This is a list of holy figures () in

Yazidism Yazidism , alternatively Sharfadin is a Monotheism, monotheistic ethnic religion that has roots in a western Ancient Iranian religion, Iranic pre-Zoroastrian religion directly derived from the Indo-Iranians, Indo-Iranian tradition. It is follow ...

. There are a total of 365

Yazidi Yazidis or Yezidis (; ku, ئێزیدی, translit=Êzidî) are a Kurmanji-speaking endogamous minority group who are indigenous to Kurdistan, a geographical region in Western Asia that includes parts of Iraq, Syria, Turkey and Iran. The majo ...

holy figures venerated by

Yazidis Yazidis or Yezidis (; ku, ئێزیدی, translit=Êzidî) are a Kurmanji-speaking Endogamy, endogamous minority group who are indigenous to Kurdistan, a geographical region in Western Asia that includes parts of Iraq, Syria, Turkey and Iran ...

. Many Yazidi tribes and lineages are named after Yazidi holy figures and there are many temples and shrines built in their honor. Holy figures in Yazidism are designated by various special terms including ''Babçak'', ''Xudan'' (lord, master, owner, holder, proprietor, protector, deity), ''Xas'' (selected, notable, special, elite) and ''Mêr'' which translates to (holy) man. According to Yazidi belief God is almighty and absolute, and the Xudans are a part of His power, moreover, in relation to nature, Yazidis believe in ''Xudans'' for most of natural elements and phenomena and they are regarded as divine powers that have control over these phenomena. In Yazidi mythology, the ''Xudan''s appeared after the creation of the world for the four elements of nature and their manifestations.

Sheikhs

Below is a list of Yazidi holy figures belonging or associated with Sheikh caste:

Adanî

* Şêx Adî **

Şêx Hesen Sheikh Hasan ibn Sheikh ‘Adī II () is a holy and historical figure in that is revered in Yazidism and considered the physical or earthly incarnation of Melik Şêxsin, one of the Seven Divine Beings to whom God assigned the World's affairs. M ...

(Şêxisin), Xudanê Qelemê (Master of the Pen), patriarch of the Adanî Sheikhs, member of the Heptad ***Şêx Brahîmê Xetimî ***Şêxê Êtîma *** Şêx Mûsê Sor, Xudan of the air and wind *** Şêx Şerfedîn ***Şêx Zêndîn, associated with the totem animal

hares Hares and jackrabbits are mammals belonging to the genus ''Lepus''. They are herbivores, and live solitarily or in pairs. They nest in slight depressions called forms, and their young are able to fend for themselves shortly after birth. The gen ...

and is considered their protector ***Sitiya Gul

Qatanî

Şêxûbekir Sheikh Obekr or Obekir () is a holy figure venerated in Yazidism Yazidism , alternatively Sharfadin is a monotheistic ethnic religion that has roots in a western Iranic pre-Zoroastrian religion directly derived from the Indo-Iranian tradi ...

, patriarch of the Qatanî Sheikhs, member of the Heptad **Şêx ʿEbdilqadir ** Şêx Îsmaîlê ʿEnzelî ** Şêx Kara ** Şêx Maviyê Zar ** Şêx Mehmedê Batinî ** Şêx Sorê Sora ** Şêx Xelîfeta

Şemsanî

* Êzdînê Mîr, patriarch and ancestor of the Şemsanî Sheikhs ** Şêx Şems (Şêşims), member of the Heptad, Xudan of fire, light and sun ***

Amadîn Amadin or ‘Emad ad-Dīn () was a 13th-century Yazidi saint. Family tree Amadin was one of the nine sons of Sheikh Shems Sheikh Shems or Melek Shams ad-Din () is a holy figure venerated in Yazidism, he is considered one of the Seven Divine Be ...

