Yazidism, also known as Sharfadin, is a
monotheistic
Monotheism is the belief that one God is the only, or at least the dominant deity.F. L. Cross, Cross, F.L.; Livingstone, E.A., eds. (1974). "Monotheism". The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church (2 ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. A ...
ethnic religion
In religious studies, an ethnic religion or ethnoreligion is a religion or belief associated with notions of heredity and a particular ethnicity. Ethnic religions are often distinguished from universal religions, such as Christianity or Islam ...
which has roots in
pre-Zoroastrian Iranian religion, directly derived from the
Indo-Iranian tradition. Its followers, called
Yazidis
Yazidis, also spelled Yezidis (; ), are a Kurdish languages, Kurdish-speaking Endogamy, endogamous religious group indigenous to Kurdistan, a geographical region in Western Asia that includes parts of Iraq, Syria, Turkey, and Iran. The major ...
, are a
Kurdish-speaking community.
Yazidism includes elements of ancient Iranian religions, as well as elements of
Judaism
Judaism () is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic, Monotheism, monotheistic, ethnic religion that comprises the collective spiritual, cultural, and legal traditions of the Jews, Jewish people. Religious Jews regard Judaism as their means of o ...
,
Church of the East
The Church of the East ( ) or the East Syriac Church, also called the Church of Seleucia-Ctesiphon, the Persian Church, the Assyrian Church, the Babylonian Church, the Chaldean Church or the Nestorian Church, is one of three major branches o ...
, and
Islam
Islam is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the Quran, and the teachings of Muhammad. Adherents of Islam are called Muslims, who are estimated to number Islam by country, 2 billion worldwide and are the world ...
.
["Yazīdī"](_blank)
''Encyclopædia Britannica
The is a general knowledge, general-knowledge English-language encyclopaedia. It has been published by Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. since 1768, although the company has changed ownership seven times. The 2010 version of the 15th edition, ...
''. (2025) 998 Yazidism is based on belief in one God who created the world and entrusted it into the care of seven
Holy
Sacred describes something that is dedicated or set apart for the service or worship of a deity; is considered worthy of spiritual respect or devotion; or inspires awe or reverence among believers. The property is often ascribed to objects (a ...
Beings, known as
Angel
An angel is a spiritual (without a physical body), heavenly, or supernatural being, usually humanoid with bird-like wings, often depicted as a messenger or intermediary between God (the transcendent) and humanity (the profane) in variou ...
s.
Preeminent among these Angels is
Tawûsî Melek (, also spelled as ''Melek Taûs''), who is the leader of the Angels and who has authority over the world.
The religion of the Yazidis is a highly
syncretistic one:
Sufi
Sufism ( or ) is a mysticism, mystic body of religious practice found within Islam which is characterized by a focus on Islamic Tazkiyah, purification, spirituality, ritualism, and Asceticism#Islam, asceticism.
Practitioners of Sufism are r ...
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.
Etymology
The name of Yazidi is a
exonym
An endonym (also known as autonym ) is a common, name for a group of people, individual person, geographical place, language, or dialect, meaning that it is used inside a particular group or linguistic community to identify or designate them ...
.
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
Yazid ibn Mu'awiya ibn Abi Sufyan (; 11 November 683), commonly known as Yazid I, was the second caliph of the Umayyad Caliphate, ruling from April 680 until his death in November 683. His appointment by his father Mu'awiya I () was the first ...
(), the second
Caliph
A caliphate ( ) is an institution or public office under the leadership of an Islamic steward with Khalifa, the title of caliph (; , ), a person considered a political–religious successor to the Islamic prophet Muhammad and a leader of ...
of
Umayyad Caliphate
The Umayyad Caliphate or Umayyad Empire (, ; ) was the second caliphate established after the death of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and was ruled by the Umayyad dynasty. Uthman ibn Affan, the third of the Rashidun caliphs, was also a member o ...
.
The
Adawiyya existed in the Kurdish mountains before the 12th century, when
Sheikh Adi ibn Musafir
Adi ibn Musafir (, ; born 1072–1078, died 1162) was a Sunni Muslim sheikh who founded the Adawiyya order. He is also considered a Yazidi saint. The Yazidis consider him as an avatar of Tawûsî Melek, which means "Peacock Angel". His tomb ...
(1072–1078),
a Sufi of Umayyad descent,
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.
