Other content include illustrations, photos, maps, notes, a glossary, a bibliography and appendices filled with invaluable information like yezidi saints and genealogies of influential families. The yazidi religious centre and object of the annual pilgrimage is the tomb of sheikh. 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. Daniel, recorded 600 years earlier, sets the stage for the larger and more detailed book of revelation, which describes many events nowhere else in the bible. 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. 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. The sacred scriptures of the yazidis are two short books written in arabic. The yazidi book of revelation kiteba cilwe in kurdish is one of the two holy books of the yazidi religion, the other. Translation of yazidi book of revelation in english. The yazidis have their own religion called yazidism. The yazidi holy books were said to be the kiteba cilwe book of revelation and the mishefa res black book.
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. Kitab aljilwah book of revelation supposed to have been written by sheikh adi himself, and mishaf rash black. The yazidi book of revelation keteba jelwa, a text generally believed to have been written by non yazidis along with the yazidi black book in the early twentiethcentury but based on yazidi oral tradition, even though a nineteenthcentury translation of the text exists, is purported to contain the words of tawuse melek. He placed the white pearl on the back of the bird, and dwelt on it for forty thousand years. It is now widely suspected that both volumes were compiled by nonyazidis. 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. The secular leader is a hereditary emir or prince, whereas a chief sheikh heads the religious hierarchy.
The sacred books comprise kitdb al jilwah book of revelation, and mashaf res black book so named because in it mention is made of the. Mishefa re is allegedly one of the two holy books of the yazidi religion, the other being the book of revelation kiteba cilwe. Mashaf res the black book in the beginning god created the white pearl out of his most precious essence. It is now generally accepted that the manuscripts of the yazidi sacred books, the mas. The yazidi pray to the peacock angel several times a day, facing east. Who are the yazidi people, and what are their beliefs. Yezidi mythology creation, floods, and a large black snake. Who exactly are these people and what is the image that they honor.
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. Two short books, kitab aljilwah book of revelation and maafrash black book, form the sacred scriptures of the yazidis. 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. They shouldnt wear the color blue, said kreyenbroek. It is now widely suspected that both volumes were compiled by nonyazidis in the 19th century and then were passed. Yezidis believe the black book originated when the lord descended black mountain. So far there are two parts roughly translated the revelation and the black book. Aug 15, 2014 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 yazidis also hold many beliefs that arent found in abrahamic religions. 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 black book. Who are the yazidis and what do they believe about god, satan. Kiteba cilwe also transliterated as kitab al jilwah is one of two books on the yazidi religion written in the style of a holy book in the kurmanji dialect of kurdish, the other being the yazidi black book kurdish. Not the false gods of their books, wrongly written but they. Some people say they cant eat fish, a lot of people say. Adi the principal prayer of the yezidis seven classes of yezidis articles of faith notes on part i part ii. In addition, members of the three yazidi castes, the murids, sheikhs and. 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 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 yazidi regard sheikh adi as the incarnation of tausi melek, the peacock angel. The revelation mainly consists of god speaking to the yezidi about who he is and who they are in relation to him.
Oct 16, 2014 the book covers the history, beliefs, practices, and material culture of the yezidis. 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. With the arrival of a larger number of european and american travelers in the region in the. The yazidi holy books are written in the kurmanji dialect of the kurdish language. Mashaf res the black book internet sacred text archive. The yazidi holy books are claimed to be the kiteba cilwe book of revelation and the mishefa res 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, which is said by scholars to have been written in the 11th12th centuries but, claim the yezidis, has existed since tawsi melek, the peacock angel, first set foot upon earth. At that time the yazidi assumed that sheikh adi had received his mental and.
Jan 02, 2020 although yazidi theology is based on oral tradition, passed on through hymns, they do have two holy books. Black book, 2 which perhaps dates from the thirteenth century, is larger than the book of revelation, but is not divided into chapters. Le kiteba cilwe, ou livre des revelations est, avec le mechef rech ou mishefa res le livre. History of the yezidi the ultimate history project. The yazidi branch of yaxdnism ontario consultants on.
Its leaders both reside in the iraqi town of ain sifni. Some yezidi mythology has been translated into english and other languages. The yezidis have two sacred books, the kitab aljilwa, the book of revelation, written by sheikh adi, and the mishefa res, the black book, which is said by. Sacred books and traditions of the yezidiz, by isya. 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 yazidi book of revelation kiteba cilwe in kurdish. He sent his servant into this world to warn and separate his chosen people from error. Amongst their closest neighbors, yezidis are sometimes known as devil. The book of revelation and black book remain, however, the most prominent texts associated with the socalled devil worshipers of mesopotamia. This framework is primarily laid out in daniel and revelation. Del re lalish temple, the main yazidi religious place, during the jazhna jamaye, the most significant yazidi festival. Aug, 2014 the yazidis also hold many beliefs that arent found in abrahamic religions. The time for understanding the book of revelation is now at hand. The sacred books comprise kitab aljilwah book of revelation, and maaf rzs. The genocide is ongoing members of the persecuted community are still struggling to recover from years of brutal assault by isil fighters.
God finishes his work in seven dayssunday to saturday. 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. God reveals a basic framework for understanding future events. The yazidi holy books are the kiteba cilwe book of revelation and the mishefa res. 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. The book of revelation melek taus existed before all creatures. The tal lalish became sheikh adis headquarters and since that time has been regarded as holy. 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 oxford encyclopedia of the modern islamic world. The yazidi book of revelation kit ba cilwe in kurdish. It is claimed that the original text of the book of revelation is kept in the yazidi village of baidn and the. The yazidi holy books are the kiteba cilwe book of revelation and the mishefa res black book.
Melek taus proclamation from yezidis al jilwah the revelation. Kitba cilwe book of revelation and the mishefa res black book. 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 kurdish, the other being the. 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. The black book of the yezidis was first published in english over 120 years ago. But many scholars now believe the manuscripts published a century ago were. The original text of the book of revelation is kept in the yazidi village of baidn factdatejuly 2007, and the. Kitab aljilwah yazidi religious literature britannica. Yazidi, member of a kurdish religious minority found primarily in northern iraq. 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.
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