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Yazidism is the faith of a Kurdish community residing primarily in Iraq. Some Yazidis also inhabit Armenia, Turkey, Iran, Georgia, and Syria. The Kurds are commonly recognized as an Iranian ethnic group tracing their roots back to the Medes. While not all Kurds are Yazidis, all Yazidis are Kurdish. They live in close-knit communities and prohibit interfaith marriages. The Yazidis adhere to a strict caste system within their society. They are also known as Yezidi, Daasin, or Ezidi.
Yazidis are followers of monotheism, believing in a creator God known as Yasdan. However, their similarities with Christianity end at monotheism. According to Yazidism, following creation, the world was entrusted to seven angels, with their leader being a being referred to as “the Peacock Angel,” a somewhat unpredictable ruler responsible for both good and bad occurrences in people’s lives. The Yazidis recount a myth about the Peacock Angel’s fall from divine favor and subsequent redemption after his tears of remorse extinguished the flames of the hell where he had been banished for punishment. This narrative bears some resemblance to a tale in the Sufi faith. The Sufi version of Satan, Iblis, is at times identified with the Yazidi Peacock Angel. Due to this association, Yazidis are often branded as devil worshipers by neighboring religions, contributing to their persecution by Sunni Muslims, including ISIS.
Yazidism is a syncretic faith blending elements of Islam, Zoroastrianism, and Mithraism. While Yazidi theology is primarily transmitted orally through hymns, they do possess two sacred texts: the Mishefa Reş, or the Black Book; and the Kitêba Cilwe, or the Book of Revelation. Yazidis offer prayers to the Peacock Angel multiple times a day, facing east. Yazidi infants undergo baptism shortly after birth. Annually, the Yazidis embark on a pilgrimage to the shrine of Sheikh Adi ibn Musafir, a significant figure in their faith.Their religion, in the city of Lalish, Iraq.
The Yazidi do not accept converts; to be a Yazidi, one must be born as a Yazidi. Yazidis believe they descended from Adam alone (without help from Eve), while the rest of humanity originated from the union of Adam and Eve. Yazidism teaches the transmigration of souls, the concept that souls move to different bodies upon death. Through this cycle of death and rebirth, individuals are gradually cleansed.
Yazidism differs from Christianity in nearly every aspect, starting from the creation story. It is connected to the ancient Assyrians, Babylonians, and Chaldeans, groups frequently mentioned in the Old Testament. The Chaldeans are actually referenced first in Genesis 11, and Abram was born among them (Genesis 11:27-28). Abram departed from the Chaldeans to begin anew in Canaan. He heeded God’s call to separate from his tribe and journey to a land promised by God (Genesis 12:1-7). In faithful obedience, Abram transformed into Abraham, the progenitor of the Israelites (Hebrews 11:8-12).
