Khalwat al Bayada

The Druze school of theology in Lebanon

The Khalwat al-Bayada, Khalwet el Biyad, Khalwat al-Biyyada or White houses of communion is the central sanctuary, and theological school of the Druze, located in Lebanon. Located near Hasbaya, the khalwat is the location where Ad-Darazi is supposed to have settled and taught from during the first Druze call. It features a large, stone, circular bench next to an ancient oak tree known as Aeropagus of the Elders that is secluded amongst nature and trees. The Kalwaat provides around forty hermitages for Al-ʻuqqāl (the initiated) at various times of the year. In 1838, copies of the Epistles of Wisdom were taken from the site by invading Egyptians. Visitors are politely requested to seek permission from the resident sheikh before entering the site and female visitors are requested to cover their heads as a courtesy.