Yezidis

A dualistic religious group operating among the Kurds in northern Iraq and the neighboring lands of Syria, Turkey, and Iran. Their religion probably goes back to the Manicheans but has borrowed heavily from the Shiite Muslims. The Yezidis call themselves the Dawasin or Dasnayye. The term Yezidi was originally probably a name of derision. It refers to a Caliph Yezid who in 680 C.E. ordered the death of al-Husayn, the grandson of the Prophet Mohammed. The Shiite hold al-Husayn in special reverence, for they claim to derive their authority from him. Others have suggested that the word is derived from the Persian word ized (for angel, deity), and would mean "worshippers of God." They are also derogatorily referred to by their neighbors as "devil-worshippers." The Yezidi community is centered upon the tomb of Shaykh Adi ibn Musafir at Llish in the district of Mosul.

The Yezidi faith is quite eclectic, drawing upon Christian (baptism, breaking of bread, drinking of wine), Jewish (dietary restrictions), Muslim (fasts, circumcision, pilgrimages), Sufi (reverence for Shaykhs, secrecy, ecstatic experiences), and Sabeansist (reincarnation) traditions. They believe that they were children of the seed of Adam (but not of Eve). Thus, they believe themselves different from the rest of humanity, who are derived from both Adam and Eve. They try to remain separate and no outsider may join them. One must be born a Yezidi.

A dominant symbol among them is the peacock, a symbol of the seven angels who cooperated in the creation of the world. The peacock angel is their euphemism for evil. They believe evil is a part of the divinity, along with good. Thus they are more properly seen as dualists rather than devil worshippers. The Yezidis also consider Christ an angel in human form, and Mohammed as a prophet with Abraham and others.