(‘Emad ad-Dīn), son of Sheikh Shems; possesses curative powers over stomach aches *** Şêx Bavikê Şemsa (Sheikh Babik), son of Sheikh Shems *** Şêx Alê Şemsa, son of Sheikh Shems *** Şêx Avîndê Şemsa, son of Sheikh Shems *** Şêx Babadînê Şemsa, son of Sheikh Shems *** Şêx Evdalê Şemsa, son of Sheikh Shems *** Şêx Hesenê Şemsa, son of Sheikh Shems, Xatûna Fexra's husband *** Şêxê Reş (Cinteyar) *** Şêx Tokilê Şemsa, son of Sheikh Shems *** Şêx Xidirê Şemsa, son of Sheikh Shems *** Sitiya Îs/Ês, daughter of Sheikh Shems *** Sitiya Nisret, daughter of Sheikh Shems *** Sitiya Bilxan (Belqan), daughter of Sheikh Shems **

Fexredîn Sheikh or Malak Fakhr ad-Dīn () is a holy figure venerated in Yazidism, he is considered one of the Seven Divine Beings, to all of whom God assigned the World's affairs, and his earthly incarnation is considered one of the four sons of Ezdina Mir ...

, member of the Heptad, Xudan of the Moon ***

Şêx Mend Sheikh Mand or Sheikh Mend () was a 13th-century Yazidi saint. He is the son of Şêx Fexredîn and thus belongs to the Şemsanî lineage of sheikhs. His sister was Khatuna Fekhra Khatuna Fekhra () was a 12th-century Yazidi female saint ...

, eldest son of Fakhraddin; Lord of Snakes and Serpents ***

Xatûna Fexra Khatuna Fekhra () was a 12th-century Yazidi female saint. The ''Quba Xatuna Fexra'' (Temple of Khatuna Fekhra) in Mağara, İdil, Şırnak Province, southeastern Turkey was built in honor of her. There is also a shrine built in honor of her i ...

, female saint, daughter of Fakhraddin, wife of Şêx Hesenê Şemsa; Guardian of Birth and Pregnancy *** Şêx Bedir, son of Fakhraddin *** Aqûb, adopted son of Fakhraddin **

Nasirdîn Sheikh Nasirdin, Melek Nasirdin or Naṣir ad-Dīn () is a holy figure venerated in Yezidism, he is considered one of the Seven Divine Beings, to all of whom God assigned the World's affairs, and his earthly incarnation is considered one of the fo ...

, member of the Heptad, Angel of Death and Renewal, separates the soul from the body during a person's death, portrayed as an executioner and holder of a knife **

Sicadîn Sheikh Sejadin or Sejad ad-Dīn () is a holy figure venerated in Yazidism, he is considered one of the Seven Divine Beings, to all of whom God assigned the World's affairs, and his earthly incarnation is considered one of the four sons of Ezdina M ...

, member of the Heptad,

psychopomp Psychopomps (from the Greek word , , literally meaning the 'guide of souls') are supernatural creatures, spirits, entities, angels, demons or deities in many religions whose responsibility is to escort newly deceased souls from Earth to the afte ...

and messenger of death, associated with the totem animal mices and is considered their protector

Other Sheikh figures

Sheikh 'Ebrûs Sheikh (pronounced or ; ar, شيخ ' , mostly pronounced , plural ' )—also transliterated sheekh, sheyikh, shaykh, shayk, shekh, shaik and Shaikh, shak—is an honorific title in the Arabic language. It commonly designates a chief of a ...

/Hevruz (Xudan of thunder and lightning) * Şêx Mişeleh (Xefûrê Rêya) protector of roads & patron of travellers, has shrines at

Lalish Lalish ( ku, لالش, translit=Laliş, also known as Lalişa Nûranî) is a mountain valley and temple in Shekhan, Duhok Governorate in Iraq. It is the holiest temple of the Yazidis. It is the location of the tomb of the Sheikh Adi ibn Musafir, ...

and

Ain Sifni Ain Sifni ( ar, عين سفني, ) also known as Shekhan ( ku, شێخان, Şêxan), is a town and subdistrict in Nineveh Governorate, Iraq. It is located in the Shekhan District in the Nineveh Plains. In the town, there is a Chaldean Catholic ...

