Ezidi shrine of Sharaf al-Deen nestled into the Shingal mountains near Sinune village 01

Sheikh Sheikh ( , , , , ''shuyūkh'' ) is an honorific title in the Arabic language, literally meaning "elder (administrative title), elder". It commonly designates a tribal chief or a Muslim ulama, scholar. Though this title generally refers to me ...

Sharaf ad-Din ibn al-Hasan () was the son and religious heir of al-Hasan ibn ‘Adī and thus head of the ‘

Adawiyya Adawiyya (; ), also pejoratively known as Yazidiyya (; ), was a Sunni Sufi order founded by Adi ibn Musafir in Kurdistan. Adawiyya was a syncretic and heterodox sect, heavily influenced by Pre-Islamic religions. It later evolved into Yazidism. O ...

order. He died in battle against the

Mongols Mongols are an East Asian ethnic group native to Mongolia, China ( Inner Mongolia and other 11 autonomous territories), as well as the republics of Buryatia and Kalmykia in Russia. The Mongols are the principal member of the large family o ...

in 1258 and was succeeded by his uncle, Fakhr ad-Dīn ibn ‘Adī. Due to the hostility of the

, his son Zayn ed Din preferred not to become his successor and passed on the duties to Fakhr ad-Dīn ibn ‘Adī, who was married to a Mongol. The Sharfadin Temple is considered to be one of the oldest and most important

Yazidi holy sites This is a list of Yazidi temples across the world. Background Yazidis are an ethnoreligious group who live predominantly in northern Iraq. Their religion is known as Yazidism. List See also * List of Yazidi holy figures * List of Yazidi ...

. Sherfedin is particularly revered in the

Sinjar Sinjar (; , ) is a town in the Sinjar District of the Nineveh Governorate in northern Iraq. It is located about five kilometers south of the Sinjar Mountains. Its population in 2013 was estimated at 88,023, and is predominantly Yazidi. History ...

region. The Yazidi ''Qewlê Şerfedîn'' ("Hymn of Şerfedîn") identifies Şerfedîn with the

Mahdi The Mahdi () is a figure in Islamic eschatology who is believed to appear at the Eschatology, End of Times to rid the world of evil and injustice. He is said to be a descendant of Muhammad in Islam, Muhammad, and will appear shortly before Jesu ...

. In the hymn (''qewl''), Şerfedîn is currently staying in a cave and will emerge at the end of times.

References

1258 deaths Year of birth unknown Yazidi mythology Adawiyya Sufi Order Yazidi holy figures {{Yazidi-stub