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Islam in Lebanon
الإسلام في لبنان

Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque during 2019 Lebanese revolution
Total population
2-3.5 million
Religions
Shia Islam, Sunni Islam, Alawite

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Islam in Lebanon has a long and continuous history. According to an estimate by the CIA, it is followed by 69.3% of the country's total population, up from about 30% of population in 1950s (excluding Druzes). Sunnis make up 31.9%, Twelver Shia make up 32%, next to smaller percentages of other Shia branches, such as Alawites and Ismailis. The Druze community is designated as one of the five Lebanese Muslim communities (Sunni, Shia, Druze, Alawi, and Ismaili), even though most Druze do not identify as Muslims, and they do not accept the five pillars of Islam.

Under the terms of an agreement known as the National Pact between the various political and religious leaders of Lebanon, the president of the country must be a Maronite, the Prime Minister must be a Sunnite, and the Speaker of Parliament must be a Shiite.

History

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (March 2024)

Demographics

Note that the following percentages are estimates only. However, in a country that had last census in 1932, it is difficult to have correct population estimates.

The number of Muslims in Lebanon has been disputed for many years. There has been no official census in Lebanon since 1932. According to the CIA World Factbook, the Muslim population is estimated at around 59.5% within the Lebanese territory and of the 8.6–14 million Lebanese diaspora is believed by some to be about 20% of the total population.

The last census in Lebanon in 1932 put the numbers of Muslims (Shia 19%, Sunni 22%, Druze 7%) at 48% of the population (388,400 of 791,700). A study done by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in 1985 put the numbers of Muslims (Shia 41%, Sunni 27%, Druze 7%) at 75% of the population (1,667,000 of 2,228,000).

Current political and religious issues

This section has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these messages) This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (June 2015) This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (February 2016) (Learn how and when to remove this message) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Although Lebanon is a secular country, family matters such as marriage, divorce and inheritance are still handled by the religious authorities representing a person's faith. Calls for civil marriage are unanimously rejected by the religious authorities but civil marriages conducted in another country are recognized by Lebanese civil authorities.

Atheism is not recognized by the state. However, the Minister of the Interior Ziad Baroud made it possible in 2009 to have the religious sect removed from one’s Lebanese identity card. This does not, however, deny religious authorities complete control over civil family issues inside the country.

Branches

Lebanese Muslims are divided into many branches like Shiites, Sunnis, Druze, Alawites, and Ismailis.

Shia Islam

The Lebanese Shia Muslims are around 27%–29% of the total population. Twelvers are the predominant Shia group, followed by Alawites and Ismailis. The Speaker of Parliament is always a Shi'a Muslim, as it is the only high post that Shi'as are eligible for. The Shiites are largely concentrated in northern and central Beqaa, Southern Lebanon, in south Beirut (southern parts of Greater Beirut).

Sunni Islam

The Lebanese Sunni Muslims constitute also about 27%–29% of the total population with the Hanafi and Shafiʽi madhhab being the predominant Sunni groups. Sunni notables traditionally held power in the Lebanese state together, and they are still the only ones eligible for the post of Prime Minister Sunnis form the majority in west Beirut, Tripoli, Sidon, Central and Western Beqaa and hasbaya, ikleem al kharroub, Miniyeh and Danniyeh districts, and Akkar in the north. Several large Sufi orders are active in the country, including the Naqshbandi and Qadiriyya tariqas.

Druze

The Lebanese Druze constitute 5% of the population and can be found primarily in Mount Lebanon and the Shouf District. Under the Lebanese political division (Parliament of Lebanon Seat Allocation) the Druze community is designated as one of the five Lebanese Muslim communities (Sunni, Shia, Druze, Alawi, and Ismaili). Most Druze do not identify as Muslims.

See also

• Religion in Lebanon
• Secularism in Lebanon
• Christianity in Lebanon
• Shia Islam in Lebanon
• Sunni Islam in Lebanon
• Druze in Lebanon

