Yazidism
This article needs additional citations for verification. (June 2022) |
Yazidism
| |
---|---|
Type | Ethnic religion |
Classification | Iranian religions[1][2] |
Scripture | Yazidi Book of Revelation, Yazidi Black Book |
Theology | Monotheistic |
Mir | Hazim Tahsin or Naif Dawud[3] |
Baba Sheikh | Sheikh Ali Ilyas |
Language | Kurdish (Kurmanji) |
Headquarters | Lalish, Iraqi Kurdistan |
Origin | 12th century Kurdistan |
Members | Referred to as Yazidis:
c. 200,000–1,000,000 (Encyclopædia Britannica est.[4]) c. 200,000–300,000 (Encyclopædia Iranica, 2004 est.[1]) |
Other name(s) | Sharfadin |
Part of a series on the Yazidi religion |
Yazidism |
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Yazidism,[a] also known as Sharfadin,[b] is a monotheistic ethnic religion[c] that originated in Kurdistan[9] and has roots in pre-Zoroastrian Iranian religion, directly derived from the Indo-Iranian tradition.[d] Its followers, called Yazidis, are a Kurdish-speaking community.[e]
Yazidism includes elements of ancient Iranian religions, as well as elements of Judaism, Church of the East, and Islam.[4] Yazidism is based on belief in one God who created the world and entrusted it into the care of seven Holy Beings, known as Angels.[5][10][11] Preeminent among these Angels is Tawûsî Melek (lit. 'Peacock Angel', also spelled as Melek Taûs), who is the leader of the Angels and who has authority over the world.[5][11][12] The religion of the Yazidis is a highly syncretistic one: Sufi influence and imagery can be seen in their religious vocabulary, especially in the terminology of their esoteric literature, but much of the mythology is non-Islamic, and their cosmogonies apparently have many points in common with those of ancient Iranian religions.[1]
Etymology
The name of Yazidi is a exonym.[11] The Yazidi people and religion are named after Sultan Ezid. Most modern historians hold that the name Ezid derives from the name of Yazid I (c. 646–689), the second Caliph of Umayyad Caliphate.[13] A pro-Umayyad movement particularly sympathetic towards Yazid I existed in the Kurdish mountains before the 12th century, when Sheikh Adi ibn Musafir (1072–1078),[13] a Sufi of Umayyad descent and venerated by Yazidis to this day,[14][4] settled there and attracted a following among the adherents of the movement. The name Yazidi seems to have been applied to the group because of his Umayyad origins.[13]
In Yazidi religious lore, there is no trace of any link between Sultan Ezid and the second Umayyad caliph.[15] Some scholars have derived the name Yazidi from yazata, the name for a divine being in Avestan.[4][1]
History
Principal beliefs
Yazidis believe in one God, to whom they refer as Xwedê, Xwedawend, Êzdan, and Pedsha ('King'), and, less commonly, Ellah and Heq.[2][8][10][5][16] According to some Yazidi hymns (known as Qewls), God has 1,001 names, or 3,003 names according to other Qewls.[17][18] In Yazidism, fire, water, air, and the earth are sacred elements that are not to be polluted. During prayer Yazidis face towards the Sun, for which they were often called "sun worshippers". The Yazidi myth of creation begins with the description of the emptiness and the absence of order in the Universe. Prior to the World's creation, God created a dur (white pearl) in spiritual form from his own pure Light and alone dwelt in it.[19] First there was an esoteric world, and after that an exoteric world was created. Before the creation of this world God created seven Divine Beings (often called "Angels" in Yazidi literature) to whom he assigned all the world's affairs; the leader of the Seven Angels was appointed Tawûsî Melek ("Peacock Angel").[5][11][20] The end of Creation is closely connected with the creation of mankind and the transition from mythological to historical time.[8][12][10]
Tawûsî Melek
The Yazidis believe in a divine Triad.[5][11][20] The original, hidden God of the Yazidis is considered to be remote and inactive in relation to his creation, except to contain and bind it together within his essence.[5] His first emanation is Melek Taûs (Tawûsî Melek), the Peacock Angel, who functions as the ruler of the world.[5][11][20] The second hypostasis of the divine Triad is the Sheikh 'Adī. The third is Sultan Ezid. These are the three hypostases of the one God. The identity of these three is sometimes blurred, with Sheikh 'Adī considered to be a manifestation of Tawûsî Melek and vice versa; the same also applies to Sultan Ezid.[5] Yazidis are called Miletê Tawûsî Melek ("the nation of Tawûsî Melek").[21]
