Nabi Shu'ayb

Nabi Shuʿayb (also transliterated Neby Shoaib, Nabi Shuaib, or Nebi Shu'eib, meaning "the Prophet Shuaib"), known in English as Jethro's tomb,^[1][2] is a religious shrine west of Tiberias, in the Lower Galilee region of Israel, containing the purported tomb of prophet Shuayb, identified with the biblical Jethro, Moses' father-in-law.^[3][4][5] The complex hosting the tomb is the most important religious site in the Druze religion. A Druze religious festival takes place in the shrine every year in April.

The complex of Nabi Shuayb, believed to host the tomb of the prophet Shuayb

The Prophet Shuayb was an object of traditional veneration by the Druze through Israel. The shrine figured down to the Israeli-Arab war of 1948 as a place where Druze took vows (nidhr) and made ziyarat ("pilgrimages"). After the 1948 war, Israel placed the maqam (shrine) under exclusive Druze care.^[6]

The tomb of the Prophet Shuaib, originally built outside the village of Hittin, has been a site of annual pilgrimage for the Druze for centuries, with its first mention in historical sources dating back to the 12th century CE. The modern structure dates to 1880.^[7]

History

 

The courtyard of the complex

 

Another courtyard view

In Druze tradition, it is believed that towards the end of his life, Shuʿayb took refuge in a cave outside Hittin (a village just west of Tiberias), where he would die in old age. His followers buried him at the site and placed a tombstone at his grave.^[7] Another Druze tradition holds that the Ayyubid sultan Saladin had a dream the night prior to the Battle of Hittin in which an angel promised him victory on the condition that after the battle, he would ride his horse westward; then, where the horse would stop, the angel said he would find the burial site of Shuʿayb. The tradition holds that when Saladin's dream was realized, the Druze built a shrine for Shuʿayb at the site.

 

Nabi Shu'ayb in a 1940s Survey of Palestine map, shown just outside the historical Palestinian town of Hittin, and overlaid (in blue) with the modern road layout showing the Israeli moshav of Kfar Zeitim.

Nabi Shuʿayb has been expanded and renovated over time.^[7] The older section of the existing structure was built in the 1880s, under the direction of Sheikh Muhanna Tarif, the shaykh al-aql (Druze spiritual leader) of Julis.^[8] Sheikh Muhanna summoned an assembly of religious leaders in the community to discuss and collaborate on its construction. A delegation of high-ranking community members traveled to Syria and Lebanon in order to collect funds for new construction and renovations and the local Druze of the Galilee and Mount Carmel also made considerable contributions.

After Israel's establishment in 1948, and the total depopulation of Hittin which had been a predominantly Muslim village, the Druze were granted full custodianship over the tomb, and an additional 100 dunams surrounding it. Under the leadership of Sheikh Amin Tarif, the shrine was then renovated and numerous rooms were added for the hosting of pilgrims. The Israeli government also paved the road leading to Nabi Shuʿayb and provided electricity and water infrastructure services there.^[7]

Pilgrimage

 

Druze scouts visiting the tomb

Further information: Ziyarat al-Nabi Shuʿayb

The first mention of the tomb dates back to the 12th century CE, and the Druze have held religious festivals there for centuries. According to Druze tradition, the imprint of Shuaib's left foot (da'sa) can be seen on the grave. Pilgrims visiting the site pour oil into the imprint, and then rub the oil over their body in order to be blessed with good fortune.^[7]

The Druze customarily had no fixed date for their annual pilgrimage, which generally occurred sometime in the spring. When the Israeli government granted official recognition of the pilgrimage as a Druze religious holiday, the dates were standardized, such that the event now takes place between April 25 and April 28.^[9] During the festivities, mass celebrations are held at Nabi Shu'aib, and Druze religious leaders gather there for ritual purposes and to discuss religious questions. Prior to Israel's establishment, Druze from Syria and Lebanon also used to participate in the festival, but are no longer able to do so today.^[7]

See also

• Jabal Al-Nabi Shu'ayb
• Israeli Druze
• Amin Tarif
• Religious significance of the Syrian region
• Ziyarat al-Nabi Shuʿayb

References

1. "Jethro%27s+tomb"&dq="Jethro%27s+tomb" The Life of Saladin [by Beha ed-Din]. The Library of the Palestine Pilgrims' Text Society. Vol. 13 (reprint ed.). AMS Press. 1971 [1897]. pp. 50, 415. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
2. Sir William Foster, ed. (2017) [1931]. The Travels of John Sanderson in the Levant, 1584-1602: With his Autobiography and Selections from his Correspondence. Series II. Routledge for Hakluyt Society. p. 155, n. 4. ISBN 1317013298. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
3. Corduan, Winfried (2013). Neighboring Faiths: A Christian Introduction to World Religions. p. 107. ISBN 978-0-8308-7197-1.
4. Mackey, Sandra (2009). Mirror of the Arab World: Lebanon in Conflict. p. 28. ISBN 978-0-393-33374-9.
5. Lev, David (25 October 2010). "MK Kara: Druze are Descended from Jews". Israel National News. Arutz Sheva. Retrieved 13 April 2011.
6. Mahmoud Yazbak, 'Holy shrines (maqamat) in modern Palestine/Israel and the politics of memory,' in Marshall J. Breger, Yitzhak Reiter, Leonard Hammer (eds.),Holy Places in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: Confrontation and Co-existence, Routledge 2010 pp.231-246 p.241.
7. Dana, Nissim. (2003). The Druze in the Middle East: Their Faith, Leadership, Identity and Status, Sussex Academic Press, pp. 28–30.
8. Firro, Kais (1992). A History of the Druzes, Volume 1. Brill. p. 315. ISBN 9004094377.
9. Kais Firro The Druzes in the Jewish State: A Brief History, BRILL, 1999.

Bibliography

• Petersen, Andrew (2001). A Gazetteer of Buildings in Muslim Palestine (British Academy Monographs in Archaeology). Vol. I. Oxford University Press. pp. 148−150. ISBN 978-0-19-727011-0.

32°48′17″N 35°27′2″E / 32.80472°N 35.45056°E / 32.80472; 35.45056