The Yazidi belief, from the perspective of Sharafkhan and non-Kurdish sources

Abstract

The Yazidi belief, from the perspective of Sharafkhan and non-Kurdish sources, is one of the religious beliefs that a Kurdish identity has adopted. Some historians and researchers trace the foundation of Kurdish identity back to this religion. However, Sharafkhan, the Kurdish historian, clearly referenced this social group as a distinct religious community within Kurdish society, identifying it as having a Sufi-oriented foundation.

         Although there are many debates and disputes among researchers and historians of both the medieval and modern periods about the origins of this religion and the time it dates back to—most of them, or we might say the majority of researchers, historians, and even the Yazidis themselves—trace it back to the figure of Sheikh Adi (Adi, son of Musafir), who passed away in the year 557 AH / 1162 CE. However, some researchers and historians do not accept this view shared by Sharafkhan and others, instead tracing the religion back to an even earlier period.

       Here, we attempt to present both Sharafkhan’s historical viewpoint and those of some medieval historians, and on the other hand, perspectives of external historians regarding the Yazidi faith, as well as the different interpretations and pressures this religion has faced.

       In this article, beyond just an introduction, we present a summary of the Yazidi belief and, within the content of the study, discuss it across two main themes. In the first theme, we compare the Yazidi belief in Sharafkhan’s view with that in Islamic sources, highlighting the core similarities and differences. In the second theme, we present the differing interpretations between Sharafkhan and non-Kurdish sources regarding the Yazidi faith. In conclusion, history has often been written on an incorrect basis, without expertise regarding society, religion, and their effects, and has been imposed on our historical consciousness—an influence that even many prominent Kurdish intellectuals and historians have fallen under.