Muslims and Christians have erroneously associated and identified the Peacock Angel with their own conception of the unredeemed evil spirit Satan,[5][11][20][22]: 29 [23] a misconception which has incited centuries of violent religious persecution of the Yazidis as "devil-worshippers".[5][11][20][24][25] Persecution of Yazidis has continued in their home communities within the borders of modern Iraq.[5][11][26]
Yazidis, however, believe Tawûsî Melek is not a source of evil or wickedness.[5][11][20] They consider him to be the leader of the archangels, not a fallen angel.[5][20][22][23]
The Yazidis of Kurdistan have been called many things, most notoriously 'devil-worshippers', a term used both by unsympathetic neighbours and fascinated Westerners. This sensational epithet is not only deeply offensive to the Yazidis themselves, but quite simply wrong.[27] Non-Yazidis have associated Melek Taûs with Shaitan (Islamic/Arab name) or Satan, but Yazidis find that offensive and do not actually mention that name.[27]
Holy figures
Yezidis believe in Seven Angels, considered the emanations of God, who, In Yazidi creation stories, were created by God from his own light (nûr) before the creation of this world. God assigned all of the world's affairs to these seven Angels and Tawûsê Melek was appointed as the leader. The angels are also referred to as Heft Sirr ("the Seven Mysteries"). In this context, they have, so to speak, a part of God in themselves. Another word that is used for this is sur or sirr (literally: 'mystery'), which denotes a divine essence from which the angels were created.[28] This pure divine essence called Sur or Sirr has its own personality and will and is also called Sura Xudê ('the Sur of God').[29] This term refers to the essence of the Divine itself, that is, God. The Angels share this essence from their creator who is God.[28] In religious literature, these Angels are sometimes referred to as Cibrayîl, Ezrayîl, Mîkayîl, Şifqayîl, Derdayîl, Ezafîl, and Ezazîl.[30] The leader of these Angels is known as Tawûsê Melek, and the others are better known by the names of their earthly incarnations/representations: Fexreddin, Sheikh Shems, Nasirdin, Sejadin, Sheikh Obekr, and Shex Hesen (Şêxsin).[31][32][33]
The Yazidi pantheon contains a total of 365 holy figures venerated by Yazidis,[34] designated by various special terms including Xudan, Xas, Mêr and Babçak. According to Yazidi beliefs, God is almighty and absolute, and the Xudans are a part of His power, moreover, in relation to nature, Yazidis believe in Xudans for most of natural elements and phenomena and they are regarded as divine powers that have control over these phenomena. In Yazidi mythology, the Xudans appeared after the creation of the world for the four elements of nature and their manifestations.[35]
Sheikh 'Adī
One of the important figures of Yazidism is Sheikh 'Adī ibn Musafir. Sheikh 'Adī ibn Musafir settled in the valley of Laliş (some 58 kilometres (36 mi) northeast of Mosul) in the Yazidi mountains in the early 12th century and founded the 'Adawiyya Sufi order. He died in 1162, and his tomb at Laliş is a focal point of Yazidi pilgrimage and the principal Yazidi holy site.[36] Yazidism has many influences: Sufi influence and imagery (especially taken from Mansur al-Hallaj)[37] can be seen in the religious vocabulary, especially in the terminology of the Yazidis' esoteric literature, but most of the theology, rituals, traditions, and festivals remains non-Islamic. Its cosmogony for instance has many points in common with those of ancient Iranian religions.[38][39][40][41][2]
Rebirth and concept of time
Yazidis believe in the rebirth of the soul. Like the Ahl-e Haqq, the Yazidis use the metaphor of a change of garment to describe the process, which plays an exceptional role in Yazidi religiosity and is called the "change of [one's] shirt" (kirasgorîn). There is also a belief that some of the events from the time of creation repeat themselves in cycles of history. In Yazidism, different concepts of time coexist:[8]
- An esoteric time sphere (Kurdish: enzel), This term denotes a state of being before the creation of the world. According to Yazidi cosmogony, there is God and a pearl in this stage.
- Bedîl or dewr (a cyclic course of time): it means literally 'change, changing' or 'turning, revolution' and in the Yazidi context denotes a new period of time in the history of the world. Therefore, it may also mean 'renewing' or 'renewed' and designates the start of a renewed period of time.
- A linear course, which runs from the start of the creation by God to the collective eschatological end point.
