Who are the Yazidis and what do they believe in?

Abu Juwairiya

Junior Member
In light of the recent events in Iraq over the emergence of the 'Yazidis', I want to share the video below with you all.

According to the link, the Yazidis are Non Muslim and openly say so.

A few other details-

-The name 'Yazidi' is derived from 'Izidi' which means 'worshippers of God'

-They are a secretive minority that live in Iraq and Syria

-They number between 70-500, 000

Beliefs

-They worship seven spirits sent by the Supreme Being, 'Yasdan', especially the Peacock Angel, Malak Taus

-They believe in Re-incarnation, allowing purification through continual rebirth

-It is not possible to convert to Yazidism. You have to be born into it.

-They revere both the Bible and the Qur'an

-They are 'mistakenly seen' as devil worshippers' by Muslims and Christians

-They clam to be Monotheists

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-28785144
 

zaman-gm

Junior Member
It's horrible! This kind of people is in my country also. Astagfirullh. May Allah guide them. And save them from hell fire.
 

Precious Star

Junior Member
This is interesting as I was also wondering. But really our duty as Muslims is to keep them safe and prevent their suffering at the hands of Muslims or others. We are living in times of crisis so Allah SWT is testing our humanitarian spirit.
 

Abu Juwairiya

Junior Member
This is interesting as I was also wondering. But really our duty as Muslims is to keep them safe and prevent their suffering at the hands of Muslims or others. We are living in times of crisis so Allah SWT is testing our humanitarian spirit.

The Guardian Newspaper (11/08/14) added about the Yazidi religion the following details-

'A historically misunderstood group, the Yazidis are predominantly ethnically Kurdish, and have kept alive their syncretic religion for centuries, despite many years of oppression and threatened extermination.

The ancient religion is rumoured to have been founded by an 11th century Ummayyad sheikh, and is derived from Zoroastrianism (an ancient Persian faith founded by a philosopher), Christianity and Islam. The religion has taken elements from each, ranging from baptism (Christianity) to circumcision (Islam) to reverence of fire as a manifestation from God (derived from Zoroastrianism) and yet remains distinctly non-Abrahamic. This derivative quality has often led the Yazidis to be referred to as a sect.

At the core of the Yazidis’ marginalization is their worship of a fallen angel, Melek Tawwus, or Peacock Angel, one of the seven angels that take primacy in their beliefs. Unlike the fall from grace of Satan, in the Judeo-Christian tradition, Melek Tawwus was forgiven and returned to heaven by God. The importance of Melek Tawwus to the Yazidis has given them an undeserved reputation for being devil-worshippers'

The New York Times (03/01/03) further stated,

'The Yazidis, who are ethnically Kurds, maintain one of the most eclectic of faiths.

They have adopted Christian rituals like baptism and a smattering of practices from Islam ranging from circumcision to removal of their shoes inside their temples. The importance of fire as a divine manifestation comes from Zoroastrianism, the ancient Persian faith that forms the core of Yazidi beliefs. Indeed their very name is likely taken from an old Persian word for angel.

The veneration of their saints' tombs means few Yazidis have ever wandered far from their Iraqi roots, although there are branches in Turkey, Syria, Iran, the Caucasus and, because of modern migrations, Germany. Estimates on their numbers swing wildly, but are generally put around 300,000 in Iraq.

Yazidis venerate Sheik Adi bin Musafir, a 12th-century Lebanese-born Arab mystic whose tomb, in Lalish in northern Iraq, is their main place of pilgrimage. They say Sheik Adi revived a faith dating back to Adam.

The sect lacks any written text, which helps account for the tall tale aspect of explaining its tenets. Their religious hierarchy is topped by a prince. His title is hereditary, and he can marry only from an upper caste of some 300 families.

Allegations of satanic worship stem from the central figure among the seven angels they worship. Yazidis consider Ta'us, or the Peacock Angel, to be the devil, but worthy of veneration as one of God's creatures who repented and should be appeased to avert his wrath. His tears on his repentance are said to have doused the flames of hell, putting it permanently out of business.

Yazidis pray three times a day, at dawn, midday and sunset, facing the direction of the sun each time. ''The sun is very holy to us,'' said Walid Abu Khudur, the stocky, bearded guardian of the temple built in honor of a holy man here. ''It is like the eye of God, so we pray toward it.''

Yazidi elders do worry about their dwindling numbers, since Iraq's desperate economic conditions have pushed the young to emigrate.
 

zaman-gm

Junior Member
What about Dawa'h from us to them? They are with in the Muslim cultural area!!! Doesn't we enough on it to guide them?
 

MeadowDust

Junior Member
It is a very sad that they are being killed, they didnt harm the Muslims, they were just living their lives so why were they killed in such brutal ways... Couldnt Muslims give them da'wah? Invite them in peaceful ways? And if they refuse, keep giving da'wah, it is Allah who guides. Killing innocent people, is never part of Islam >_<
 

zaman-gm

Junior Member
This is interesting as I was also wondering. But really our duty as Muslims is to keep them safe and prevent their suffering at the hands of Muslims or others. We are living in times of crisis so Allah SWT is testing our humanitarian spirit.
(the hands of Muslims ) make me shame. Islam punished bad people to protect good or innocents. We seeking Allah SWT 's help.
 

Precious Star

Junior Member
It is a very sad that they are being killed, they didnt harm the Muslims, they were just living their lives so why were they killed in such brutal ways... Couldnt Muslims give them da'wah? Invite them in peaceful ways? And if they refuse, keep giving da'wah, it is Allah who guides. Killing innocent people, is never part of Islam >_<

There is a time for dawah but right now they need our help to survive.
 
Top