Religion

This article examines the theological content of the Kitêba Cilwe, the Yazidi Book of Revelation, focusing on Sheikh Adi’s teachings. It analyses the text’s structure, oral‑written transmission, and its role in shaping Yazidi cosmology and ritual practice.

Yazidi cosmology teaches that each soul undergoes a cycle of reincarnation, guided by seven divine angels led by Tawûsî Melek. The angels act as custodians of creation, overseeing the soul’s purification and return to the earthly realm.

The red shirt (kirasgorîn) in Yazidi tradition functions as a potent symbol of courage, protection, and communal identity. Drawing on comparative studies of red garments across cultures, scholars interpret its hue as embodying vitality, spiritual resilience, and a link to ancestral mythic narratives.

The Yazidi tradition balances oral transmission with written forms that appear in Arabic, Latin, Cyrillic and increasingly English scripts. This article examines why different scripts are chosen for sacred versus secular material, the historical forces behind those choices, and the scholarly debates that surround them.

This article examines how Manichaean dualist concepts appear in early Yazidi belief systems, focusing on oral traditions, cosmological narratives, and scholarly debates about Gnostic influence. By analysing motifs from late antiquity to contemporary practices, it highlights the enduring legacy of dualist thought in Yazidism.

The Yazidi pilgrimage to the sacred valley of Lalish on Çarşema Sor, the Red Wednesday New Year, blends ancient footpaths with modern transport. This article surveys historic routes, ritual actions at the holy site, and how contemporary Yazidis across the diaspora participate in the celebration.

Yazidi household shrines, known as kili, are central to daily religious life. Women traditionally tend, clean, and embellish these sacred spaces, weaving personal devotion with communal identity. Their decorative practices blend textile art, natural pigments, and symbolic motifs, reinforcing gendered expressions of faith.

Qewlê Cemayê is a central hymn recited during the Yazidi Feast of the Assembly (Cejna Cemayê). It functions as a theological narrative, a ritual marker, and a vehicle for oral transmission of Yazidi doctrine, linking community identity with sacred music.

This article examines three closed religious communities—Yazidism, the Amish, and Mandaeism—through their histories, doctrines, social structures, and contemporary challenges. By juxtaposing their origins, rituals, and interactions with the wider world, the piece highlights both shared traits of insularity and distinct theological pathways.

The peacock, known as Tawûs in Kurdish, is the central divine figure of Yazidism, embodying the Angel of Light, cosmic order, and the material world. This article surveys its theological role, artistic representations, oral traditions, scholarly debates, and regional variations across Kurdish Yazidi communities.