Sheikh Najib Saad al-Din Hassan Abdullah al-Asrawi (1891–1987) was a Druze leader of Lebanese descent who emigrated after World War I (in 1920) to Brazil in South America. Sheikh al-Asrawi is considered a figure of great importance in the history of the Druze community in Brazil; he was an author, lawyer, journalist, and educator who exerted a profound influence on the members of the Druze community there. Sheikh al-Asrawi did everything in his power to instill within community members a deep sense of solidarity with their ancient Druze heritage and traditions, succeeding in uniting the Druze diaspora in Brazil and maintaining its ties with Druze communities across the Middle East.

Milestones of Migration in the Life of Sheikh Najib al-Asrawi

From Btatir to Beirut, and from Beirut to Istanbul

He was born in the village of Btatir in Mount Lebanon in 1891. His family relocated from the village to Beirut when he was a young child, where he grew up and was raised. During his youth, he displayed clear signs of brilliance and intelligence, alongside early indications of leadership, initiative, integrity, justice, and fairness. Upon reaching adulthood, he moved to Istanbul to study law at its university, while simultaneously specializing in journalism. He excelled in his academic pursuits; the subject of his doctoral dissertation submitted to the University of Constantinople (Istanbul) encompassed religious sciences, science, and philosophy, and he worked as a journalist throughout his studies.

From Turkey to the Arabian Peninsula

In one of his journalistic articles, Sheikh al-Asrawi wrote that the majority of symbols boasted of by the Ottomans—such as their culture and language—had their origins in Arab civilization. These remarks provoked the ire of Ottoman authorities in Istanbul, forcing him to flee to the Hijaz in the Arabian Peninsula. There, he sought refuge with Prince Faisal, son of Sharif Hussein, who received him warmly, granting him security and protection, and assigned him several administrative and military duties.

The period Sheikh al-Asrawi spent in the Hijaz was characterized by vigorous activity and tireless dedication; he participated in the Great Arab Revolt against the Ottomans during World War I, even being wounded three times across various battles. He fought alongside the famed British officer, Lawrence of Arabia. After the war came to an end, the Arab Revolt succeeded, and the Ottomans were defeated, British authorities awarded him a medal of valor, and he was appointed to an important administrative post by Prince Faisal in recognition of his significant contribution to the Arab victory over the Ottomans.

From the Middle East to Brazil

At the end of World War I, Sheikh al-Asrawi stood among the ranks of the victors. Yet just two years later, this decorated Druze dignitary was forced to leave the Middle East. All of this unfolded following the signing of the Sykes-Picot Agreement between Britain and France, under which the two powers partitioned their spheres of influence across the former Ottoman-ruled territories in the Middle East. These shifts in the regional balance of power destabilized al-Asrawi’s position, undermining his sense of security and confidence, which led him to conclude that the time had come to depart the Middle East.

Thus, in March 1920, the Druze leader left his homeland, emigrating from Damascus to Brazil. Upon his arrival in Brazil, he was welcomed as a senior journalist on the editorial board of the newspaper “Al-Asima” (The Capital). When the paper encountered severe financial hardship, Sheikh al-Asrawi purchased it, renamed it “Al-Islah” (The Reform), and transformed it into a voice for Druze immigrants. Simultaneously, he dedicated himself to authoring books on the history of the Unitarian Druze (Muwahhidun) and elucidating the tenets of the Tawhid faith. Sheikh al-Asrawi’s publications became pioneering and distinguished references, and his research spread widely among Druze communities around the world.

Sheikh al-Asrawi was a central pillar in the life of the Druze community in Brazil; he made it a habit to travel between the various areas inhabited by the Druze, seeking to impart to the rising generations the virtues and core values of the Druze community. In his lectures and public addresses, he consistently sought to explain doctrinal matters and clarify the essence of Druze identity. He also devoted tremendous attention to educating Druze youth, captivating the hearts of many with his eloquence and vast breadth of knowledge.

Among the foremost challenges facing the Druze community in Brazil was the issue of the younger generation, who did not speak Arabic and were instead fluent in the local Portuguese language. Consequently, he authored a book in Portuguese outlining the fundamentals, identity, and history of the Tawhid faith. This work circulated widely within the Unitarian Druze community in Brazil, with many relying upon it as an indispensable source elucidating the origins and identity of the Druze. The book also reached non-Druze local readers, awakening their interest in the Druze Tawhid doctrine. In recognition of Sheikh al-Asrawi’s social and cultural contributions, and after his book proved its immense value and service to the community, the Brazilian government decided to confer upon him the title of “Spiritual Minister.”

During his lifetime, Sheikh al-Asrawi founded the Druze Reform Association, which dedicated itself to bolstering and consolidating Druze identity among the youth. This effort led to official recognition by the Brazilian government of the Druze as an independent religious community, as well as the establishment of a dedicated Druze cemetery that preserved the community’s traditional burial customs. Furthermore, he was extensively active among the Unitarian Druze in the Middle East in general, and in Israel in particular; he was one of the writers who published articles in the magazine “Al-Huda”, which was devoted to the affairs of the Druze in Israel, and he actively supported and encouraged the teaching of Druze heritage in Druze schools there.

Medals and Certificates of Appreciation

Druze community leaders in the Middle East were acutely aware of Sheikh al-Asrawi’s immense contribution to preserving community unity in Brazil and safeguarding its distinct Unitarian Druze identity. In recognition of his deeds, the Druze Mashyakhat al-Aql (Spiritual Leadership) in Lebanon appointed Sheikh al-Asrawi in 1956 as its official representative in the nations of South America. His duties in this role included representing Brazil before the religious leadership, and he was also named head of the Druze community in Brazil. Following his appointment to this prestigious post, he personally appointed imams to oversee the community’s personal status affairs in Brazil, including conducting marriage contracts and administering divorce and inheritance proceedings.

Throughout his life in Brazil, Sheikh al-Asrawi enjoyed the deep esteem and respect of his community members as well as various institutions. The Druze in Brazil undertook numerous initiatives to honor his services and revere his person. In 1978, the Druze poet Shafiq Abd al-Khaliq—one of the emigrants from Lebanon to Brazil—composed an ode extolling Sheikh al-Asrawi’s virtues, from which we select the following verses:

“They granted you your due in honor and esteem, and crowned you with sashes and diadems,

For excellence in deeds wherein you led the way, shining with brilliance and mastery.

You prayed to the supreme ‘Wisdom’ and its very core, just as you sanctify the Gospel and the Quran.

Words may well fall short of counting your virtues, or offering you fitting reverence and praise.

Cast rhymes and spoken letters aside, for the heart speaks in profound gratitude and tribute.”

The Sheikh’s Final Days

Sheikh al-Asrawi passed away to the mercy of God in 1987 at the age of ninety-six. Druze communities everywhere received the news of his passing with profound sorrow and grief. Memorial services and commemorative gatherings were held across the Americas, the Middle East, and the world in honor of his deeds and contributions, and in tribute to his stature as an eminent religious cleric and leader, reflecting the immense respect accorded to him, particularly by the sons and daughters of the Druze community.

Adapted from Al-Turath Al-Tawhidi