The Secret Code Connecting Druze Mustaches to Hasidic Sidelocks
From the belts that discipline the soul to the hair that defines their identity, a deep dive into their sacred traditions reveals a surprising shared language of honor and faith.
Twitter
At the shrine of Nabi al Khader in the village of Yassif located in the galilee, Sheikh Riyad Hamza walks out to greet visitors.
His appearance is striking: a white rounded cap on his head, a dark robe tied with a black belt, and the unmistakable dignity of tradition. To outsiders, it looks simple, almost austere. But for the Druze, every thread carries meaning.
“White is purity,” the sheikh explains softly. “If you are not pure, you cannot draw close to the Creator.”
The color is not a fashion choice, but a spiritual requirement. White represents the soul, the yearning for holiness. Black, on the other hand, embodies modesty. The belt around the waist is more than clothing; it is a symbol of discipline, separating the higher part of man from his lower instincts. Similar to the Hasidic Jewish tradition.
Beneath the robe lies the sirwal, wide trousers designed for modesty, again, similar to Hasidic garments that guard the sanctity of the body.
The Druze cap, known as al amma, with its white weave and red flat top, marks their identity in a way as recognizable as the black hats of Jerusalem’s ultra Orthodox.
And then, the unmistakable mustache. For the Druze, it is more than hair above the lip. It is a sign of manhood, honor, and loyalty to tradition.
“A religious Druze man must keep a mustache,” says the sheikh. “A shaved head without a mustache is frightening.” Just as the Hasid wears his sidecurls, the Druze wears his mustache proudly, a declaration of belonging.
Women too follow subtle codes. Jewelry is absent, makeup minimal. Simplicity is the ultimate beauty, the visible expression of a faith that values the natural over the decorated.
In recent years, Druze communities in Syria have suffered humiliating attacks in which soldiers forcibly shaved men’s mustaches. To the attackers, it was cruelty. To the Druze, it was an attempt to erase their dignity.
Every symbol, white, black, the belt, the cap, the mustache, tells a story of resilience, and the unbroken link between generations. In these sacred threads, the Druze carry not only their past, but also their present pride.