A few questions for Alawi's regarding your beliefs.

Submitted by NL321 (Netherlands), Aug 11, 2013 at 17:10

Being someone who is interested in religion, and especially the more small sects, I read the book on Alawi's by Yaron Friedman.

I would like to know the opinions of Alawi's, and there are plenty around here I see, about this book.

Is it accurate or is it full of nonsense?

I think I have quite a good impression of your history and beliefs and I must say they are interesting but a few questions linger. I understand you do not like to speak about your religion but I can try anyway.

A. If conversion into your sect (not used in a negative context) was still open in 1220 when a man called Al-Maksun Al-Sinjari became Alawi (Nusayri) and drove the Kurds and Isma'ili's from your mountainous homeland with his army, why do you not allow new converts today? When did it close? I know the Druze closed themselves in 1043 but when did this happen with Alawi's?

BUT I read that the family of the martyr Assef Shawkat was of Kurdish origion and became Alawi three generations ago. Is this true?

B. A woman can be reborn as a man after she lives a good life, is this true?

C. Is there a way for a non-Alawi (in case conversion is not possible) to find salvation?

Maybe not through leaving the material world but maybe he can live a good life so he is not reborn as an animal and as such will be judged at Judgement Day or something?

Please tell me about the position of non-Alawi's in your beliefs as it is very unclear.

If you want to mail me tell me and I will give an e-mail adress.

Thank you in advance and I hope you all stay safe from takfiri lunatics.

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".