In Yazidi religious lore, there is no trace of any link between
Sultan Ezid and the second Umayyad caliph. Some scholars have derived the name Yazidi from word ''
yazata'', the name for a divine being in
Old Iranian
The Iranian languages, also called the Iranic languages, are a branch of the Indo-Iranian languages in the Indo-European language family that are spoken natively by the Iranian peoples, predominantly in the Iranian Plateau.
The Iranian language ...
.
History
Principal beliefs
Yazidis believe in one God, to whom they refer as ', , ', and ' ('King'), and, less commonly, ' and '.
According to some Yazidi hymns (known as ''Qewls''), God has 1,001 names, or 3,003 names according to other Qewls.
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
The universe is all of space and time and their contents. It comprises all of existence, any fundamental interaction, physical process and physical constant, and therefore all forms of matter and energy, and the structures they form, from s ...
. Prior to the
World's creation, God created a (white pearl) in spiritual form from his own pure Light and alone dwelt in it.
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").
The end of Creation is closely connected with the creation of mankind and the transition from mythological to historical time.
Tawûsî Melek

The Yazidis believe in a divine Triad.
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.
His first
emanation Emanation may refer to:
*Emanation (chemistry), a dated name for the chemical element radon
*Emanation From Below, a concept in Slavic religion
*Emanation in the Eastern Orthodox Church, a belief found in Neoplatonism
*Emanation of the state, a lega ...
is
Melek Taûs (), the Peacock Angel, who functions as the ruler of the world.
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.
Yazidis are called ' ("the nation of Tawûsî Melek").
Muslims
Muslims () are people who adhere to Islam, a Monotheism, monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God ...
and
Christians
A Christian () is a person who follows or adheres to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Christians form the largest religious community in the world. The words '' Christ'' and ''C ...
have erroneously associated and identified the Peacock Angel with their own conception of the unredeemed evil spirit
Satan
Satan, also known as the Devil, is a devilish entity in Abrahamic religions who seduces humans into sin (or falsehood). In Judaism, Satan is seen as an agent subservient to God, typically regarded as a metaphor for the '' yetzer hara'', or ' ...
,
a misconception which has incited centuries of
violent religious persecution of the Yazidis as "devil-worshippers".
Persecution of Yazidis has continued in their home communities within the borders of modern
Iraq
Iraq, officially the Republic of Iraq, is a country in West Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to Iraq–Saudi Arabia border, the south, Turkey to Iraq–Turkey border, the north, Iran to Iran–Iraq border, the east, the Persian Gulf and ...
.
Yazidis, however, believe Tawûsî Melek is not a source of evil or wickedness.
They consider him to be the leader of the
archangel
Archangels () are the second lowest rank of angel in the Catholic hierarchy of angels, based on and put forward by Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite in the 5th or 6th century in his book ''De Coelesti Hierarchia'' (''On the Celestial Hierarchy'') ...
s, not a
fallen angel
Fallen angels are angels who were expelled from Heaven. The literal term "fallen angel" does not appear in any Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic religious texts, but is used to describe angels cast out of heaven. Such angels are often described ...
.
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 (') 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 ' or ' (literally: 'mystery'), which denotes a divine essence from which the angels were created.
This pure divine essence called ''Sur'' or ''Sirr'' has its own personality and will and is also called ' ('the Sur of God'). This term refers to the essence of the Divine itself, that is, God. The Angels share this essence from their creator who is God.
In religious literature, these Angels are sometimes referred to as
Cibrayîl,
Ezrayîl,
Mîkayîl, Şifqayîl,
Derdayîl,
Ezafîl, and
Ezazîl. 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).
The
Yazidi pantheon contains a total of 365 holy figures venerated by Yazidis,
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.''
''
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 northeast of
Mosul
Mosul ( ; , , ; ; ; ) is a major city in northern Iraq, serving as the capital of Nineveh Governorate. It is the second largest city in Iraq overall after the capital Baghdad. Situated on the banks of Tigris, the city encloses the ruins of the ...
) in the Yazidi mountains in the early 12th century and founded the 'Adawiyya
Sufi order
A ''tariqa'' () is a religious order of Sufism, or specifically a concept for the mystical teaching and spiritual practices of such an order with the aim of seeking , which translates as "ultimate truth".
A tariqa has a (guide) who plays the r ...
. He died in 1162, and his tomb at Laliş is a focal point of Yazidi pilgrimage and the principal
Yazidi holy site. Yazidism has many influences:
Sufi
Sufism ( or ) is a mysticism, mystic body of religious practice found within Islam which is characterized by a focus on Islamic Tazkiyah, purification, spirituality, ritualism, and Asceticism#Islam, asceticism.
