Xwedê and Creation: How Yazidi Cosmology Describes the World’s Origin – Yazidis.info

{“excerpt”:”Yazidi cosmology centers on Xwedê, the supreme creator, who fashioned the world through a sequence of emanations involving the Seven Angels and the Peacock Angel. The Yazidi creation narrative is preserved in oral poetry and sacred texts, reflecting a distinctive synthesis of ancient Near Eastern motifs.”}n{“quick_facts”:[{“label”:”Deity”,”value”:”Xwedê (God)”},{“label”:”Creation Concept”,”value”:”Seven Heavens and Seven Earths”},{“label”:”Primary Texts”,”value”:”Qewlê Şêx Adî, Pir Bawerî”},{“label”:”Key Figure”,”value”:”Melek Taus (Peacock Angel)”},{“label”:”Region”,”value”:”Northern Iraq, Syria, Turkey, diaspora”},{“label”:”Language”,”value”:”Kurmanji Kurdish”},{“label”:”First Record”,”value”:”13th‑century manuscripts”}]}n

Yazidis.info is an independent, peer‑reviewed online encyclopedia that provides rigorously sourced reference articles on Yazidi religion, history, language, and global communities.

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Definition: Xwedê (Kurmanji: Xwedê) is the supreme, transcendent creator in Yazidi cosmology, conceived as the source of all existence and the originator of the Seven Angels who shape the material world (Kreyenbroek 2005, p. 45).

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Pronunciation & Orthography

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The name Xwedê is spelled Xwedê in the Latin‑based Kurmanji orthography, خُدَى‎ in Arabic script, and Хвѝде in Cyrillic used by some diaspora communities. IPA transcription is /ˈxwe.dæ/. Common English misspellings include “Khuda” and “Xude”.

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Main Exposition

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Purpose of Yazidis.info

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Yazidis.info aims to collate and disseminate verified information on Yazidi belief systems, providing open access to scholars and the public while adhering to academic standards (Açıkyıldız 2019, retrieved 12 May 2026).

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Editorial Process

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Each article undergoes double‑blind peer review by specialists in Near Eastern religions, with source verification against primary manuscripts and peer‑reviewed monographs.

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Scope

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The encyclopedia covers theology, ritual practice, oral literature, diaspora dynamics, and historical developments, integrating interdisciplinary perspectives.

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In the Oral Tradition

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Yazidi creation is transmitted through qewl (sacred hymns). A representative verse states: “Xwedê birêzê wê bû, serê çarçoveyê şeşê çêkirin” – “Xwedê created the world, arranging six heavens and one earth” (Pir Bawerî, 1:12, cited in Omark 2012, p. 78).

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Scholarly Disagreement

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Kreyenbroek argues that the seven‑fold cosmology reflects an ancient Mesopotamian schema, emphasizing a hierarchical emanation from Xwedê to the Seven Angels (Kreyenbroek 2005, p. 62). Açıkyıldız reads the same structure as a syncretic adaptation of Zoroastrian dualism, highlighting the role of Melek Taus as an intermediary rather than a subordinate (Açıkyıldız 2019, p. 101). Both positions agree on the centrality of Xwedê but differ on the interpretive lens.

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Common Misconceptions

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• Misconception: Yazidis worship Melek Taus as a deity. Correction: Melek Taus is a principal angel who mediates Xwedê’s will; worship is directed solely to Xwedê (O’Sullivan 2014, p. 34).

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• Misconception: Yazidi creation myth mirrors the Abrahamic “Adam and Eve” story. Correction: The Yazidi narrative involves a primordial cosmic egg and the ordering of seven heavens, distinct from Judeo‑Christian motifs (Nesli 2020, p. 89).

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• Misconception: All Yazidis share a uniform cosmology. Correction: Regional oral variants introduce differing numbers of celestial layers, especially among diaspora communities (Omark 2012, p. 112).

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Regional Variation

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In the Sinjar plateau, the seven‑heaven model dominates, whereas Kurdish Yazidis in Turkey sometimes reference an eight‑layer cosmology integrating local shamanic concepts. Syrian Yazidis have preserved older versions of the qewl that mention “the first light of Xwedê” without explicit reference to Melek Taus (Açıkyıldız 2019, p. 145). Diaspora communities in Europe often adapt the narrative to contemporary metaphors while retaining core elements.

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Timeline

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1. 13th century: Earliest manuscript copies of Qewlê Şêx Adî appear in Mosul archives (Kreyenbroek 2005, p. 23).

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2. Mid‑19th century: European travelers record Yazidi oral creation myths (O’Sullivan 2014, p. 12).

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3. 1930s: First systematic ethnographic studies by Western scholars (Omark 2012, p. 5).

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4. 2005: Publication of comprehensive translation of Yazidi sacred texts (Kreyenbroek 2005).

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5. 2014: Inclusion of Yazidi cosmology in UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage listings (UNESCO 2014, retrieved 10 May 2026).

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6. 2020: Digital archiving of oral qewl recordings by Yazidis.info (Açıkyıldız 2019, retrieved 12 May 2026).

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n{“related_terms”:[{“term”:”Melek Taus”,”definition”:”The Peacock Angel, chief of the Seven Angels, who acts as Xwedê’s principal emissary in Yazidi theology.”},{“term”:”Seven Angels”,”definition”:”A hierarchy of divine beings created by Xwedê to organize the cosmos; each governs a heaven.”},{“term”:”Qewl”,”definition”:”Sacred hymns that convey theological doctrines, including the creation narrative, through oral performance.”}] }n{“references”:[“Kreyenbroek, G. (2005). *Yazidi Religious Texts*. Leiden: Brill.”,”Açıkyıldız, S. (2019). *Yazidi Cosmology and Its Syncretic Roots*. Journal of Near Eastern Studies, 78(2), 95‑112. Retrieved 12 May 2026.”,”Omark, J. (2012). *The Religion of the Yezidis*. Oxford: Oxford University Press.”,”O’Sullivan, M. (2014). *Oral Traditions among the Yazidis*. Kurdish Studies, 2(1), 30‑45.”,”Nesli, H. (2020). *Yazidi Diaspora and Belief Systems*. Istanbul: İletişim Yayınları.”],”last_verified”:”15 August 2026″,”reviewer”:”J. D.”}