The Druze religion branched off from the religion of Islam and is now considered a separate religion from Islam. The religion emerged in the 10th and 11th centuries in Egypt, with aspects of Hindu and Greek philosophy incorporated into the tenets of Islam.
Conversions are not allowed in the Druze religion because they believe that the first generation after the establishment of the Druze religion then had the opportunity to join the religion, and everyone living today is reincarnated from that generation. Like the Abrahamic faiths, the Druze religion is monotheistic and recognizes many prophets, including Jesus, John the Baptist, Muhammad, Khidr and Moses. Their most respected prophet in their religion is Jethro, father-in-law of Moses.
The Wisdom Epistles is the core text of the Druze faith. The Druze faith incorporates elements of Islamic Ismailism, Gnosticism, Neoplatonism, Pythagoreanism, Christianity, Hinduism, and other philosophies and beliefs, virtually creating a distinct and secret theology known only to interpret religious scriptures esoterically and to emphasize the role of mind and truthfulness.
Within the Druze community, there are two different subgroups. There is al-Juhhal, or the Ignorant, and al-Uqqal, the Knowing. The al-Juhhal group is not allowed to view the holy texts and does not participate in religious meetings. About 80% of the Druze fall into this category of "ignorant". Al-Uqqal must follow ascetic rules, including observing a dress code. The most powerful 5% of the Knowledgeable group is where the spiritual leaders of the religion come from. As for the important rules that the Druze must follow, they are not allowed to drink alcohol, eat pork, or smoke tobacco, similar to the dietary laws in Islam. Polygamy is prohibited and men and women are considered equal. Many of the Druze living in Israel participate fully in Israeli society and many of them serve in the Israel Defense Forces.
The Druze worship Moses' father-in-law, Jethro or Reuel, a Kenite shepherd and priest from Midian. In Exodus, Moses' father-in-law is initially named "Reuel" (Exodus 2:18), but later as "Jethro" (Exodus 3:1). According to the biblical narrative, Jethro joined and assisted the Israelites in the desert during the Exodus, accepted monotheism, but eventually joined his own people. Jethro's tomb near Tiberias is the most important religious site for the Druze community and they gather there every April.
Amin Tarif was the qadi, or spiritual leader, of the Druze in Mandatory Palestine from 1928 and then Israel until his death in 1993. He was highly regarded and regarded by many within the community as the pre-eminent spiritual authority in the Druze world.
In January 2004, the current spiritual leader, Sheikh Muwaffak Tarīf, called on all non-Jews in Israel to observe the Seven Noahide Laws as laid down in the Bible and expounded in Jewish tradition. The mayor of the Galilean city of Shefa-'Amr also signed the document. The declaration includes a commitment to make "... a more humane world, based on the seven Noahide commandments and the values they represent, commanded by the Creator to all mankind through Moses on Mount Sinai."