Practitioners of Sufism are r ...
influence and imagery (especially taken from Mansur al-Hallaj) 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
Cosmogony is any model concerning the origin of the cosmos or the universe.
Overview
Scientific theories
In astronomy, cosmogony is the study of the origin of particular astrophysical objects or systems, and is most commonly used in ref ...
for instance has many points in common with those of
ancient Iranian religion
Ancient Iranian religion or Iranian paganism was a set of ancient beliefs and practices of the Iranian peoples before the rise of Zoroastrianism. The religion closest to it was the historical Vedic religion that was practiced during the Outline_ ...
s.
Rebirth and concept of time
Yazidis believe in the
rebirth
Rebirth may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media
Film
* ''Rebirth'' (2011 film), a 2011 Japanese drama film
* ''Rebirth'' (2016 film), a 2016 American thriller film
* ''Rebirth'', a 2011 documentary film produced by Project 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
ne'sshirt" ('). 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:
* An esoteric time sphere (Kurdish: '), 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.
* ' or ' (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 ' ('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 ('), the second through fire (') and the last is connected with wind (air) ('). It is believed that the first ' 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.
In Yazidism, the older original concept of metempsychosis
In philosophy and theology, metempsychosis () is the transmigration of the soul, especially its reincarnation after death. The term is derived from ancient Greek philosophy, and has been recontextualized by modern philosophers such as Arthur Sc ...
and the cyclic perception of the course of time is harmonised and coexists with the younger idea of a collective eschatology
Eschatology (; ) concerns expectations of the end of Contemporary era, present age, human history, or the world itself. The end of the world or end times is predicted by several world religions (both Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic and non-Abrah ...
.
Cosmogony and beginning of life
The Yazidi
cosmogony
Cosmogony is any model concerning the origin of the cosmos or the universe.
Overview
Scientific theories
In astronomy, cosmogony is the study of the origin of particular astrophysical objects or systems, and is most commonly used in ref ...
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 (').
# Developments immediately after the burst – cosmogony II
# The creation of the earth and man – anthropogony
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:
"" (English: Oh, Creator of the Enzel, you are infinite)
And Dûa Razanê:
(English: I am ''a'' follower of God, I come ''from an "enzelî" pearl)''
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 ('')'' is located.
''Qewlê Bê Elif:''
– My King created the white pearl from himself
''Textê nûrî sedef –'' The shining throne in the pearl
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.
As the pearl burst open, the beginning of the material universe was set in motion. ' (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.
Yazidi
accounts of the creation differ significantly from those of the Abrahamic religions (
Judaism
Judaism () is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic, Monotheism, monotheistic, ethnic religion that comprises the collective spiritual, cultural, and legal traditions of the Jews, Jewish people. Religious Jews regard Judaism as their means of o ...
,
Christianity
Christianity is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion, which states that Jesus in Christianity, Jesus is the Son of God (Christianity), Son of God and Resurrection of Jesus, rose from the dead after his Crucifixion of Jesus, crucifixion, whose ...
, and
Islam
Islam is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the Quran, and the teachings of Muhammad. Adherents of Islam are called Muslims, who are estimated to number Islam by country, 2 billion worldwide and are the world ...
), since they are derived from the
Ancient Mesopotamian and
Indo-Iranian traditions; therefore, Yazidi cosmogony is closer to those of
Ancient Iranian religion
Ancient Iranian religion or Iranian paganism was a set of ancient beliefs and practices of the Iranian peoples before the rise of Zoroastrianism. The religion closest to it was the historical Vedic religion that was practiced during the Outline_ ...
s,
Yarsanism
Yarsanism (), Ahl-e Haqq (; ), or Kaka'i, is an Ethnoreligious group, inherited, syncretism, syncretic religion founded by Sultan Sahak in the late 14th century in western Iran. The total number of followers of Yarsanism is estimated to be over ...
, and
Zoroastrianism
Zoroastrianism ( ), also called Mazdayasnā () or Beh-dīn (), is an Iranian religions, Iranian religion centred on the Avesta and the teachings of Zoroaster, Zarathushtra Spitama, who is more commonly referred to by the Greek translation, ...
.
