The Druze monotheistic sect in Lebanon is going through difficult hours following the announcement that Sheikh Abu Fayez Amin Makarem wore the wrapped turban without taking the approval and blessing of the head of the spiritual body, Sheikh Amin Al-Sayegh, as stipulated by the system and religious custom of the monotheistic sect.
The wrapped turban is considered the highest religious rank among the Druze, and no one may be assigned to wear it except through a cleric who wears it and with his approval. In the event of his absence, then the senior sheikhs can name whoever they see fit to put the wrapped turban over his forehead.
Hundreds of Druze clerics flocked from Rashaya, Hasbaya, Chouf and Metn to Sheikh Al-Sayegh’s house to denounce what happened, especially since the head of the spiritual body returned to wearing the ordinary turban worn by the general Druze clergy.
A great state of anger prevails, due to the fact that the decision to “dress” Sheikh Makarem is a politician who is destined to secure a spiritual umbrella for the head of the “Progressive Socialist” party, Walid Jumblatt and his son Timur, especially since the former fell into a quarrel with the spiritual body following he pushed him towards appointing Sheikh Sami Abi Al-Muna as Sheikh of the Mind despite his opposition Senior Druze clerics for this step and their insistence on electing a consensual sheikh who is not affiliated with any political party, so that he can unify the ranks of the Druze and bring them closer.
Also, Sheikh Al-Sayegh’s positions rejecting the characterization of the occupation of the Druze in occupied Palestine following the issue of Bishop Musa Al-Hajj, and his call to the Druze of Syria not to bet on external support to stand up to their state and his call to complete reconciliations within the sect due to the problems of Choueifat and Kabarshmoun in order to unify its ranks increased the rift with the leader selected.
In the details, Sheikh Abu Muhammad Salih Al-Andari contacted Sheikh Al-Sayegh regarding assigning Sheikh Makarim to wear the monotheistic turban, but he did not obtain the required approval to proceed with the step. In order for Sheikh Amin Makarem to wear the turban, the main goal, from their point of view, revolves around the necessity of having a sheikh loyal to Jumblatt in the spiritual body and wearing the turban so that it is not said that the chosen one suffers from spiritual isolation.
According to the information, it was agreed to assign a group of clerics to visit Sheikh Makarim and inform him that it is not permissible to wear the muklisah in this way, and that spiritual satisfaction with him is higher and more important than political satisfaction, just as it is not permissible to anger the clergy in the hope of the approval of a party leader or deputy.
