Who are the Yazidis? A Look into their Faith
By Evan Ploeckelman / Arab America Contributing Writer
The Yazidis are a primarily Kurdish religious group who live mostly in the northeastern mountains of Iraq. However, there are many stereotypes about the Yazidis, ‘devil-worshippers’ among them. So where did Yazidism come from? What do they actually believe? And what is the current state of their religion in a region that is often hostile to their very existence?
Origins
The origins of Yazidism are extremely complex. Despite previous theories, Yazidism does not come from Zoroastrianism, nor from other ancient Mesopotamian religions. However, the origin of the religion remains uncertain. It has obtained most of its beliefs from a pre-Zoroastrian Indo-Iranian religion, with influence from outside religions like Chrisitianity and Islam. The origin of the name Yazidi is also not entirely certain. Some theories include being named after the Iranian city of Yazd, named after a name for god in Kurdish, Yazad, or named after the Umayyad caliph Yazid ibn Mu’awiya, who is known for killing the grandson of Muhammad, Hussein ibn ‘Ali. After the fall of the Umayyad Caliphate, ibn Mu’awiya supposedly would have escaped to the Kurdish homeland, bringing his name with him.
The Yazidis were first documented in the 12th century. Around this time, the people in this region practiced a variety of different religions, including pre-Zoroastrian religions. This all changed, though, when Sheikh ‘Adi, a Sufi mystic from Baghdad, decided to live an ascetic life within the Kurdish mountains. He performed miracles for the local Kurdish people, which made them followers of ‘Adi. After his death, his tomb in Lalish became a pilgrimage site. In addition, the people in this region began praying toward his tomb in Lalish. After ‘Adi’s death, Sheikh Hasan wrote down ‘Adi’s teachings in the Yazidi holy book, Kitab al-Jilwa li-Arbab al-Khalwa. Yazidism eventually became so widespread that they were a part of Saladin’s Army during the Crusades. However, many muslims, including the governor of Mosul, Badr al-Din Lu’lu, became suspicious of the Yazidis, persecuting them and forcing them back into their mountain homeland.
Beliefs
The Yazidis believe in a remote god, known as Xwede, who has little to do with human affairs. God, however, expresses themself in a trinity. The first part of this trinity involves the Heptad, or seven angels. Specifically, God is represented through the Melek Taus, or the Peacock Angel. In Yazidism, God tests Melek Taus by commanding him to bow to Adam, the first human. While the other angels bow to Adam, Melek Taus does not, earning him favor with God and making him leader of the Angels and creator of the world. Melek Taus is the main way Yazidis interact with God, as God himself is only interested in heavenly affairs.
The story of how Melek Taus passes God’s test, however, has given them a reputation as ‘devil-worshippers’ among Chrisitians and especially Muslims. This is because, in the Qur’an, God performs the same test with the angel Ilbis. However, Ilbis is cast from heaven for disobeying God, becoming Satan. As such, other faiths, but particularly Muslims, see Yazidis as worshipping the devil. However, Yazidis refute this and say that Melek Taus is the main way that God interacts with the world. The other two expressions of God are Yazid ibn Mu’awiya and Sheikh ‘Adi; however, the relationship between the three is fluid and not all sects see these three as a ‘holy trinity’, but rather as just coming from Melek Taus.
While Yazidism was inspired by regional religions like Islam, many of their practices are different. For example, there are no dietary restrictions, and pork and alcohol are permitted for Yazidis. Yazidis also practice baptism and do not require circumcision. The main festival for the Yazidis is the Yazidi New Year, which takes place in either April or May. It is notable for featuring egg tapping; the eggs represent the cosmic egg that Melek Taus laid, creating the world. The other major festival is the Feast of Assembly, where all the various tribes who practice Yazidism gather at the tomb of Sheikh ‘Adi.
Current Status
The Yazidis have historically faced persecution, especially under the Ottomans and more recently by the Islamic State, or ISIS. This, along with a cultural and linguistic difference, is part of the reason why many Kurds want to break away from Iraq and form their own nation, Kurdistan. However, the current Iraqi government has offered the region some autonomy, and they have been successful in defending their own homeland from threats like ISIS. Hopefully in the future they will be able to practice their faith in peace.
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