Hammoud al-Hinnawi | |
|---|---|
حمود الحناوي | |
| Personal life | |
| Born | (1943-12-01)1 December 1943 (age 81) |
| Occupation | Spiritual leader of the Druze community in Syria |
| Religious life | |
| Religion | Druze |
Hammoud al-Hanawi (Arabic:حمود الحناوي; born 1 December 1943) is one of the leading spiritual figures of the Druze community inSyria, holding the title ofSheikh al-‘Aql. He is regarded as a prominent religious authority among theDruze ofAs-Suwayda Governorate.
Al-Hinnawi was born in the village ofSahwet Blata [ar] inAs-Suwayda Governorate, southern Syria on 1 December 1943. He grew up in a religious environment and was educated by notable Druze scholars in the region.[1] His grandfather, Sheikh and poet Qassam al-Hinnawi, was a well-known figure in the history ofJabal al-Druze.[2]
He studied at Dar al-Hikma Secondary School inAs-Suwayda, graduating in 1963. He then worked as an Arabic language teacher for 14 years inDeir ez-Zor and later taught in the villages ofal-Kafr and Sahwet Blata.[1]
He also pursued higher education in Arabic and graduated in 1975.[1]
Al-Hinnawi later moved to theUnited Arab Emirates, where he worked as a teacher and journalist for newspapers such asAl-Bayan andAl-Khaleej. After being entrusted with the responsibilities ofSheikh al-‘Aql (religious leader) in Syria, he returned to assume the role, succeeding his father.[1]
His appointment coincided with internal divisions among Druze religious authorities in As-Suwayda, leading to the emergence of two main clerical institutions: one led byHikmat al-Hijri in the town ofal-Qurayya, and another led jointly by al-Hinnawi andYoussef Jarbou inAyn al-Zaman.[1][3]
Throughout theSyrian civil war, al-Hinnawi reportedly maintained a neutral stance, advocating for civil peace and calling for national dialogue.[1] He emphasized the importance of social cohesion and minority rights, and supported a peaceful resolution to the conflict. He was known to oppose sectarian fragmentation and warned of its dangers for Syria's future.[4]
During theprotests in southern Syria around the end of theSyrian revolution, al-Hinnawi participated in protests held at the mausoleum ofSultan al-Atrash, a major Druze figure, affirming his commitment to values of freedom and dignity.[5]
In a recorded statement on 9 August 2025, al-Hinnawi expressed sharp criticism against theSyrian transitional government—the first such stance since thefall of the Assad regime. In the recorded statement, which was the first since the beginning ofclashes in southern Syria in July, he condemned the authorities for betraying the nation and violating their commitments, describing the government as treacherous and oppressive toward innocent people. He called on international bodies and humanitarian organizations to urgently lift the siege on Suwayda, allow unrestricted humanitarian access, and investigate those responsible for brutal crimes against the Druze community. Al-Hinnawi stressed that the conflict has become a fight for survival, not just political maneuvering. He concluded by thanking the Druze spiritual leader in Israel,Muwaffaq Tarif, for his support.[6]