Islam in Lebanon

Islam in Lebanon (Arabic: الإسلام في لبنان‎) is followed by nearly 60% , including the Druze, of the country's total population: Sunnis make up also 27.4%, with the Shafi'i madhhab being the predominant Sunni group with pockets of Hanafi and Hanbali. Shias make up 26.8%, with Twelvers being the predominant Shia group, followed by Alawites and Ismailis. Several large Sufi orders are active in the country, including the Naqshbandi and Qadiriyya tariqas.

Islam in Lebanon
الإسلام في لبنان

Total population
2,350,000-2,700,000[1]
Religions
Islam

Sects of Islam in Lebanon (2012)[2]
Muslim denomination			percent
Sunni Muslims			28.7%%
Shia Muslims			28.4%%

Although not traditionally considered as Muslims, the Druze make up 5.6% of the total population, which 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).[3][4]

Demographics

See also: Demographics of Lebanon

Lebanese Muslims including the Druze [5][6][7][8][9][10]
Year			Percent
1932			49%
1985			75%
2010			58%
2012			59%
2017			54%

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,[11] the Muslim population is estimated at around 59.5%[12] within the Lebanese territory and of the 8.6[13]–14[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 20%, Sunni 22%, Druze 7%) at 49% of the population (388,400 of 791,700).[15] 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).[15]

Current political and religious issues

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.

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.

Non-religion is not recognized by the state, the Minister of the Interior Ziad Baroud made it possible in 2009 to have the religious sect removed from the Lebanese identity card. This does not, however, deny the religious authorities complete control over civil family issues inside the country.[16][17]

Distribution of Lebanon's religious groups according to 2009 municipal election data.

An estimate of the area distribution of Lebanon's main religious groups.

Branches

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

Shia Islam

Main articles: Shia Islam, Twelver Shia, Alawites, Isma'ilism, and Shia Islam in Lebanon

The Lebanese Shia Muslims are around 27%[12]–29%[18][19] 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.[20][21][22][23] The Shiites are largely concentrated in northern and central Beqaa, Southern Lebanon, in south Beirut (southern parts of Greater Beirut).[24][25]

Sunni Islam

Main articles: Sunni Islam and Sunni Islam in Lebanon

The Lebanese Sunni Muslims constitute also about 27%[24]–29% [12] of the total population. Sunni notables traditionally held power in the Lebanese state together, and they are still the only ones eligible for the post of Prime Minister[26] 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.[24]

Druze

Main articles: Druze and Lebanese Druze

The Lebanese Druze constitute 5%[12] of the population and can be found primarily in Mount Lebanon and the Shouf District. which 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).[3][4]

See also

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

References

1. "2012 Report on International Religious Freedom - Lebanon". United States Department of State. 20 May 2013. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
2. "Middle East :: LEBANON". CIA The World Factbook.
3. "Lebanon Country Study Guide Volume 1 Strategic Information and Developments". Books.google.ca. 2009-06-07. Retrieved 2019-04-24.
4. "Lebanon Country Study Guide Volume 1 Strategic Information and Developments - Google Books". Books.google.ca. 2009-06-07. Retrieved 2019-04-24.
5. "Contemporary distribution of Lebanon's main religious groups". Library of Congress. 1988. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
6. "Contemporary distribution of Lebanon's main religious groups". theodora.com. 1998. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
7. Tom Najem (July 1998). "The Collapse and Reconstruction of Lebanon" (PDF). 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.
8. "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.
9. "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.
10. "The World Factbook". Cia.gov. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
11. "CIA - The World Factbook - Middle East :: Lebanon". CIA Factbook. Washington, DC, USA: Central Intelligence Agency. August 1, 2012. Retrieved August 4, 2012.
12. "Statistics Lebanon Beirut-based research firm".
13. "Bassil promises to ease citizenship for expatriates". Dailystar.com.lb. Retrieved 2019-04-24.
14. "Country Profile: Lebanon". FCO. 3 April 2007. Archived from the original on 31 July 2003.
15. "Contemporary distribution of Lebanon's main religious groups". Central Intelligence Agency. Retrieved 2013-12-15.
16. Piero Gheddo (2009-02-13) LEBANON Religious affiliation to disappear from Lebanese documents – Asia News. Asianews.it. Retrieved on 2013-09-26.
17. Religious Affiliation Can Be Removed From Lebanese ID Cards. Barcode Nation (2009-02-25). Retrieved on 2013-09-26.
18. "International Religious Freedom Report 2008 – Lebanon". 2008 Report on International Religious Freedom. US Department of State. September 19, 2008. Retrieved 2009-01-08.
19. "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.
20. "Lebanon-Religious Sects". GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 2010-08-11.
21. "March for secularism; religious laws are archaic". NOW Lebanon. Archived from the original on 2012-03-12. Retrieved 2010-08-11.
22. "Fadlallah Charges Every Sect in Lebanon Except his Own Wants to Dominate the Country". Naharnet. Retrieved 2010-08-11.
23. 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.
24. "Minority Rights Group International : Lebanon : Lebanon Overview". Minorityrights.org.
25. Lebanon Ithna'ashari Shias Overview Archived 2012-12-03 at the Wayback Machine World Directory of Minorities. June 2008. Retrieved 28 December 2013.
26. "Lebanon". state.gov. Washington, DC, USA: United States Department of State. Retrieved August 4, 2012.