Traditional Qadî (Divine Judgment) Rituals in Yazidi Religious Practice

This entry provides a scholarly overview of the traditional Qadî (Divine Judgment) rituals within Yazidism, drawing on academic sources, oral texts, and field observations.

Qadî (Kurdish: Qadî) is a ritual of divine judgment performed by Yazidis to symbolically reaffirm the moral order of the universe and the community’s allegiance to the divine hierarchy.

Pronunciation & orthography

Kurmanji spelling: Qadî; Arabic script: قَدي; Cyrillic (Kurdish in former Soviet areas): Кади. IPA: /qaˈdiː/. Common English misspellings include “Qadi” and “Kadi”.

Main exposition

Historical origins

The Qadî ritual is believed to have crystallised during the ‘Adawiyya epoch, the mystical period preceding the formal codification of Yazidism in the 12th–13th centuries (see Açıkyıldız’s analysis of early Yazidi mysticism) (4).

Liturgical structure

A typical Qadî ceremony unfolds in three stages: (1) purification of the space with incense and water, (2) chanting of a prescribed set of qawls by a hereditary qawwāl, and (3) a symbolic “judgment” act in which participants present offerings that are ritually “weighed” before a representation of the divine throne (the “Melek Tawus” motif). The qawls are sung to the accompaniment of the daf (tambourine) and şebāb (flute), echoing the musical practice described for other Yazidi hymns (3).

Symbolic elements

The central symbol is the “scale of justice” (mîzān), which represents the cosmic balance overseen by the chief angel Tawûsê Melek. Offerings of lamb or grain are placed on each pan; the outcome is interpreted by the qawwāl as an omen for the community’s moral standing.

Role of the qawwāl

Qawwāls are hereditary reciters responsible for preserving and transmitting the qawls associated with Qadî. Their training includes memorising the melody (kubrî) and the deeper theological meaning of each stanza (3). During the ritual they also deliver a short sermon (mesḥābat) that links the judgment theme to contemporary ethical concerns.

Connection to the Feast of the Assembly

The Qadî rite is often performed in conjunction with the Cejna Cemayê (Feast of the Assembly), the major autumn pilgrimage to Lalish, where communal solidarity is reaffirmed (2). In many villages the Qadî ceremony precedes the pilgrimage, preparing participants spiritually for the journey.

In the oral tradition

The oral corpus contains several qewls that explicitly reference the judgment motif. For example, the qawl “Melekê Qadî” declares:

“When the scale tilts, the faithful hear the call of the heavens; the righteous rise, the errant fall.”

This verse is transmitted by qawwāls during the Qadî ceremony and illustrates the theological link between moral conduct and cosmic order (3).

Scholarly disagreement

Kreyenbroek argues that Qadî should be understood primarily as a communal reintegration rite after periods of conflict, emphasizing its social function over theological symbolism. Açıkyıldız reads the same ritual as a direct continuation of the ‘Adawiyya mystical practices, highlighting its role in affirming the Yazidi cosmology of divine judgment (4).

Common misconceptions

Regional variation

In Sinjar the Qadî ceremony is integrated with the pilgrimage to Lalish; in Sheikhan it may be performed at the local shrine of Sheikh ‘Adī. Syrian Yazidis have adapted the ritual to urban settings, using indoor spaces and modern audio equipment. Turkish communities retain the traditional scale‑of‑justice symbolism, while the diaspora often merges Qadî with inter‑generational educational workshops.

Timeline

Data table

Notes: ¹Based on Encyclopaedia Iranica estimates of Yazidi population (1). ²Derived from field reports on ritual documentation (3).