The Sects of the Nusayriyyah

Despite their small numbers, the Nusayriyyah have split into several sects, including:

Al Jarraniyyah: They are named after the village of Jarranah in the mountains of Bishraghi. It is said they were called this because they carved rocks into basins (ajran) to hold water, which they drank during their retreats in the mountains for prayer and worship. They retained this name until the emergence of a man from among them named Sheikh Muhammad ibn Yunus Kalazu in 1011 AH, after whom they became known as al Kalaziyyah. It is claimed that followers of this sect believe in the hulul (indwelling) of ‘Ali in the moon and thus worship it.

Al Ghaybiyyah: These are those who accepted what was predestined for them in the unseen (ghayb) and abandoned supplication (tawassul). They kept this name until the rise of a man from this sect in the region of Antakiyah in the 9th century, named Sheikh ‘Ali Haydar. His followers multiplied, and the name al Haydariyyah superseded al Ghaybiyyah.

Al Makhusiyyah: Named after Sheikh ‘Ali al Makhus, who split from the Kalaziyyah sect. Later, this group divided into two factions: one remained loyal to the teachings of Sheikh ‘Ali al Makhus, while the other followed Salman al Murshid in his deviations and false claims.

Al Niyasifah: Named after Sheikh Nasir al Hasuri from the town of Nisaf. He saf. He emerged prominently among the ‘Alawiyyah in the Jabal al Hulu region, and a group of ‘Alawiyyah followed him, adopting his name.

Al Zuhuratiyyah: These are the followers of Sheikh Yusuf ibn Ibrahim al ‘Ubaidi, known as al Zuhur (the Manifestation).

Al Banawiyyah: Those who rallied around Salman al Murshid and his son Mujib after him. Among these sects are those who venerate the sun, believing ‘Ali resides within it; those who venerate the moon, claiming ‘Ali dwells there; and those who venerate air, arguing that “no space is devoid of air, so air is God.” These are but a few of the superstitions and falsehoods prevalent in this fabricated doctrine, that surpass the myths and legends of the ancient Greeks.^[1]

The following sects are also loosely connected to the Nusayriyyah:

Al Takhtajiyyah in western Anatolia,

Al ‘Ali Ilahiyyah (deifiers of ‘Ali) in Persia and Turkestan,

Al Qizilbashiyyah (the “Red-Heads”) in eastern Anatolia,

Al Baktashiyyah in Turkey and Albania.^[2]

NEXT⇒ The Nusayriyyah and the Transmigration of Souls

^[1] Al Damluji: Al Uluhiyyah fi al Mu’taqadat al Islamiyyah, pg. 111; Al Tawil: Tarikh ‘Alawiyyin, pg. 473-474.

^[2] Hassan: Tarikh al Islam al Siyasi, 2/265–267.

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