The yezidi have a strong ethical code and customs like those of many other agricultural tribal people, as is apparent from the ethnological sketch which rounds out this book. Aug 07, 2018 melek taus proclamation from yezidis al jilwah the revelation tracy twyman. The sacred books comprise kitab aljilwah book of revelation, and maaf rzs black. The yazidi religious centre and object of the annual pilgrimage is the tomb of sheikh. It is claimed that the original text of the book of revelation is kept in the yazidi village of baidn and the original text of the yazidi. Duhok, kurdistan region iraq, it is because he owes it to the dozens of kurdish yazidi women he has spoken to regularly who were captives of the islamic state that kurdish journalist khidher domle says he wrote down their stories into a book his book, the black death, has been published to coincide with the first anniversary of the occupation of the yazidi region of shingal by isis. Who are the yazidi people, and what are their beliefs. The yazidi book of revelation is one of two books on the yazidi religion written in the style of a holy book in the kurmanji dialect of the northern kurdish language, the other being the yazidi black book mishefa res in kurdish. I exercise dominion over all creatures and over the affairs of all who are under the protection of my image. The yazidi holy books are written in the kurmanji dialect of the kurdish language. Muslim extremists find the yazidis especially repellent and threatening. The black book seems very clear that it was melek, or satan, that created the cosmos. English text of the revelation, from devil worship. Who exactly are these people and what is the image that they honor.
The yazidi generally assume that their origins are in the mithraic religion, up. The yazidi pray to the peacock angel several times a day, facing east. The basis of the yazidis holy scriptures are two books the book of revelation not to be confused by the christian text with the same name and the black book. The yazidi holy books are the kiteba cilwe book of revelation and the mishefa res. Surrounded by people of the book, yazidis have felt the pressure in the past to have a written scripture, and rumors have abounded for centuries of a yazidi holy text, referred to as cilwe, revelation, or mes. The black book of the yezidis was first published in english over 120 years ago. In his book he also mentions that the yazidi are loyal to yazid ibn muawiya, the second ommayid caliph alsamani, 1912. It is now widely suspected that both volumes were compiled by. Yazidi are a religious group, now a tiny minority in sharia nations where they and zoroastrians, along with christians and jews were once the majority populations. The yazidis have their own religion called yazidism. The yazidi book of revelation kiteba cilwe in kurdish.
Meefa res is one of two books written in the style of a holy book of the yazidis in northern kurdish, the other being the yazidi book of revelation kiteba jilwe it is now generally accepted that the manuscripts of the yazidi sacred books, the mas. Not the false gods of their books, wrongly written but they come. Like the ahle haqq, the yazidis use the metaphor of a change of garment to describe the process, which they call kiras guhorin in kurdish changing the garment. The manuscripts of both books were published in 1911 and 19 were forgeries written by nonyezidis in response to western travelers and scholars interest in the yazidi religion. The yazidi holy books were said to be the kiteba cilwe book of revelation and the mishefa res black book. The history of a community, culture and religion library of modern religion acikyildiz, birgul on.
Once a year, the yazidi make a pilgrimage to the tomb of sheikh adi ibn musafir, a key. The yezidi or yazidi1 is a people that claim to be the result of a mix between adam and a goddess, whereas humans are mix between adam and eve. There are very few written documents by the yazidi about the yazidi and this has only changed in the last 50 years furlani, 1936. The yazidi book of revelation kiteba cilwe in kurdish and the yazidi black book mishefa res in kurdish are the two principal holy books of the yazidi esposito, john l. Such hate has persisted over centuries and yazidi annals count 72 previous waves of persecution. Kitab aljilwah yazidi religious literature britannica. The yazidi book of revelation is one of two books on the yazidi religion written in the style of a holy book in the kurmanji dialect of the kurdish language, the other being the yazidi black book mishefa res. Who are the yazidis and what do they believe about god, satan. The yazidi book of revelation kit ba cilwe in kurdish.
For centuries, yezidi believers, have followed the simple command of the kitab aljilwa, also known as the book of revelation, to honor my symbol and my image. One book from 1911 is now available online which references two yazidi source texts called aljilwah the. Aug 11, 2014 the rise of islamic fundamentalism more broadly has pushed thousands of yazidis to seek asylum in europe. When rape becomes a weapon of war the new york times. There is no place in the universe that knows not my presence. The yazidi black book is one of two books written in the style of a holy book of the yazidis in northern kurdish, the other being the yazidi book of revelation. Kitba cilwe book of revelation and the mishefa res black book. Aug 15, 2014 theres also the fact that malek taus other name shaytan means devil in arabic, leading to additional assumptions that yazidis worship satan, according to time.
It is now widely suspected that both volumes were compiled by nonyazidis. However, the black book contains more of the creation and history stories of yezidism. Tauris is known for publishing books with abundant illustrations and even art books. In some communities in kurdish regions this false assertion is still held today and has often been used as an argument and jus. Kitab aljilwah book of revelation supposed to have been written by sheikh adi himself, and mishaf rash black. The book of revelation melek taus existed before all creatures. Aug 08, 2014 yazidi book of revelation kiteba cilwe yazidi black book mishefa res languages. Melek tauspeacock king dictated the aljilwah black book of satan directly to yezidi prophet sheik adi in the 12th century. The history of a community, culture and religion library of modern religion paperback october 16, 2014.
