Core doctrines, deities, and spiritual principles of Yazidism
In Yazidism the Mirîd caste is traditionally lay, while the Pîr caste is priestly and hereditary. Recent scholarship notes limited but notable cases of transition, usually mediated by special approval from senior clergy.
Yazidi theophoric names embed ancient divine elements such as Melek, Şêx, and Sin, reflecting a pre‑Islamic pantheon that survived through oral tradition and syncretic belief. Scholars trace these name components to Late Antique motifs and Iranian Yazata concepts.
In the 2020s, digital technologies have become central to preserving and revitalizing Yazidi qewl, the sacred hymns of the faith. Recording projects, metadata standards, community platforms, and academic collaborations have together created a resilient digital heritage despite the trauma of recent genocide.
YouTube has become a pivotal platform for safeguarding Yazidi sacred hymns, known as Qewl, by making recordings accessible to younger generations worldwide. Through community‑produced videos, diaspora networks, and interactive features, the platform supports oral transmission, language learning, and cultural resilience.
Yazidi cosmology centers on a hierarchy of seven divine beings created by God, with Tawûsî Melek as their chief. These angels govern the material world, mediate between the divine and humanity, and are integral to ritual practice and oral tradition.
Yazidi liturgical music employs a system of melodic modes known locally as kubrî, which function similarly to maqam in neighboring traditions. These modes provide a stable acoustic framework that facilitates the oral transmission and memorisation of the community’s sacred hymns (qewls).
Qewl poetry, the sacred hymns of the Yazidi tradition, function as oral histories that preserve collective memory, including accounts of the 1915–1917 Sayfo genocide. This article examines their form, transmission, and scholarly interpretation as testimony of trauma.
The Temîr, a sacred stone central to Yazidi worship, embodies cosmological myths, serves as a tangible link to the holy site of Lalish, and features in distinctive rituals. This article surveys its origins, symbolic meanings, ritual practices, and scholarly debates.
Tawûsî Melek, the Peacock Angel of the Yazidis, occupies a unique place in Kurdish religious tradition. This article compares his role, symbolism, and theological status with the angelic beings of Zoroastrianism and Islam, highlighting convergences, divergences, and scholarly debates.
Online platforms have become crucial spaces for the transmission of Yazidi religious rulings, reshaping authority, community cohesion, and transnational identity. This article surveys the emergence, practices, and scholarly debates surrounding digital dissemination among Yazidis.