- Three tofan ('storm, flood') i.e. catastrophes. It is believed that there are three big events during history named tofan that play a purificatory role, changing the quality of life in a positive manner. Each catastrophe, which ultimately brings renewal to the world, takes place through a basic element: the first through water (tofanê avê), the second through fire (tofanê agirî) and the last is connected with wind (air) (tofanê ba). It is believed that the first tofan has already occurred in the past and that the next tofan will occur through fire. According to this perception, the three sacred elements, namely water, fire and air, purify the fourth one, the earth. These events however are not be considered as eschatological events. They occur during the life of people. Although the purificatory events cause many deaths, ultimately life continues.[42]
In Yazidism, the older original concept of metempsychosis and the cyclic perception of the course of time is harmonised and coexists with the younger idea of a collective eschatology.[8]
Cosmogony and beginning of life
The Yazidi cosmogony is recorded in several sacred texts and traditions. It can therefore only be inferred and understood through an overall view of the sacred texts and traditions. The cosmogony can be divided into three stages:
- Enzel – the state before the pearl burst (dur).
- Developments immediately after the burst – cosmogony II
- The creation of the earth and man – anthropogony[43][44]
The term Enzel is one of the frequently mentioned terms in the religious vocabulary and it comes up numerous times in the religious hymns, known as Qewls. For instance, in Qewlê Tawisî Melek:
"Ya Rebî ji Enzel de her tuyî qedîmî" (English: Oh, Creator of the Enzel, you are infinite)[45]
And Dûa Razanê:
Ezdayî me, ji direke enzelî me (English: I am a follower of God, I come from an "enzelî" pearl)[45]
Thus, the term Enzel can also be referred to as a "pure, spiritual, immaterial and infinite world", "the Beyond" or "the sphere beyond the profane world". The Enzel stage describes a spaceless and timeless state and therefore illustrates a supernatural state. In this stage, initially there is only a God, who creates a pearl out of his own light, in which his shining throne (textê nûrî) is located.
Qewlê Bê Elif:
Padşê min bi xo efirandî dura beyzaye – My King created the white pearl from himself
Textê nûrî sedef – The shining throne in the pearl[45]
The Yazidi qewls mention the universe as having originated from a white pearl that existed in pre-eternity. At the beginning of the time prior to the creation, God emerged from the cosmic pearl, which rested on the horns of a bull that stood on the back of a fish. After God and the pearl separated, the universe burst out of the pearl and became visible as waves rippled across from pearl to form the primeval Cosmic Ocean.[17] As the pearl burst open, the beginning of the material universe was set in motion. Mihbet (meaning 'love') came into being and was laid as the original foundation, colours began to form, and red, yellow and white began to shine from the burst pearl.
The Yazidi religion has its own perception of the colours, which is seen in the mythology and shown through clothing taboos, in religious ceremonies, customs and rituals. Colours are perceived as the symbolizations of nature and the beginning of life, thus the emphasis of colours can be found in the creation myth. The colors white, red, green and yellow in particular are frequently emphasized. White is considered the color of purity and peace and is the main colour of the religious clothing of the Yazidis.[46][2][44]
Yazidi accounts of the creation differ significantly from those of the Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam), since they are derived from the Ancient Mesopotamian and Indo-Iranian traditions; therefore, Yazidi cosmogony is closer to those of Ancient Iranian religions, Yarsanism, and Zoroastrianism.[47][48]
Yazidi sacred texts
This section needs additional citations for verification. (June 2022) |
The religious literature of Yazidis is composed mostly of poetry which is orally transmitted in mainly Kurmanji and includes numerous genres, such as Qewl (religious hymn), Beyt (poem), Du‛a (prayer), Dirozge (another kind of prayer), Şehdetiya Dîn (the Declaration of the Faith), Terqîn (prayer for after a sacrifice), Pişt perde (literally 'under the veil', another genre), Qesîde (Qasida), Sema‛ (literally 'listening'), Lavij, Xerîbo, Xizêmok, Payîzok, and Robarîn. The poetic literature is composed in an advanced and archaic language where more complex terms are used, which may be difficult to understand for those who are not trained in religious knowledge.[citation needed] Therefore, they are accompanied by some prosaic genres of the Yazidi literature that often interpret the contents of the poems and provide explanations of their contexts in the spoken language comprehensible among the common population. The prosaic genres include Çîrok and Çîvanok (legends and myths), and Dastan and Menal Pîrs (interpretations of religious hymns).[49][1] Yazidis also possess some written texts, such as the sacred manuscripts called mişûrs and individual collections of religious texts called cilvê and Keşkûl, although they are rarer and often safekept among Yazidis.[50] Yazidis are also said to have two holy books, Book of Revelation and Black Book whose authenticities are debated among scholars.[1]
