His Eminence Sheikh Bahjat Ghaith,
Druze Sheik Al-Aql (spiritual leader)

Place & Date of Birth: Born in Niha, Shouf, on January 22, 1939.

Marital Status: Married to Omayyah Wahhab (from Gharifah, Shouf), with four children: Shady (1973), Shadia (1974), Ghada and Taher (1984)

Education: Started his education at the village school in Niha. He then moved to the Amatour Public School in 1950 where he completed his elementary studies in 1953, and his intermediate studies in 1957. He later joined the Lebanese Army in 1958, and pursued his secondary studies while serving in the Army. In 1960, he left the Army and began a business career in Liberia (1960-1965) and in the United Arab Emirates (1969-1980), where he achieved great success. Upon returning home for the Emirates, he diverted his attention to religious studies and spiritual research. In 1995 he was granted a Creativity Doctorate in Unification (Al Tawheed) Thought from the University of the Mother of Languages (Omm Al Lugghat) in Paris, headed by Scholar Dr. Asaad Ali.

Career: Sheikh Gaith grew in a poor family deriving its livelihood from farming. After finishing his elementary and intermediate education, he joined the army in 1958 to help his family survive economic difficulties. But, as this was not enough, he found no alternative but to join his brother Suleiman in Liberia in 1960, where they worked together in trade.

After achieving some success in business, Sheikh Ghaith returned to Lebanon in 1965, where he resumed working in farming, and founded at the same time the 'Social Solidarity League'. But the limited scope offered by village life compelled him to leave Lebanon again, heading to the Emirates, encouraged by his brother Waheeb.

So, they bought three truck and sent them, along with another they already had, to the Gulf, where they formed in association with Sheikh Obeid Al Jaber a contracting company under the name of  'Al Jaber Contracting'. Soon enough, the newly formed company achieved great success, and is today one of the most successful companies in the fields of contracting, road construction and other construction works in the United Arab Emirates.

In 1980, Sheigh Ghaith returned to Lebanon and focused his attention on development and farming, and founded a vocational school in Baaqlin, Shouf.

However, his success did not divert his attention from the spiritual realm, until he decided in in the early Eighties to quit business, and focus his attention on spiritual research and theological learning. In 1991, then Druze Sheikh al Akl (spiritual leader) Mohammad Abu Shaqra, suffering from health problems and old age, asked him in writing to represent him.

Later in 2000, Sheikh Ghaith was appointed Druze Sheikh Al Akl (spiritual leader), succeeding Sheikh Mohammad Abu Shaqra.

Publications: 'Maarij Al Rouh' (Paths of the Spirit), a book in Arabic.