Ghulat
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Ghulat (Arabic: غلاة extremists) is the adjectival form of Ghuluww (Arabic: غلو extremism). The term is used by mainstream Muslims to describe the minority Muslim groups, which in the view of the majority, exaggerate the status of some saint or member of the Prophet Muhammad's family (most commonly Hadrat 'Ali). The assumption is that the groups thus described have gone too far in ascribing divinity to a person, to the (forbidden) point of associating them with God.
Scholars have come to use these terms as well, perhaps for lack of alternatives. The terms are no reflection upon the political tendencies of such groups, which are typically liberal by Middle Eastern standards. Their minority status has encouraged the ghulat groups to support such things as secular government, religious freedom, and in several cases, equal rights for women.
Examples would include the Alevi and Bektashi of Turkey and Albania; the Alawite or Nusairis of Syria and Turkey; the Yezidis of Iraqi Kurdistan; the Ahl-e Haqq ("People of Truth") or Ali'ollahi (Ali-is-God-ists) of Iran; the Druze of Syria, Lebanon, Palestine and Israel; Ismaili and Bohra of Pakistan. In Iran members of the Bahá'í Faith, a distinct religion, are sometimes considered ghulat. In Pakistan members of Ahmadi (Qadianism) are sometimes considered ghulat.
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