Yazidi sacred texts
The religious literature of Yazidis is composed mostly of poetry which is orally transmitted in mainly
Kurmanji and includes numerous genres, such as ' (religious hymn), ' (poem), ''Du‛a'' (prayer), ' (another kind of prayer), ' (the Declaration of the Faith), ' (prayer for after a sacrifice), ' (literally 'under the veil', another genre), ' (
Qasida
The qaṣīda (also spelled ''qaṣīdah''; plural ''qaṣā’id'') is an ancient Arabic word and form of poetry, often translated as ode. The qasida originated in pre-Islamic Arabic poetry and passed into non-Arabic cultures after the Arab Mus ...
), ''‛'' (literally 'listening'), ' and '. 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. 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 ' and ' (legends and myths), and ' and 's (interpretations of religious hymns).
Yazidis also possess some written texts, such as the sacred manuscripts called 's and individual collections of religious texts called ' and ', although they are rarer and often safekept among Yazidis. Yazidis are also said to have two holy books,
Book of Revelation
The Book of Revelation, also known as the Book of the Apocalypse or the Apocalypse of John, is the final book of the New Testament, and therefore the final book of the Bible#Christian Bible, Christian Bible. Written in Greek language, Greek, ...
and
Black Book whose authenticities are debated among scholars.
Holy books
The Yazidi
holy book
Religious texts, including scripture, are texts which various religions consider to be of central importance to their religious tradition. They often feature a compilation or discussion of beliefs, ritual practices, moral commandments and ...
s 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.
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.
The sacred texts had already been translated into English by the early 20th century.
''Qewl'' and ''Beyt''
A very important genre of oral literature of the Yazidi community consists of religious
hymn
A hymn is a type of song, and partially synonymous with devotional song, specifically written for the purpose of adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification. The word ''hymn'' d ...
s, called 's, which literally means 'word, speech' (from Arabic ). 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
Kurdish tribes are tribes of Kurds, Kurdish people, an ethnic group from the geo-cultural region of Kurdistan in West Asia, Western Asia.
The tribes are socio-political and generally also a territorial unit based on descent and kinship, real or ...
, principally the Dumilî and Hekarî.
The ''qewls'' are full of cryptic allusions and usually need to be accompanied by ''čirōks'' ('stories') that explain their context.
Mishur
''Mishurs'' are a type of sacred
manuscript
A manuscript (abbreviated MS for singular and MSS for plural) was, traditionally, any document written by hand or typewritten, as opposed to mechanically printed or reproduced in some indirect or automated way. More recently, the term has ...
s that were written down in the 13th century and handed down to each lineage (') 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
Kurdish tribes are tribes of Kurds, Kurdish people, an ethnic group from the geo-cultural region of Kurdistan in West Asia, Western Asia.
The tribes are socio-political and generally also a territorial unit based on descent and kinship, real or ...
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 in
Kurmanji. According to the Yazidi tradition, there are a total of 40 ''mishurs'' which were distributed to the 40 lineages of Pirs.
Festivals
Yazidi New Year
The Yazidi New Year (') is called ' ("Red Wednesday")
or ' ("Wednesday at the beginning of April"). It falls in spring, on the first Wednesday 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
The Gregorian calendar is the calendar used in most parts of the world. It went into effect in October 1582 following the papal bull issued by Pope Gregory XIII, which introduced it as a modification of, and replacement for, the Julian cale ...
.
Feast of Êzî

One of the most important Yazidi festivals is ' ("
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 ' 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
The winter solstice, or hibernal solstice, occurs when either of Earth's geographical pole, poles reaches its maximum axial tilt, tilt away from the Sun. This happens twice yearly, once in each hemisphere (Northern Hemisphere, Northern and So ...
, when the Sun is less and less visible. With the ' festival, the fasting time is ended. The festival is often celebrated with music, food, drinks and dance.
Tawûsgeran
Another important festival is the ''
Tawûsgeran'', where Qewals and other religious dignitaries visit Yazidi villages, bringing the ', 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.
Feast of the Assembly

The greatest festival of the year is the ' ('
Feast of the Assembly'), which includes an annual
pilgrimage
A pilgrimage is a travel, journey to a holy place, which can lead to a personal transformation, after which the pilgrim returns to their daily life. A pilgrim (from the Latin ''peregrinus'') is a traveler (literally one who has come from afar) w ...
to the tomb of Sheikh 'Adī' (''Şêx Adî'') in Lalish, northern
Iraq
Iraq, officially the Republic of Iraq, is a country in West Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to Iraq–Saudi Arabia border, the south, Turkey to Iraq–Turkey border, the north, Iran to Iran–Iraq border, the east, the Persian Gulf and ...