. * Sheikh Bako. Has a shrine at

Bahzani Bahzani ( ku, به‌حزانی, translit=Bahzanê, ar, بحزاني), literally from the Syriac words meaning "House of treasure," is a town located in the Al-Hamdaniya District of the Ninawa Governorate in northern Iraq. Population The town ...

. The shrine is accompanied by a spring with a fig tree, which is visited by pilgrims with fevers. Pilgrims fasten small bits of their clothes on the tree and feed the fish in the spring. * Sheikh Kiras ("Lord Shirt"), Lord of revelations about spirits. Yazidis also speak of death and reincarnation as "changing one's shirt." * Şahsiwar/Sheikh Suwar ("Lord of Horsemen"; Xudan of war and horsemanship). Has a shrine in

Beban Beban ( ar, بيبان, ku, بێبان, translit=Bêban) is a village located in the Tel Kaif District of the Ninawa Governorate in northern Iraq. The village is located southeast of Alqosh in the Nineveh Plains. It belongs to the disputed ter ...

village. * Sheikh Muhemmed. He had a wife named Sitt Hebîbe. Fought against "the great Sheikh" at

Bashiqa Bashiqa ( ku, بەعشیقە, translit=Başîqa; ar, بعشيقة, translit=Ba'shīqah; syr, ܒܥܫܝܩܐ) is a town situated at the heart of the Nineveh plain, between Mosul and Sheikhan, on the edges of Mount Maqlub. The urban area of Bashi ...

. Buried near the monastery of Mar Gûrgîs in the

Mosul Mosul ( ar, الموصل, al-Mawṣil, ku, مووسڵ, translit=Mûsil, Turkish: ''Musul'', syr, ܡܘܨܠ, Māwṣil) is a major city in northern Iraq, serving as the capital of Nineveh Governorate. The city is considered the second large ...

area. His servant was buried at

. * Sheikh Hentûsh, one of Sheikh Adi's first disciples ** Ebû ’l-Qasim, one of Sheikh Adi's early disciples. He was a son of Sheikh Hentûsh. *

Sheikh Shelal Sheikh (pronounced or ; ar, شيخ ' , mostly pronounced , plural ' )—also transliterated sheekh, sheyikh, shaykh, shayk, shekh, shaik and Shaikh, shak—is an honorific title in the Arabic language. It commonly designates a chief of a ...

. Possibly identified with

Rumi Jalāl al-Dīn Muḥammad Rūmī ( fa, جلال‌الدین محمد رومی), also known as Jalāl al-Dīn Muḥammad Balkhī (), Mevlânâ/Mawlānā ( fa, مولانا, lit= our master) and Mevlevî/Mawlawī ( fa, مولوی, lit= my ma ...

. * Sitt Hebîbe, Marta Hebîbta ("the Beloved Lady"), the wife of Sheikh Muhemmed. Has shrines near

and in

. *

Sheikh ‘Eqîl Munejjî Sheikh (pronounced or ; ar, شيخ ' , mostly pronounced , plural ' )—also transliterated sheekh, sheyikh, shaykh, shayk, shekh, shaik and Shaikh, shak—is an honorific title in the Arabic language. It commonly designates a chief of a ...

, one of Sheikh Adi's first disciples. Associated wirth Me'rûf el-Kerkhî. His name might have been derived from ‘Uqayl al-Mambijî. * el-Khasiyye, Khasse, a female saint whose name sounds like the Arabic word for lettuce (''khass'').

Pîrs

Below is a list of Yazidi holy figures belonging or associated with the Pir caste: *

Tawûsî Melek Tawûsî Melek ( ku, تاوسی مەلەک, romanized: ''Tawisi Malak''), also spelled Melekê Tawûs and Tawûsê Melek, translated in English as Peacock Angel, is one of the central figures of the Yazidi religion. In Yazidi creation stories, ...

