subh al A’sha, 2/408-409.

^[8] Ibid., pg. 409.

^[9] Badawi: Mazahib al Islamiyyin, pg. 461.

^[10] Al Shak’ah: Islam bi la Mazahib, pg. 315.

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