Some yezidi mythology has been translated into english and other languages. Sources comment on a primary text called the black book. The yezidis have two sacred books, the kitab aljilwa, the book of revelation, written by sheikh adi, and the mishefa res, the black book. Pack staggering events foretold in your bible will shock the whole world. Yezidis believe the black book originated when the lord descended black mountain. They also claim to be the worlds oldest religion, and have over 40,000 years of history. Aljilwah the revelation aljilwah the revelation chapter i chapter ii chapter iii chapter iv chapter v mashaf res the black book mashaf res the black book appendix to part i the poem in praise of sei. Translation of yazidi book of revelation in english. It is one of three yazdani religions, alevism and ahle haqq being the others. History of the yezidi the ultimate history project. Christianity, integral philosophy, and politics yazidis and the original religion of the near east the horrific bombing in the kurdish regions around kirkuk death toll estimates currently at 400 targeted. Jan 02, 2020 although yazidi theology is based on oral tradition, passed on through hymns, they do have two holy books. Mashaf res the black book in the beginning god created the white pearl out of his most precious essence. The yazidi holy books are the kiteba cilwe book of revelation and the mishefa res black book.
The yazidi holy books are claimed to be the kiteba cilwe book of revelation and the mishefa res black book. Two short books, kitab aljilwah book of revelation and maafrash black book, form the sacred scriptures of the yazidis. A belief in the reincarnation of lesser yazidi souls also exists. It blends elements of ancient mesopotamian religions, zoroastrianism, islam, christianity and judaism and is a religion specifically tied to the yazidis, who are an ethnoreligious group with roo. But many scholars now believe the manuscripts published a century ago were. Life after isis slavery for yazidi women and children. He placed the white pearl on the back of the bird, and dwelt on it for forty thousand years. The secular leader is a hereditary emir or prince, whereas a chief sheikh heads the religious hierarchy. Christianity, integral philosophy, and politics yazidis and the original religion of the near east the horrific bombing in the kurdish regions around kirkuk death toll estimates currently at 400 targeted the yazidis, a smallish kurdish but nonmuslim sect. According to some estimates, 70,000 people, or about 15% of the yazidi population in iraq.
Great prophecies in the book of revelation show how and when these catastrophic events will occur. Mishefa re is allegedly one of the two holy books of the yazidi religion, the other being the book of revelation kiteba cilwe. I am ever present to help all who trust in me and call upon me in time of need. Yazidi survivors of isis captivity hold a candle lighting ceremony for the. This article explores the history of the yezidi in iraq. Book of revelation, the black book, and an appendix. The two alleged yazidi holy books translated below are in fact forgeries, produced at an uncertain date by outsiders, incorporating genuine yazidi material but mixed in with outside elements. The sacred scriptures of the yazidis are two short books written in arabic. Further, in my manuscript aljilwah immediately follows the. The sacred books comprise kitab al jilwah book of revelation, and maaf rzs black. With the arrival of a larger number of european and american travelers in the region in the. The revelation mainly consists of god speaking to the yezidi about who he is and who they are in relation to him. Yezidis believe the black book originated when the lord descended.
Del re lalish temple, the main yazidi religious place, during the jazhna jamaye, the most significant yazidi festival. Apr 02, 2019 the yazidi book of revelation is one of two books on the yazidi religion written in the style of a holy book in the kurmanji dialect of the northern kurdish language, the other being the yazidi black book mishefa res in kurdish. Researchers believe that the yazidi creed has elements from zoroastrianism, manicheism, judaism, christianity, and islam. This category lists works related to the yazidi, a fringe sect that mixes. Yazidis on the mountain of regions with significant populations iraq 650,000, germany armenia 35,272, georgia denmark 500, yazidi book of revelation yazidi black book the yazidis also yazidi, ezidi, yazdani community whose syncretic but ancient religion yazidism a kind of zoroastrianism and ancient mesop. Since then it has garnered much critical attention by ethnologists and theologians, receiving condemnation in some quarters as a fake, and in others a nod of approval as being possibly the only legitimate text along with the book of the revelation that gives some insight into these remarkable people and their. So far there are two parts roughly translated the revelation and the black book. Kurdish latin the yazidi also yezidi, ezidi, yazdani. Oct 25, 20 kiteba cilwe book of revelation mishefa res black book other.
Meefa res is one of two books written in the style of a holy book of the yazidis in northern kurdish, the other being the yazidi book of revelation kiteba jilwe. Yezidi mythology creation, floods, and a large black snake. Mashaf res the black book internet sacred text archive. New book by kurdish yazidi author aims to teach arabs of. This booklet contains vital understanding that will forever change your outlook on the future. The sacred books comprise kitab aljilwah book of revelation, and maaf res black bookso named because in it mention made of the descent of the. Home about us past articles shop history stuff we love history of the yezidis o ye that have believed in me. He sent his servant into this world to warn and separate his chosen people from error. The oxford encyclopedia of the modern islamic world. Mishefa res or meshaf resh is one of two books on the yazidi religion written in the style of a holy book in the kurmanji dialect of the kurdish language, the other being the book of revelation kiteba cilwe. The two religious books of the yazidis have arabic text.
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