Holy books
The Yazidi holy books are claimed to be the Book of Revelation and Black Book. Scholars generally agree that the manuscripts of both books published in 1911 and 1913 were forgeries written by non-Yazidis in response to Western travellers' and scholars' interest in the Yazidi religion; however, the material in them is consistent with authentic Yazidi traditions.[1] True texts of those names may have existed, but remain obscure. The real core texts of the religion that exist today are the hymns known as qawls; they have also been orally transmitted during most of their history, but are now being collected with the assent of the community, effectively transforming Yazidism into a scriptural religion.[1] The sacred texts had already been translated into English by the early 20th century.[51]
Qewl and Beyt
A very important genre of oral literature of the Yazidi community consists of religious hymns, called Qewls, which literally means 'word, speech' (from Arabic qawl). The performers of these hymns, called the Qewal, constitute a distinct class within the Yazidi society. They are a veritable source of ancient Yazidi lore and are traditionally recruited from the non-religious members of other Kurdish tribes, principally the Dumilî and Hekarî.[52][11][8] The qewls are full of cryptic allusions and usually need to be accompanied by čirōks ('stories') that explain their context.[1]
Mishur
Mishurs are a type of sacred manuscripts that were written down in the 13th century and handed down to each lineage (ocax) of the Pirs; each of the manuscripts contain descriptions of the founder of the Pir lineage that they were distributed to, along with a list of Kurdish tribes and other priestly lineages that were affiliated with the founder. The mishurs are safekept among the families of Pirs in particular places that are designated for their safekeeping; these places are referred to as stêr in Kurmanji.[53] According to the Yazidi tradition, there are a total of 40 mishurs which were distributed to the 40 lineages of Pirs.[8]
Festivals
Yazidi New Year
The Yazidi New Year (Sersal) is called Çarşema sor ("Red Wednesday")[19] or Çarşema Serê Nîsanê ("Wednesday at the beginning of April").[54] It falls in spring, on the first Wednesday[55] of the April and Nîsan months in the Julian and Seleucid calendars, i.e. the first Wednesday on or after 14 April according to the Gregorian calendar.[56][57]
Feast of Êzî
One of the most important Yazidi festivals is Îda Êzî ("Feast of Êzî"), which is celebrated in commemoration of the divine figure Sultan Ezid. Which every year takes place on the first Friday on or after 14 December. Before this festival, the Yazidis fast for three days, where nothing is eaten from sunrise to sunset. The Îda Êzî festival is celebrated in honor of God and the three days of fasting before are also associated with the ever shorter days before the winter solstice, when the Sun is less and less visible. With the Îda Êzî festival, the fasting time is ended. The festival is often celebrated with music, food, drinks and dance.[58]
Tawûsgeran
Another important festival is the Tawûsgeran, where Qewals and other religious dignitaries visit Yazidi villages, bringing the sinjaq, sacred images of a peacock symbolizing Tawûsê Melek. These are venerated, fees are collected from the pious, sermons are preached and holy water and berat (small stones from Lalish) distributed.[59][60]
Feast of the Assembly
The greatest festival of the year is the Cêjna Cemaiya ('Feast of the Assembly'), which includes an annual pilgrimage to the tomb of Sheikh 'Adī' (Şêx Adî) in Lalish, northern Iraq. The festival is celebrated from 6 October to 13 October,[61] in honor of the Sheikh Adi. It is an important time for cohesion.[62]
If possible, Yazidis make at least one pilgrimage to Lalish during their lifetime, and those living in the region try to attend at least once a year for the Feast of the Assembly in autumn.[63]
Tiwaf
Tiwafs are yearly feasts of shrines and their holy beings which constitute an important part of Yazidi religious and communal life. Every village that contains a shrine holds annual tiwafs in the name of the holy being to which the shrine is dedicated.[64][65]
Religious practices
Prayers
