Chapter I: Part II: The Critical Discussion

OF YEZIDISM

I. THE RELIGIOUS ORIGIN OF THE YEZIDIS 89

I. The Yezidi Myth 89

II. The Christian Tradition 96

III. The Speculative Theories of Western
Orientalists 103

IV. The Dogmatic View of Mohammedan
Scholars and the Writer’s Own Explanation 118

Notes on Part I. 138

II. THE ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS IN YEZIDISM 145

I. The Yezidi View of God 145

II. The Deity of the Second Degree 147

1. Melek Ṭâ´ûs 147

2. Šeiḫ ‘Adî 158

3. Yezid 166

Notes on Chapter II. 167

III. OTHER DEITIES AND FESTIVALS 169

I. The So-Called Seven Divinities 169

II. The Day of Sarsal or New Year 174

Notes on Chapter III. 177

IV. SACRAMENTS, RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCES AND
SACERDOTAL SYSTEM 178

I. Sacraments 178

II. Some Other Religious Practices 180

III. The Sacerdotal Orders 182

Notes on Chapter IV. 185

V. THEIR CUSTOMS 186

I. Marriage 186

II. Funerals 192

III. Nationality 194

IV. Locality 195

V. Dwellings 197

VI. The Language 198

VII. Occupation 198

Notes on Chapter V. 200

VI. LIST OF THE YEZIDI TRIBES 201

The Tribes Across the River from Mosul 201

The Tribes at Sinjar and Jezireh 202

The Tribes of Midyat Region 203

VII. PERSECUTION 205

Notes on Chapter VII. 210

BIBLIOGRAPHY 213

INDEX 219

DEVIL WORSHIP