, Lord of this World and Leader of the seven Divine Beings. Only one angel is considered to be a Pîr by Yazidis; he is Tawûsî Melek and he is considered to be the "''bavê Pîran''" (Father of Pîrs) and the greatest Pîr, which is why he is considered to be a Pîr of all the Pîrs from Pîr Hesen Meman lineage, who in turn are considered Pîrs of the forty homes of Pîrs. Tawûsî Melek's name is seldom mentioned openly and he is instead called ''Pîr Melekê Elladî ('''The Pîr Angel of the Best Religion'), ''Pîrê Batinî'' ('Concealed Pîr') and ''Pîrê Perdê'' (Pîr of the Veil) in religious texts. * Pîr Hesen Meman, was one of the close associates of Sheikh Adi, Pir of the forty Pirs and the head of Pirs. According to the Yazidi tradition, he was the ruler of Harir near

Erbil Erbil, also called Hawler (, ar, أربيل, Arbīl; syr, ܐܲܪܒܹܝܠ, Arbel), is the capital and most populated city in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. It lies in the Erbil Governorate. It has an estimated population of around 1,600,000. Hu ...

. ** Hesen Elka * Pîr Xetîb Pisî * Pîr Afat, Xudan of floods, storms and natural disasters, invoked to protect human life and agricultural production from natural disasters, storms, floods or cold during winter **

Mehmed Reshan Pir Mam Rashan or Pir Mehmed Reshan () was a 12th-century Yazidi saint. The Mam Rashan Shrine on Mount Sinjar was built in honor of him. As a patron saint of agriculture, he is considered to be the protector of harvests and bringer of rain. His fea ...

(Mem Reshan), "the lion" and Lord of the Rains. ** Pîr Derbês * Pîr Jerwan, Xudan of Scorpions. Subdivisions: ** Pîr Îsêbiya ("Pîr Îsa ibn Abî"), one of the followers of Sheikh Adi and his ''Xezîndar'' (treasurer). ** Hajjî Muhemmed ** Pîr Omer Khalid, ‘ Omer Khale, patriarch of the ''Mirebbî''. ** Pîr Qeḍîb el-Ban, a companion of Sheikh Adi * Pîr Khanî. Traditionally had close ties with the Xaltî tribe in the Diyarbakir area of southern Turkey, with clan members now living in

in northern Iraq. * Pir Ali (?) * Pîr Sinî Daranî/Bahrî (Lord of the sea and son of a sea maiden) ** Pîr Hajjo ‘Elî, Hajial, Hajalî ** Pîr Bûb *** Bûbê Qelender. Likely identified with Pîr Bub. **Pîr Fadil **Pîr Sedîq **Pîr Mend (?) **Pîr Buwal (?) * Gavanê Zerzan (protector of cattle) *

Mem Şivan Mem (also spelled Meem, Meme, or Mim) is the thirteenth Letter (alphabet), letter of the Semitic abjads, including Hebrew alphabet, Hebrew mēm , Aramaic alphabet, Aramaic Mem , Syriac alphabet, Syriac mīm ܡ, Arabic alphabet, Arabic mīm and P ...

("the Shepherd"), protector of sheep, he is represented in the bas-reliefs here with his crook and sheep. * Pîrê Libnan, Xudan of weddings and family life, during the feast of Xidir Liyas and Xidir Nebî, Yezidis perform rites to ask Xidir Nebî as well as Pîrê Libnan about their wedding and happiness, according to oral tradition, Libnan constructed many places of pilgrimage, acquiring him the epithet of "the Pîr of building-blocks" * Pîrê Ewra, Xudan of the Clouds, Yazidis venerate the clouds as the source of rain and snow in winter. Some Yazidis fast for one day in his honour. * Pîr Dawud, a loyal servant of Sheikh Adi ** Pîr Sheref, a descendant of Dawûd * Pîrê Terjiman, Sheikh Adi's Arabic to Kurdish translator (since Sheikh Adi was born in Lebanon) * Pîr Mehmedê Reben, has a shrine at Lalish, the current holder of the Baba Chawish position comes from his lineage * Pîr Alû Bekr, possesses curative powers over mouth diseases. Has a shrine at Lalish.

