Recent days have seen sectarian tensions in Syria between the majority Sunni community and Alawites, the non-Muslim sect that ruled Syria for the past 54 years. But who are the Alawites and what beliefs put them out of the fold of Islam?
The Alawites, known historically as Nusayris, date back to the 9th century in Iraq. Named after Muhammad ibn Nusayr, who declared himself the messenger of the “11th Shia Imam” Hasan al-Askari, the sect migrated to Syria under the Hamdanid dynasty.
Over centuries, they faced suspicion and crackdowns over their heretical beliefs, which led to their concentration in the mountainous areas of Latakia for safety.
Alawite beliefs are quite distinct from mainstream Sunni and Shia Islam. Alawites believe in a trinity of sorts with Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), Ali (ra) and Salman al-Farisi (ra) representing manifestations of the Divine (astaghfirullah).
Their secretive belief system also includes the concept of reincarnation, which is antithetical to orthodox Islamic theology.
Sunni Islam
Sunni scholars, historically and into contemporary times, do not consider Alawites to be Muslims due to their beliefs which significantly diverge from orthodox Sunni Islam.
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Ibn Taymiyyah, one of the greatest of Sunni scholars, labeled Alawites as “the worst enemies of the Muslims” and outside the fold of Islam.
Alawites’ esoteric interpretation of Islamic texts, their secretive practices, and their deviation from the five pillars of Islam in both practice and interpretation are points of contention.
The political dominance of Alawites in Syria under the Assad regime has further complicated Sunni-Alawite relations. The Assad family’s rule over a predominantly Sunni population has led to accusations of Alawite favoritism, which has fueled sectarian conflict, especially during the Syrian Civil War.
During this time, Sunni groups opposed the regime, partly on religious grounds, viewing Alawite rule as illegitimate or heretical.
Shia Islam
Alawites emerged from early Shia Islam in the 9th century, specifically from the ghulat (extremists) sects who went beyond orthodox Shia beliefs.
Initially, Alawites were considered by Twelver Shia scholars as ghulat because of their extreme views, leading to their excommunication from mainstream Shia Islam.
Their beliefs, including the deification of Ali and the concept of reincarnation, were seen as heretical by Twelver Shia orthodoxy.
Over time, especially in the 20th century, there have been efforts by Alawite leaders to align or rebrand themselves closer to Twelver Shia Islam, particularly during Hafez al-Assad’s rule in Syria, where fatwas were issued by Shia clerics in Lebanon and Iraq declaring Alawites as Muslims to support Assad’s legitimacy.
The relationship with Iran, a predominantly Twelver Shia country, has at times been leveraged by the Assad regime for support in the Syrian conflict. This has led to a nuanced view where Iran supports Alawites politically, yet the theological differences remain significant.
Historical rise to power
Following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, the French mandate in Syria favoured Alawites by placing them in positions within the military and security forces, partly due to the French strategy of counterbalancing the Sunni majority.
After Syria gained independence in 1946, the Alawites’ influence grew significantly. In 1963 Alawite officers were instrumental in the coup that brought the Ba’ath Party to power, marking the beginning of Alawite political ascendancy.
And in 1970, Hafez al-Assad, an Alawite, seized power, further entrenching Alawite influence. His rule until his death in 2000, followed by his son Bashar al-Assad’s presidency, solidified Alawite dominance in key governmental and military roles.
Over the past 54 years, Alawites have held a disproportionate number of high-ranking positions in the Syrian military, intelligence, and security services. This control over the security apparatus has been crucial for maintaining the Assad family’s power.
Through alliances with Sunni merchant classes, Alawite elites extended their influence into economic sectors, gaining control over significant portions of the economy.
But the Assad family’s Alawite background has meant that the presidency and many strategic political roles have been occupied by Alawites, leading to a de facto Alawite-led state, despite the Sunni majority.
Post-Assad scenario
Nevertheless, the political dominance of Alawites in a predominantly Sunni country has led to sectarian strife, particularly highlighted during the Syrian Civil War.
The community’s support for Assad has been both a source of power and vulnerability. As the regime’s fortunes have fluctuated, so too has the Alawite community’s security and status.
The fall of the Assad regime has left Alawites in a precarious position, fearing retribution from other groups. The community now faces an uncertain future, having lost their once-dominant role in Syrian politics, society and military.
