Khalwat_al-Bayada
Khalwat al-Bayada (Arabic: خلوات البيضاء, romanized: Khalwat al-Bayaḍāʾ) is the central sanctuary and theological school of the Druze, located in Lebanon and founded in the 19th century by Shaykh Hamad Kais.[1][2][3] Located near Hasbaya, the khalwat is the location where al-Darazi is supposed to have settled and taught from during the first Druze call.[4][5]
It features a large, circular, stone bench next to an ancient oak tree known as Areopagus 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.[6] In 1838, copies of the Epistles of Wisdom were taken from the site by invading Egyptians.[3] 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.