. The festival is celebrated from 6 October to 13 October, in honor of the Sheikh Adi. It is an important time for cohesion.
If possible, Yazidis make at least one
pilgrimage
A pilgrimage is a travel, journey to a holy place, which can lead to a personal transformation, after which the pilgrim returns to their daily life. A pilgrim (from the Latin ''peregrinus'') is a traveler (literally one who has come from afar) w ...
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.
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.
Religious practices
Prayers
Prayer
File:Prayers-collage.png, 300px, alt=Collage of various religionists praying – Clickable Image, Collage of various religionists praying ''(Clickable image – use cursor to identify.)''
rect 0 0 1000 1000 Shinto festivalgoer praying in front ...
s 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,
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
In monotheistic belief systems, God is usually viewed as the supreme being, creator, and principal object of faith. In polytheistic belief systems, a god is "a spirit or being believed to have created, or for controlling some part of the un ...
and holy beings
* Prayers of Yazidi
caste
A caste is a Essentialism, fixed social group into which an individual is born within a particular system of social stratification: a caste system. Within such a system, individuals are expected to marry exclusively within the same caste (en ...
s
* Prayers for specific occasions
*
Rite of passage
A rite of passage is a ceremony or ritual of the passage which occurs when an individual leaves one group to enter another. It involves a significant change of social status, status in society. In cultural anthropology the term is the Anglicisa ...
prayers
* Prayers against health problems and illnesses
* Daily prayers
* Prayers connected with the nature, i.e. the Moon, stars, Sun, etc.
Customs
Children are
baptised
Baptism (from ) is a Christians, Christian sacrament of initiation almost invariably with the use of water. It may be performed by aspersion, sprinkling or affusion, pouring water on the head, or by immersion baptism, immersing in water eit ...
at birth and
circumcision
Circumcision is a procedure that removes the foreskin from the human penis. In the most common form of the operation, the foreskin is extended with forceps, then a circumcision device may be placed, after which the foreskin is excised. T ...
is not required, but is practised by some due to regional customs. The Yazidi baptism is called ' (literally: 'to seal'). Traditionally, Yazidi children are baptised at birth with water from the ' ('White Spring') at Lalish. It involves pouring holy water from the spring on the child's head three times.
Purity and taboos

Many Yazidis consider
pork
Pork is the culinary name for the meat of the pig (''Sus domesticus''). It is the most commonly consumed meat worldwide, with evidence of pig animal husbandry, husbandry dating back to 8000–9000 BCE.
Pork is eaten both freshly cooke ...
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. 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".
Some Yazidis in
Armenia
Armenia, officially the Republic of Armenia, is a landlocked country in the Armenian Highlands of West Asia. It is a part of the Caucasus region and is bordered by Turkey to the west, Georgia (country), Georgia to the north and Azerbaijan to ...
and
Georgia
Georgia most commonly refers to:
* Georgia (country), a country in the South Caucasus
* Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the southeastern United States
Georgia may also refer to:
People and fictional characters
* Georgia (name), a list of pe ...
who converted to
Christianity
Christianity is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion, which states that Jesus in Christianity, Jesus is the Son of God (Christianity), Son of God and Resurrection of Jesus, rose from the dead after his Crucifixion of Jesus, crucifixion, whose ...
, still identify as Yazidis even after converting,
but are not accepted by the other Yazidis as Yazidis.
Religious organisation
The Yazidis are strictly
endogamous;
members of the three Yazidi
caste
A caste is a Essentialism, fixed social group into which an individual is born within a particular system of social stratification: a caste system. Within such a system, individuals are expected to marry exclusively within the same caste (en ...
s, the
murids,
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 ...
s, and
pirs, marry only within their group.
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.
See also
*
List of Yazidi holy places
*
List of Yazidi saints
*
List of Yazidi settlements
*
Persecution of Yazidis
Notes
References
Bibliography
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
External links
{{Authority control
Ethnic religions in Asia
Iranian religions
Mesopotamian religion
Monotheistic religions
Religion in Armenia
Religion in Georgia (country)
Religion in Iraq
Religion in Kurdistan
Religion in Syria
Religion in Turkey
Yazidi culture
Yazidi mythology
Ethnic religions
Kurdish words and phrases