"The holiest shrine of the Druze faith, where pilgrims pour oil into a prophet's footprint and seek ancestral blessing"
Shrine of Nabi Shuʿayb, near Kfar Zeitim, not far from Tiberias
Galil Tachton Regional Council, North District, Israel
Rising above the Galilee valleys near the Horns of Hattin, the Shrine of Nabi Shu'ayb marks the purported tomb of the Prophet Shu'ayb, whom the Druze identify with the biblical Jethro. As the most sacred site in the Druze faith worldwide, it draws thousands each April for the Ziyarat pilgrimage, a gathering where prayer, communal celebration, and oil-anointing rituals converge in one of the Middle East's most distinctive religious observances.
Weather & Best Time
Plan Your Visit
Save this site and start planning your journey.
Quick Facts
Location
Galil Tachton Regional Council, North District, Israel
Coordinates
32.8051, 35.4509
Last Updated
Feb 14, 2026
Learn More
The Shrine of Nabi Shu'ayb honors the prophet whom the Druze identify with the biblical Jethro, Moses' father-in-law. The site is linked to Saladin and the 1187 Battle of Hattin through a founding tradition, with the current structure dating to the 1880s. As the holiest site in the Druze faith — comparable in status to Mecca for Muslims — it serves as the center of Druze spiritual and communal life.
Origin Story
According to Druze tradition, the night before the Battle of Hattin in 1187, Saladin received a visit from an angel in a dream. The angel promised him victory over the Crusaders on one condition: after the battle, Saladin was to mount his horse and ride westward, and where the horse stopped, he would find the burial site of the Prophet Shu'ayb.
The battle of July 4, 1187, ended in a decisive Muslim victory that effectively ended the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem. When Saladin fulfilled the dream's instruction, his horse halted at this spot in the Galilee hills. The Druze built a shrine to mark the location.
This origin story, while not corroborated by Crusades-era chronicles, serves a powerful function. It weaves the Druze faith's holiest site into one of the most significant military events in the region's history, connecting sacred geography with historical destiny.
Key Figures
Shu'ayb (Jethro)
شعيب / יתרו
prophet
The most important prophet in Druze theology, identified with the biblical Jethro, father-in-law and spiritual mentor of Moses. The Druze understand Shu'ayb as the 'hidden and true prophet' who communicated directly with God and transmitted divine knowledge. The community considers themselves his descendants — the 'Children of Jethro.'
Sheikh Muhanna Tarif
historical
The shaykh al-aql (spiritual leader) of the Druze community in Julis who directed the construction of the older section of the current shrine in the 1880s, giving permanent architectural form to centuries of veneration.
Sheikh Amin Tarif
historical
Descendant of Sheikh Muhanna Tarif and the most prominent modern Druze spiritual leader, who oversaw major renovations and expansions of the shrine complex in the 20th century, strengthening its role as the center of Druze religious life.
Saladin (Salah ad-Din)
صلاح الدين
historical
The Ayyubid sultan whose dream, according to Druze tradition, led to the identification of Shu'ayb's burial site following his victory at the Battle of Hattin in 1187.
Spiritual Lineage
The Druze have maintained unbroken pilgrimage to this site since at least the 12th century. The shrine's custodianship passed through the Tarif family of sheikhs, who hold the position of shaykh al-aql — the paramount religious authority of the Druze community. During the British Mandate period, custodianship was contested between Druze and Muslim communities, both of whom venerated Shu'ayb. After Israeli independence in 1948, the shrine was placed under Druze administration, where it remains. The annual Ziyarat became an officially recognized Israeli public holiday, cementing the shrine's dual role as sacred site and expression of communal identity.
Know a Sacred Site We Should Include?
Help us expand our collection of sacred sites. Share your knowledge and contribute to preserving the world's spiritual heritage.