The newly released book constitutes an important contribution to introducing the shrines and spiritual Maqams of the Unitarian Druze in Lebanon and is a continuation of the efforts to promote and disseminate cultural religious tourism in Lebanon (Abbas Abu Saleh, The Unitarian Druze: Shrines and Spiritual Maqams in Lebanon: Biography and History, introduction by the Sheikh Akl of the Unitarian Druze community, Sheikh Sami Abi Al-Muna, and Dr. Antoine Messarra, in cooperation with Saint Joseph University, UNESCO Chair for the Study of Comparative Religions, Mediation and Dialogue, Beirut, 2023, 88 p.).
The book is the fruit of a manuscript by the late great historian Abbas Abu Saleh, which was discovered by his wife, May Abu Saleh. In the introduction to the book, the Sheikh Akl of the Unitarian Druze community, Dr. Sami Abi Al-Muna, quotes from his own book, Cultural Manifestations of the Unitarian Druze: "I am pleased to cite the monotheistic meanings I expressed in my book, while emphasizing the importance of this work launched by the UNESCO Chair for the Study of Comparative Religions, Mediation and Dialogue at Saint Joseph University, which contributes to introducing religious sites of various spiritual families and revitalizing cultural religious tourism, which in turn contributes to spreading a culture of mutual acquaintance and dialogue, and consolidating the concepts of love, mercy, and brotherhood."
Antoine Messarra says in the introduction to the book: "We hope that this manuscript will be considered a preliminary draft to encourage experts, researchers, and interested parties to continue the effort, perhaps in preparation for a second, supplemented, or more comprehensive edition regarding the Maqams of the Unitarian Druze. Why is my interest in publishing a book about the Maqams and Khalwat (seclusion retreats) of the Unitarian Druze? Among the most prominent reasons is my overwhelming conviction that faith transcends all dogmas if they become closed in on themselves, based on the saying: 'Everything that ascends meets.' The second reason is the necessity to complete efforts to promote and disseminate cultural religious tourism in Lebanon—religions, churches, mosques, Khalwat, saints, monks, Sufis, and martyrs of truth and faith."
The book includes the most prominent references on cultural religious tourism, including those issued by Saint Joseph University. It is hoped that cultural religious tourism will be included in educational, tourism, school, university, and municipal programs (pp. 14, 55) "because places of worship are the spiritual and material expression at once of the relationships, communication, and daily interaction between religions and sects in Lebanon and in the lives of the Lebanese."
The book includes an introduction by Abbas Abu Saleh: "God has blessed Lebanon with the beauty of nature combined with the purity of the soul and the great values represented by places of worship in all their diversity." The book includes documentation and photographs of 19 Maqams and shrines in Lebanon, with a definition for each, and concludes with the biography and works of the historian Abbas Abu Saleh.
Source: An-Nahar Newspaper (Lebanon)
