How did al-Hakim’s disappearance contribute to the origins of the Druze movement?

The mysterious disappearance of the Fatimid caliph al-Hakim in 1021 served as a pivotal moment for the Druze movement, which had emerged from Isma'ili Shi'ism by proclaiming him a divine figure.12

Following his disappearance, the movement faced intense persecution under his successor, al-Zahir, causing the faith to nearly vanish in Egypt. In response to this crisis, the movement's leader, Hamzah ibn Ali, went into hiding and reinterpreted the event for his followers. He claimed that al-Hakim had not died but had merely withdrawn from the world to test the faith and devotion of his followers.12

This theological explanation provided the ideological foundation for the survival of the movement, allowing it to persist in isolated areas of Syria and Lebanon, where missionaries had previously established communities. While the faith eventually ceased proselytizing in 1043, Hamzah’s teachings regarding al-Hakim’s withdrawal remained central to the Druze identity.12