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Al-Khidr Festival

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Maqam Al-Khidr

Al-Khidr Festival (in Arabic: زيارة سيدنا النبي الخضر) is a festival of the Druze community in Israel celebrated on 25 January. It includes a pilgrimage (زيارة) by community members to the Maqam Al-Khidr in the Kfar Yassif near Acre.[1][2][3][4]

On the morning of the festival, it is customary to hold festive meals with traditional dishes such as Ka'ak Al-Ajweh (date cookies) and Baba Ghanoush (eggplant with tahini). The way to greet the celebrants is with "Ziara Makbula".[3][5]

In Israel, Druze employees are entitled to take time off from work during the festival without loss of pay.[6]

Nabi Al-Khidr

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Sidna Abu Ibrahim, also known as Nabi Al-Khidr (the Green One), is identified with Elijah the prophet. According to Druze belief, he is one of the founders of their religion. The nickname El-Khidr (the Green One) comes from the belief that his memory will always be fresh like a green plant.[7][8]

Another interpretation is based on a Muslim legend identifying Elijah the prophet with Khidr, who was the vizier of Alexander the Great. According to the legend, Khidr was immortal and possessed extraordinary wisdom after drinking from the Fountain of Life.[5]

Saint George is described as a prophetic figure in Druze sources;[9] and in some sources he is identified with Elijah (Mar Elias),[9] and in others as al-Khidr.[10] The Druze version of the story of al-khidr was syncretized with the story of Saint George and the Dragon.[9] Druze, like some Christians, believe that Elijah came back as John the Baptist,[11][12] since they believe in reincarnation and the transmigration of the soul, Druze believe that El Khidr and John the Baptist are one and the same; along with Saint George.[12]

Prophet's Place

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Until 1958, the prophet's site was not a holy place but a private house of a Druze family from Buq'ata. In 1958, Sheikh Abu Muhammad Akab Al-Mu'Arabi had a night vision, in which he saw that the prophet Al-Khidr had stayed in this house. Following the revelation of this vision to Sheikh Al-Mu'Arabi, he dedicated himself to establishing a Maqam for Nabi Al-Khidr in Buq'ata. After the death of Sheikh Abu Muhammad, Sheikh Abu Ali Hussein Abu Shaheen continued building the Maqam.[5]

References

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  1. ^ "קראו בכותר - אריאל : כתב עת לידיעת ארץ ישראל - הדרוזים בישראל ומקומותיהם הקדושים". kotar.cet.ac.il. Retrieved 2024-01-21.
  2. ^ און, ד"ר דוד בר (2022-12-30). "מערת אליהו הנביא בחיפה - קדושה לכל הדתות ○ ד"ר דוד בר און". חי פֹּה - תאגיד החדשות של חיפה והסביבה (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2024-01-21.
  3. ^ a b "עיד אלחדר" (PDF).
  4. ^ חדשות (2021-01-25). "ראש העדה הדרוזית הורה על ביטול חגיגות הנביא אל-חדר היום". Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2024-01-21.
  5. ^ a b c הכרמל, פורטל. "הביקור השנתי במקאם נבי אלח'דר עה"ש בבוקעתה". פורטל הכרמל והצפון (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2024-01-21.
  6. ^ "חגים דרוזיים". כל-זכות (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2024-01-21.
  7. ^ "Druze Mythology". www.folklore.earth. Retrieved 2024-01-21.
  8. ^ Fellowship, The. "Who Are the Druze?". International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. Retrieved 2024-01-21.
  9. ^ a b c Ferg, Erica (2020). Geography, Religion, Gods, and Saints in the Eastern Mediterranean. Routledge. pp. 197–200. ISBN 9780429594496.
  10. ^ Isḥāq Khūrī, Fuʼād (2009). Being a Druze. University of Michigan Press. p. 39. ISBN 9781904850014. the Druze believe that al - Khidr corresponds to St George in Christianity and to the Prophet Yahya in Islam.
  11. ^ Swayd, Samy (2015). Historical Dictionary of the Druzes. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 77. ISBN 9781442246171. since Elijah was central to Druzism, one may safely argue that the settlement of Druzes on Mount Carmel had partly to do with Elijahʼs story and devotion. Druzes, like some Christians, believe that Elijah came back as John the Baptist
  12. ^ a b Bennett, Chris (2010). Cannabis and the Soma Solution. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 77. ISBN 9781936296323. transmigration of the soul is a Druze tenet, and Druze believe that El Khidr and John the Baptist are one and the same. (Gibbs, 2008) The mythology of Khizr is thought to go back even further than the time of John the Baptist or Elija
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