Prayers occupy a special status in Yazidi literature. They contain important symbols and religious knowledge connected with the Holy Men, God, and daily situations. The prayers are mostly private and as a rule they are not performed in public. Yazidis pray towards the sun,[66] usually privately, or the prayers are recited by one person during a gathering. The prayers are classified according to their own content. There are:
- Prayers dedicated to God and holy beings
- Prayers of Yazidi castes
- Prayers for specific occasions
- Rite of passage prayers
- Prayers against health problems and illnesses
- Daily prayers
- Prayers connected with the nature, i.e. the Moon, stars, Sun, etc.[49]
Purity and taboos
Many Yazidis consider pork to be prohibited. However, many Yazidis living in Germany began to view this taboo as a foreign belief from Judaism or Islam and not part of Yazidism, and therefore abandoned this rule.[68] Furthermore, in a BBC interview in April 2010, Baba Sheikh, the spiritual leader of all Yazidis, stated that ordinary Yazidis may eat what they want, but the religious clergy refrain from certain vegetables (including cabbage) because "they cause gases".[69]
Some Yazidis in Armenia and Georgia who converted to Christianity, still identify as Yazidis even after converting,[70] but are not accepted by the other Yazidis as Yazidis.[71]
Customs
Children are baptised at birth and circumcision is not required, but is practised by some due to regional customs.[72] The Yazidi baptism is called mor kirin (literally: 'to seal'). Traditionally, Yazidi children are baptised at birth with water from the Kaniya Sipî ('White Spring') at Lalish. It involves pouring holy water from the spring on the child's head three times.[73][74]
Religious organisation
The Yazidis are strictly endogamous;[75][76] members of the three Yazidi castes, the murids, sheikhs, and pirs, marry only within their group.[23]
There are several religious duties that are performed by several dignitaries, such as the Mir Hejj (Prince of the Pilgrimage), Sheikh el-Wazir (who oversees the sanctuary of Sheikh Shems at Lalish), Pire Esbiya (treasurer of the sanctuary of Sheikh Shems at Lalish), Mijewir (local shrine custodian), Baba Chawush (guardian of the sanctuary of Sheikh Adi), and others.[17]
See also
Notes
- ^ Kurdish: ئێزدیتی, romanized: Êzdîtî or Êzdiyetî
- ^ Sharfadin is a name for Yazidi faith:[5][6][7][8]
Kurdish: شەرەفەدین, romanized: Şerfedîn - ^ Taneja, Preti (2007). Assimilation, Exodus, Eradication: Iraq's Minority Communities Since 2003. Minority Rights Group International. p. 13. ISBN 978-1-904584-60-5.
Chapman, Chris; Taneja, Preti (2009). Uncertain Refuge, Dangerous Return: Iraq's Uprooted Minorities. Minority Rights Group International. p. 8. ISBN 978-1-904584-90-2.
Muscati, Samer; Watch (Organization), Human Rights (2009). On Vulnerable Ground: Violence Against Minority Communities in Nineveh Province's Disputed Territories. Human Rights Watch. p. 18. ISBN 978-1-56432-552-5.
Sorenson, David (2018-10-03). An Introduction to the Modern Middle East, Student Economy Edition: History, Religion, Political Economy, Politics. Routledge. p. 82. ISBN 978-0-429-96271-4. - ^ Turgut, Lokman. Ancient rites and old religions in Kurdistan. OCLC 879288867.
Kaczorowski, Karol (2014). "Yezidism and Proto-Indo-Iranian Religion". Fritillaria Kurdica. Bulletin of Kurdish Studies (3–4).
Foltz, Richard (2017-06-01). "The "Original" Kurdish Religion? Kurdish Nationalism and the False Conflation of the Yezidi and Zoroastrian Traditions". Journal of Persianate Studies. 10 (1): 87–106. doi:10.1163/18747167-12341309. ISSN 1874-7094.
Omarkhali, Khanna (2009–2010). "The status and role of the Yezidi legends and myths: to the question of comparative analysis of Yezidism, Yārisān (Ahl-e Haqq) and Zoroastrianism: a common substratum?". Folia Orientalia. 45–46: 197–219. OCLC 999248462.
Kreyenbroek, Philip G. (1995). Yezidism--its Background, Observances, and Textual Tradition. Lewiston, New York: Edwin Mellen Press. ISBN 978-0-7734-9004-8.
Allison, Christine (20 September 2016) [20 July 2004]. "YAZIDIS i. GENERAL". Encyclopædia Iranica. New York: Columbia University. doi:10.1163/2330-4804_EIRO_COM_1252. ISSN 2330-4804. Archived from the original on 17 November 2016. Retrieved 9 January 2022. - ^ "The Yazidis’ cultural practices are observably Kurdish, and almost all speak Kurmanji (Northern Kurdish), with the exception of the villages of Baʿšiqa and Baḥzānēin northern Iraq, where Arabic is spoken. Kurmanji is the language of almost all the orally transmitted religious traditions of the Yazidis."[1]
References
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- ^ a b c d Kreyenbroek, Philip G. (1995). Yezidism: its Background, Observances, and Textual Tradition. Lewiston, New York: Edwin Mellen Press. ISBN 978-0-7734-9004-8.
