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Nusairis are the followers of Shia Islam. They believe that there are two worlds, one of light and one of darkness, each being sevenfold. There have been seven cycles of history in each of which the deity, which has no attributes and is beyond comprehension, manifested itself. The highest manifestation is the Meaning. From the light of its own essence it created the Name, and this is where Meaning resides. It is the veil behind which it hides itself and the moment of manifestation of the hidden divine. The name created from the glow of its light is the Gate which is the vehicle of manifestation.
These three are closely connected but are not equal, "I turn to the Gate; I bow before the Name, I adore the Meaning." In this last cycle the Meaning is Ali, who is recognized outwardly as Imam but inwardly as God, this being an attempt to bridge the gap between the Absolute and the world. The Name is Muhammad, and the Gate is Salman. Salman created the five Incomparables who rule respectively thunder and earthquakes, the stars, the winds and the death of men, human bodies and sicknesses, and the entry of men's spirit into their bodies. These five created the world of darkness. Nusairis were at first stars in the world of light but fell through disobedience. Light descends into the darkness to bring the souls, which are shut up in bodies as in prisons, back lo the light. After seven transmigrations the pious will return lo the world of light. It
Religious Practice of Nusairis
For the Musairis, no building is set apart for worship. A youth has to be initiated into the secrets of the religion, a process consisting of three stages. The doctrine is the allegorical interpretation of the pillars of Islam. Thus fasting is the secret preserved in the names of thirty men and thirty women, in the days and nights of Ramadan. The Incomparables are identified with five companions of Muhammad. They have their own festivals over and and abstain from certain foods. Camels, hares, eels, crabs, gazelles, porcupines, lady's fingers, and tomatoes are forbidden to some. Above the initiates are the Shaikhs. They must belong to families of Shaikhs and have spent six months in further instruction after initiation.
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