Other holy figures

Below are other holy figures, many of whom are considered to be Xudans of specific objects and functions. * Ebû Rîsh, has a shrine at

* Derwêşê Erdê ("Dervish of the Earth"), Xudan of the Earth, invoked during sowing season and at burials, protector of property (In the past, when Yazidis left something valuable on the ground for a few hours, he was invoked to protect it) * Baba Gûshgûsh, possesses curative powers over ear diseases * Sitt Nefîse ("Lady Precious") possesses curative powers over fever and insomnia. Personification of a sacred fig or olive tree near

. * Feqire 'Eli * Kanî Zerr/Kaniya Zerka, possesses curative powers over jaundice, personification of a spring. His name literally means "yellow spring." * Melekê Mîran (Mêran), possesses curative powers over rheumatism * Evdê Reş/'Ebd Resh ('Ebdî Resho), protector of springs, a companion of

Musa Sor Sheikh Mûsa Sor ("Red Moses"; also Sheikh Mûs or Mūsē Sōr) is a Yazidi saint. He is also called the ''Lord of Air and Wind''. Yazidis venerate him as the patron saint of lung and rheumatic diseases. A subdivision of the Adani Sheikh lineage ...

. Has shrines in the villages of Kerabeg and Kendale. * Bû Qetar Baba, representative of Sheikh Adi in the

Mardin Mardin ( ku, Mêrdîn; ar, ماردين; syr, ܡܪܕܝܢ, Merdīn; hy, Մարդին) is a city in southeastern Turkey. The capital of Mardin Province, it is known for the Artuqid architecture of its old city, and for its strategic location on ...

area, where a major shrine is dedicated to him * Hekîm Fêris/Hekkî Fîres/Hakim Luqman, a descendant of

Luqman Luqman ( ar, لقمان, Luqmān; also known as Luqman the Wise or Luqman al-Hakim) was a wise man after whom Surah Luqman, the 31st sura (chapter) of the Quran, was named. Luqman ( BC) is believed to have been from Nubia or from Egypt.Ibn Kat ...

. Patron saint of wounds, since his descendants cure wounds with herbs and medicines. * Lakmadîn Baba, Sheikh Adi's secretary and guardian of his secrets. * Se‘d and Mes‘ûd (or Se‘îd and Mes‘ûd, Mes‘ûd and Musey‘id). Mes'ûd’s shrine is near

, while the shrines of Mes‘ûd and Musey‘id are in

. * Dayka Jakan, Has a shrine near

. * Xidir Liyas/Nebî, Xudan of water, streams and seas, in some Qewl passages, described as a ''Zindî'' (Immortal) and his place is the sea or seashore, therefore, he is described as having an eternal life, during the feast of Xidir Nebî and Xidir Liyas in February, Yazidis who are in love perform rites to ask Xidir Nebî as well as Pîrê Libnan about their wedding and happiness

Christian and Islamic figures

In Yazidism, figures of Islamic or Christian origin include: *

Shehîd ibn Jerr Shehîd ibn Jerr ("Witness, son of the Jar"; also Shahîd ibn Jarr) is the name for Seth in Yazidism. Story According to a narrative among Yazidis, Adam and Eve each deposited their seeds into separate jars. While Eve's seed developed into inse ...

Seth Seth,; el, Σήθ ''Sḗth''; ; "placed", "appointed") in Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Mandaeism, and Sethianism, was the third son of Adam and Eve and brother of Cain and Abel, their only other child mentioned by name in the Hebrew Bible. A ...