- ^ "Yezidis divided on spiritual leader's successor elect rival Mir".
- ^ a b c d "Yazīdī". Encyclopædia Britannica. (2024) [1998].
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Asatrian, Garnik S.; Arakelova, Victoria (2014). "Part I: The One God - Malak-Tāwūs: The Leader of the Triad". The Religion of the Peacock Angel: The Yezidis and Their Spirit World. Gnostica. Abingdon, Oxfordshire: Routledge. pp. 1–28. doi:10.4324/9781315728896. ISBN 978-1-84465-761-2. OCLC 931029996.
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- ^ "مهزارگههێ شهرفهدین هێشتا ژ ئالیێ هێزێن پێشمهرگهی ڤه دهێته پاراستن" (in Kurdish). Retrieved 29 December 2019.
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- ^ Langer, Robert (2010). "Yezidism between Scholarly Literature and Actual Practice: From 'Heterodox' Islam and 'Syncretism' to the Formation of a Transnational Yezidi 'Orthodoxy'". British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies. 37 (3): 393–403. doi:10.1080/13530194.2010.524441. JSTOR 23077034. S2CID 145061694.
- ^ Asatrian, Garnik; Arakelova, Victoria (2016). "On the Shi'a Constituent in the Yezidi Religious Lore". Iran and the Caucasus. 20 (3–4): 385–395. doi:10.1163/1573384X-20160308. JSTOR 44631094.
- ^ Omarkhali, Khanna (December 2009). "Names of God and Forms of Address to God in Yezidism. With the Religious Hymn of the Lord". Manuscripta Orientalia International Journal for Oriental Manuscript Research. 15 (2).
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- ^ a b van Bruinessen, Martin (1992). "Chapter 2: Kurdish society, ethnicity, nationalism and refugee problems". In Kreyenbroek, Philip G.; Sperl, Stefan (eds.). The Kurds: A Contemporary Overview. London: Routledge. pp. 26–52. ISBN 978-0-415-07265-6. OCLC 919303390.
- ^ a b c Açikyildiz, Birgül (2014). The Yezidis: The History of a Community, Culture and Religion. London: I.B. Tauris & Company. ISBN 978-1-784-53216-1. OCLC 888467694.
- ^ Li, Shirley (8 August 2014). "A Very Brief History of the Yazidi and What They're Up Against in Iraq". The Atlantic.
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- ^ Thomas, Sean (19 August 2007). "The Devil worshippers of Iraq". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 2022-01-12.
- ^ a b Allison, C. (1998). "The Evolution of the Yezidi Religion. From Spoken Word to Written Scripture" (PDF). The Evolution of Yezidi Religion - From Spoken Word to Written Scripture. Vol. 1. ISIM, Leiden. p. 14.
{{cite book}}
:|website=
ignored (help) - ^ a b Spät, Eszter (2009). "Late Antique Motifs in Yezidi Oral Tradition" (PDF). Central European University. p. 71.
- ^ Rodziewicz, Artur (2018). "The Nation of the Sur: The Yezidi Identity Between Modern and Ancient Myth". In Bocheńska, Joanna (ed.). Rediscovering Kurdistan's Cultures and Identities. Cham: Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 259–326. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-93088-6_7. ISBN 978-0-415-07265-6.
- ^ Авдоев, Теймураз (2011). Историко-теософский аспект езидизма [Historical and Theosophical Aspect of Yezidism] (in Russian). Э.РА. p. 314. ISBN 978-5-905016-967.
- ^ Murad, Jasim Elias (1993). The Sacred Poems of the Yazidis: An Anthropological Approach. University of California, Los Angeles.
- ^ Kreyenbroek, Philip G. (1995). Yezidism--its Background, Observances, and Textual Tradition. Lewiston, New York: Edwin Mellen Press. ISBN 978-0-7734-9004-8.
- ^ Açikyildiz, Birgül (2019-12-17). The Yezidis: The History of a Community, Culture and Religion. Bloomsbury Publishing Plc. ISBN 978-1-350-14927-4.
