what is an alawite?

Answer 1

This is not a pathetic time wasting question. Alawites have their roots in Islam on the Shia side. They broke away from Islam around 900 AD. Many do not consider themselves to be Muslims. Sunni Muslims reject them because they accepted Ali as the next in line after Mohamed. Shia Muslims, who also consider Al to be the next in line, reject Alawites because they don't go to the Mosque and like Christians, they pray when they feel the need, and not 5 times a day. There are Christian aspects in the religion. They even have a figure like Father Christmas who gives gifts to the children on December 26th.
It is inaccurate to say they are mainly from Iraq. Most Alawites come from Turkey. There are basically three areas in Turkey which could be described as Alawite areas, Karahman Maras, Sivas and Tunceli. Not all Alawites from Turkey are Kurds, but most are.
And I still don't know why they don't eat rabbit!

Answer 2

The Alawites, Alaouites are a Middle Eastern religious group prominent in Syria, not to be confused with the Alaouite Dynasty of Morocco.

Answer 3

The Alawites, Alaouites are a Middle Eastern religious group prominent in Syria, not to be confused with the Alaouite Dynasty of Morocco.

Alawites call themselves ʕAlawÄ« (Arabic: علوي‎). They take their name from Ali, cousin and son-in-law of the prophet Muhammad. The term ʕAlawÄ« was recognized by the French when they occupied Syria in 1920. Historically, the Alawites have been called NusayrÄ«s (Arabic نصيريون), Namiriyya, and Ansariyya. The term Nusayriyya became one of abuse, and they themselves preferred to be called ʕAlawiyya to show their reverence for Ali.

It is said that during the life of Ali, a few of his devoted followers from Iraq, where Hellenistic and pagan cultures formed the background of many converts, described him as God, or the vehicle of a divine incarnation (Arabic حلول hulul). The claim irritated Ali profoundly, and he banished those who made it from his sight; but even today marginal Islamic sects such as the Kızılbaş "Redheads" of Turkey, or the ʕAlawī of the Syrian mountains, maintain an esoteric cosmology which asserts that God became incarnate in Ali, and then in the succession of Imams who descended from him.

Answer 4

A middle eastern religious group

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alawite

Answer 5

A middle eastern religious group

Answer 6

A middle eastern religious group, popular also in Turkey

Answer 7

Has this something to do with Michael Barrymore? lol.

Answer 8

Just more idiots trying to get us to waste our time and reply to pathetic irrelevant questions