References

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2. ^ "The World Factbook". Cia.gov. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
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5. "Lebanon: people and society"
6. ^ Lebanon Country Study Guide Volume 1 Strategic Information and Developments. Ibp USA. 2009-06-07. ISBN 9781438774824. Retrieved 2019-04-24.
7. ^ Lebanon Country Study Guide Volume 1 Strategic Information and Developments - Google Books. Ibp USA. 2009-06-07. ISBN 9781438774824. Retrieved 2019-04-24.
8. Pintak, Lawrence (2019). America & Islam: Soundbites, Suicide Bombs and the Road to Donald Trump. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 86. ISBN 9781788315593.
9. Jonas, Margaret (2011). The Templar Spirit: The Esoteric Inspiration, Rituals and Beliefs of the Knights Templar. Temple Lodge Publishing. p. 83. ISBN 9781906999254. often they are not regarded as being Muslim at all, nor do all the Druze consider themselves as Muslim
10. "Are the Druze People Arabs or Muslims? Deciphering Who They Are". Arab America. 8 August 2018. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
11. J. Stewart, Dona (2008). The Middle East Today: Political, Geographical and Cultural Perspectives. Routledge. p. 33. ISBN 9781135980795. Most Druze do not consider themselves Muslim. Historically they faced much persecution and keep their religious beliefs secrets.
12. Yazbeck Haddad, Yvonne (2014). The Oxford Handbook of American Islam. Oxford University Press. p. 142. ISBN 9780199862634. While they appear parallel to those of normative Islam, in the Druze religion they are different in meaning and interpretation. The religion is considered distinct from the Ismaili as well as from other Muslims belief and practice... Most Druze consider themselves fully assimilated in American society and do not necessarily identify as Muslims..
13. De McLaurin, Ronald (1979). The Political Role of Minority Groups in the Middle East. Michigan University Press. p. 114. ISBN 9780030525964. Theologically, one would have to conclude that the Druze are not Muslims. They do not accept the five pillars of Islam. In place of these principles the Druze have instituted the seven precepts noted above..
14. "Contemporary distribution of Lebanon's main religious groups". Library of Congress. 1988. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
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16. Tom Najem (July 1998). "The Collapse and Reconstruction of Lebanon" (PDF). Durham Middle East Papers (59). University of Durham Centre for Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies. ISSN 1357-7522. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 March 2012. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
17. "Lebanon: Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor - International Religious Freedom Report 2010". U.S. Department of State. 17 November 2010. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
18. "Lebanon: Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor - 2012 Report on International Religious Freedom". U.S. Department of State. 20 May 2013. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
19. "CIA - The World Factbook - Middle East :: Lebanon". CIA Factbook. Washington, DC, USA: Central Intelligence Agency. August 1, 2012. Retrieved August 4, 2012.
20. ^ "Statistics Lebanon Beirut-based research firm".
21. "Bassil promises to ease citizenship for expatriates". Dailystar.com.lb. Archived from the original on 2018-09-02. Retrieved 2019-04-24.
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23. ^ "Contemporary distribution of Lebanon's main religious groups". Central Intelligence Agency. Retrieved 2013-12-15.
24. Piero Gheddo (2009-02-13) LEBANON Religious affiliation to disappear from Lebanese documents – Asia News. Asianews.it. Retrieved on 2013-09-26.
25. Religious Affiliation Can Be Removed From Lebanese ID Cards Archived 2013-04-11 at the Wayback Machine. Barcode Nation (2009-02-25). Retrieved on 2013-09-26.
26. "International Religious Freedom Report 2008 – Lebanon". 2008 Report on International Religious Freedom. US Department of State. September 19, 2008. Retrieved 2009-01-08.
27. "Countries with more than 100,000 Shia Muslims" (PDF). Pew Research Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 January 2013. Retrieved 21 September 2010.
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29. "March for secularism; religious laws are archaic". NOW Lebanon. Archived from the original on 2012-03-12. Retrieved 2010-08-11.
30. "Fadlallah Charges Every Sect in Lebanon Except his Own Wants to Dominate the Country". Naharnet. Retrieved 2010-08-11.
31. Hajjar, George J. "Aspects of Christian-Muslim Relations in Contemporary Lebanon". hartsem.edu. Hartford, CT, USA: Hartford Seminary. Archived from the original on August 27, 2012. Retrieved August 4, 2012.
32. ^ "Minority Rights Group International : Lebanon : Lebanon Overview". Minorityrights.org.
33. Lebanon Ithna'ashari Shias Overview Archived 2012-12-03 at the Wayback Machine World Directory of Minorities. June 2008. Retrieved 28 December 2013.
34. "Lebanon". state.gov. Washington, DC, USA: United States Department of State. Retrieved August 4, 2012.
35. Pintak, Lawrence (2019). America & Islam: Soundbites, Suicide Bombs and the Road to Donald Trump. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 86. ISBN 9781788315593.
36. Jonas, Margaret (2011). The Templar Spirit: The Esoteric Inspiration, Rituals and Beliefs of the Knights Templar. Temple Lodge Publishing. p. 83. ISBN 9781906999254. often they are not regarded as being Muslim at all, nor do all the Druze consider themselves as Muslim
37. "Are the Druze People Arabs or Muslims? Deciphering Who They Are". Arab America. 8 August 2018. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
38. J. Stewart, Dona (2008). The Middle East Today: Political, Geographical and Cultural Perspectives. Routledge. p. 33. ISBN 9781135980795. Most Druze do not consider themselves Muslim. Historically they faced much persecution and keep their religious beliefs secrets.
39. Yazbeck Haddad, Yvonne (2014). The Oxford Handbook of American Islam. Oxford University Press. p. 142. ISBN 9780199862634. While they appear parallel to those of normative Islam, in the Druze religion they are different in meaning and interpretation. The religion is considered distinct from the Ismaili as well as from other Muslims belief and practice... Most Druze consider themselves fully assimilated in American society and do not necessarily identify as Muslims..

v t e Demographics of Lebanon
Religion	Christianity Catholics Armenian Catholics Chaldean Catholics Latin Catholics Maronite Catholics Melkite Catholics Syriac Catholics Assyrian Church of the East Greek Orthodox Oriental Orthodox Armenian Apostolics Coptic Orthodox Syriac Orthodox Protestants Baptist Islam Shiites Shiite Twelvers Alawite Shiites Ismaili Shiites Sunnites Druze Other Jews Baháʼí Faith
Ethnic minorities, refugees and foreign nationals	Armenians Assyrians Bulgarians Canadians French Greeks Indians Iranians Iraqis Italians Jews Kurds Malays Pakistanis Palestinians Poles Romani/Dom Russians Sri Lankans Syrians Turks
The Lebanese people has the most religious diversity of all peoples in the Middle East, comprising 18 recognized religious sects recognized by the Constitution of Lebanon. Under the terms of the Constitution of Lebanon, the Druze community is designated as a part of the Lebanese Muslim community.

• Islam in Lebanon