- ^ Spat, Eszter (2016-10-08). "Hola Hola Tawusi Melek, Hola Hola Şehidêt Şingalê: Persecution and the Development of Yezidi Ritual Life". Kurdish Studies. 4 (2): 155–175. doi:10.33182/ks.v4i2.426. ISSN 2051-4891.
- ^ Aysif, Rezan Shivan (2021). The Role of Nature in Yezidism. Göttingen: Göttingen University Press. pp. 94, 107. doi:10.17875/gup2021-1855. ISBN 978-3-86395-514-4. S2CID 246596953.
- ^ Late Antique Motifs in Yezidi Oral Tradition by Eszter Spät. Ch. 9 "The Origin Myth of the Yezidis" section "The Myth of Shehid Bin Jer" (p. 347)
- ^ Rodziewicz, Artur (2022), Hosseini, S. Behnaz (ed.), "The Mystery of Essence and the Essence of Mystery: Yezidi and Yaresan Cosmogonies in the Light of the Kitab al-Tawasin", Yari Religion in Iran, Singapore: Springer Singapore, pp. 103–187, doi:10.1007/978-981-16-6444-1_6, ISBN 978-981-16-6443-4, S2CID 247034058, retrieved 2022-03-08
- ^ Turgut, Lokman. Ancient rites and old religions in Kurdistan. OCLC 879288867.
- ^ Kaczorowski, Karol (2014). "Yezidism and Proto-Indo-Iranian Religion". Fritillaria Kurdica. Bulletin of Kurdish Studies (3–4).
- ^ Foltz, Richard (2017-06-01). "The "Original" Kurdish Religion? Kurdish Nationalism and the False Conflation of the Yezidi and Zoroastrian Traditions". Journal of Persianate Studies. 10 (1): 87–106. doi:10.1163/18747167-12341309. ISSN 1874-7094.
- ^ Omarkhali, Khanna (2009–2010). "The status and role of the Yezidi legends and myths: to the question of comparative analysis of Yezidism, Yārisān (Ahl-e Haqq) and Zoroastrianism: a common substratum?". Folia Orientalia. 45–46: 197–219. OCLC 999248462.
- ^ Agustí., Allison, Christine, ed. Joisten-Pruschke, Anke, ed. Wendtland, Antje, ed. Kreyenbroek, Philip G., 1948- Alemany i Vilamajó (2009). From Daena to Din : religion, Kultur und Sprache in der iranischen Welt: festschrift für Philip Kreyenbroek zum 60. Geburtstag. Harrassowitz. ISBN 978-3-447-05917-6. OCLC 1120653126.
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: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Franz, Erhard (2004). "Yeziden - Eine alte Religionsgemeinschaft zwischen Tradition und Moderne" (PDF). Deutsches Orient-Institut.
- ^ a b Omarkhali, Khanna; Rezania, K. (2009). "Some reflections on the concepts of time in Yezidism". In Christine Allison; Anke Joisten-Pruschke; Antje Wendtland (eds.). From Daēnā to Dîn Religion, Kultur und Sprache in der iranischen Welt.
- ^ a b c Авдоев, Теймураз (2020). NEWŞE DÎNÊ ÊZÎDIYAN ЕЗИДСКОЕ СВЯЩЕНОСЛОВИЕ THE YEZIDI HOLY HYMNES.[dead link]
- ^ "Schöpfungsmythos – Êzîpedia" (in German). Retrieved 2021-06-07.
- ^ Richard Foltz Religions of Iran: From Prehistory to the Present Oneworld Publications, 01.11.2013 ISBN 9781780743097 p. 221
- ^ Omarkhali, Khanna (2009–2010). "The status and role of the Yezidi legends and myths. To the question of comparative analysis of Yezidism, Yārisān (Ahl-e Haqq) and Zoroastrianism: a common substratum?". Folia Orientalia. 45–46.
- ^ a b Omarkhali, Khanna (2011-03-20). "YEZIDI RELIGIOUS ORAL POETIC LITERATURE: STATUS, FORMAL CHARACTERISTICS, AND GENRE ANALYSIS: With some examples of Yezidi religious texts". Scrinium. 7–8 (2): 144–195. doi:10.1163/18177565-90000247. ISSN 1817-7530.
- ^ Bocheńska, Joanna, ed. (2018). Rediscovering Kurdistan's Cultures and Identities. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-93088-6. ISBN 978-3-319-93087-9.
- ^ ""Devil worship"; the sacred books and traditions of the Yezidiz" (PDF).
- ^ Cheung, Johnny (28 October 2016). "Qewl | Yezidi Stories". Retrieved 2021-06-02.
- ^ Pirbari, Dimitri; Mossaki, Nodar; Yezdin, Mirza Sileman (2019-11-19). "A Yezidi Manuscript:—Mišūr of P'īr Sīnī Bahrī/P'īr Sīnī Dārānī, Its Study and Critical Analysis". Iranian Studies. 53 (1–2): 223–257. doi:10.1080/00210862.2019.1669118. ISSN 0021-0862. S2CID 214483496.
- ^ Авдоев, Теймураз (2017-09-05). Историко-теософский аспект езидизма (in Russian). Litres. ISBN 9785040433988.
- ^ Rodziewicz, Artur (March 2020). "The Yezidi Wednesday and the Music of the Spheres". Iranian Studies. 53 (1–2): 259–293. doi:10.1080/00210862.2019.1654287. ISSN 0021-0862. S2CID 211672629.
- ^ "Das êzîdîsche Neujahr" (PDF).
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- ^ Urban, Elke (2019-07-24). Transkulturelle Pflege am Lebensende: Umgang mit Sterbenden und Verstorbenen unterschiedlicher Religionen und Kulturen (in German). Kohlhammer Verlag. ISBN 9783170359383.
- ^ Kreyenbroek, Philip G. (2009). Yezidism in Europe: Different Generations Speak about Their Religion. Otto Harrassowitz Verlag. ISBN 9783447060608.
- ^ Maisel, Sebastian (2016-12-24). Yezidis in Syria: Identity Building among a Double Minority. Lexington Books. ISBN 9780739177754.
- ^ Guest (2012-11-12). Survival Among The Kurds. Routledge. ISBN 9781136157363.
- ^ Yousefi, Hamid Reza; Seubert, Harald (2014-07-22). Ethik im Weltkontext: Geschichten - Erscheinungsformen - Neuere Konzepte (in German). Springer-Verlag. ISBN 9783658048976.
- ^ Açikyildiz, Birgül (2014-12-23). The Yezidis: The History of a Community, Culture and Religion. I.B.Tauris. ISBN 9780857720610.
- ^ Spat, Eszter (2016-10-08). "Hola Hola Tawusi Melek, Hola Hola Şehidêt Şingalê: Persecution and the Development of Yezidi Ritual Life". Kurdish Studies. 4 (2): 155–175. doi:10.33182/ks.v4i2.426. ISSN 2051-4891.
- ^ Kreyenbroek, Philip G. (1995). Yezidism--its Background, Observances, and Textual Tradition. Lewiston, New York: Edwin Mellen Press. p. 75. ISBN 978-0-7734-9004-8.
- ^ Maisel, Sebastian (2016-12-24). Yezidis in Syria: Identity Building among a Double Minority. Lexington Books. ISBN 9780739177754.
- ^ Lair, Patrick (19 January 2008). "Conversation with a Yazidi Kurd". eKurd Daily. Archived from the original on 23 January 2008. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
- ^ Halil Savucu: Yeziden in Deutschland: Eine Religionsgemeinschaft zwischen Tradition, Integration und Assimilation Tectum Wissenschaftsverlag, Marburg 2016, ISBN 978-3-828-86547-1, Section 16 (German)
- ^ "Richness of Iraq's minority religions revealed", BBC. Retrieved 3 July 2015.
- ^ "Population (urban, rural) by Ethnicity, Sex and Religious Belief" (PDF). Statistics of Armenia. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
- ^ Aghayeva, Elene Shengelia, Rana (2018-09-06). "Georgia's Yazidis: Religion as Identity - Religious Beliefs". chai-khana.org. Retrieved 2019-08-30.
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: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Parry, O. H. (Oswald Hutton) (1895). "Six months in a Syrian monastery; being the record of a visit to the head quarters of the Syrian church in Mesopotamia, with some account of the Yazidis or devil worshippers of Mosul and El Jilwah, their sacred book". London : H. Cox.
- ^ "Yazidis ii. Initiation in Yazidism". Retrieved 18 September 2021.
- ^ Kreyenbroek, Philip G. (2009). Yezidism in Europe: Different Generations Speak about Their Religion. Otto Harrassowitz Verlag. ISBN 978-3-447-06060-8.
- ^ Açikyildiz, Birgül (2014-12-23). The Yezidis: The History of a Community, Culture and Religion. I.B.Tauris. ISBN 9780857720610.
- ^ Gidda, Mirren (8 August 2014). "Everything You Need to Know About the Yazidis". TIME.com. Retrieved 2016-02-07.
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