, the son of

Adam Adam; el, Ἀδάμ, Adám; la, Adam is the name given in Genesis 1-5 to the first human. Beyond its use as the name of the first man, ''adam'' is also used in the Bible as a pronoun, individually as "a human" and in a collective sense as " ...

and the progenitor of the

. His tomb and ''qubbe'' (conical spire) are at

. * Ibrahîm Khelil = Ibrahim (

Abraham Abraham, ; ar, , , name=, group= (originally Abram) is the common Hebrew patriarch of the Abrahamic religions, including Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. In Judaism, he is the founding father of the special relationship between the Jew ...

) * Mûsa =

Moses Moses hbo, מֹשֶׁה, Mōše; also known as Moshe or Moshe Rabbeinu (Mishnaic Hebrew: מֹשֶׁה רַבֵּינוּ, ); syr, ܡܘܫܐ, Mūše; ar, موسى, Mūsā; grc, Mωϋσῆς, Mōÿsēs () is considered the most important pro ...

. Sometimes identified with Sheikh Fekhr el-Dîn. * Behlûl, Behlûlê Dîn, Behlûlê Dîwane ("Behlûl the Mad") =

Bahlool Bahlūl ( ar, بهلول) was the common name of Wāhab ibn Amr (Arabic: ), a companion of Musa al-Kadhim. He lived in the time of the Caliph Harun al-Rashid, Hārūn al-Rashīd. Bahlūl was a well known judge and scholar who came from a wealthy ...

. Said to be one of the first disciples of Sheikh Adi. *‘ Ebd el-Qadir * Weys el-Qeneyrî =

Owais al-Qarani Awais bin Bashir ( ar, أُوَيْس ٱبْن عَامِر ٱبْن جَزْء ٱبْن مَالِك ٱلْقَرَنِيّ, ), also spelled Uways or Owais, was a Muslim from Yemen who lived during the lifetime of the Islamic prophet Muhammad ...

. Has a shrine near Ba'shîqe. * Rabi‘e el-‘Edewiyye =

Rabia of Basra Rābiʿa al-ʿAdawiyya al-Qaysiyya ( ar, رابعة العدوية القيسية) (714/717/718 — 801 CE) was an Arab Muslim saint and Sufi mystic and carried her life out as an influential religious figure. She is known in some parts of th ...

* el-Hesen el-Beşrî =

Hasan al-Basri Abu Sa'id ibn Abi al-Hasan Yasar al-Basri, often referred to as Hasan of Basra (Arabic: الحسن البصري, romanized: ''Al-Ḥasan al-Baṣrī''; 642 - 15 October 728) for short, or as Hasan al-Basri, was an early Muslim preacher, asceti ...

. Identified with Sheikh Hesen. * Bayezîd of Bisṭam =

Bayazid Bastami Abū Yazīd Ṭayfūr bin ʿĪsā bin Surūshān al-Bisṭāmī (al-Basṭāmī) (d. 261/874–5 or 234/848–9), commonly known in the Iranian world as Bāyazīd Bisṭāmī ( fa, بایزید بسطامی), was a PersianWalbridge, John. "S ...

* Sheikh Menşûr el-Hellaj, Hisênê Hellaj =

Mansur al-Hallaj Al-Hallaj ( ar, ابو المغيث الحسين بن منصور الحلاج, Abū 'l-Muġīth Al-Ḥusayn bin Manṣūr al-Ḥallāj) or Mansour Hallaj ( fa, منصور حلاج, Mansūr-e Hallāj) ( 26 March 922) (Islamic calendar, Hijri ...

. Has a shrine at

. *

Sitt Khadîje el-Kubra Sitt may refer to: *Gann Academy, coeducational Jewish high school located in Waltham, Massachusetts *Hans Sitt (1850–1922), Bohemian violinist and composer. *Joseph Sitt (born 1964), American real estate investor * Peter Sitt (1969), German swi ...

Khadija bint Khuwaylid Khadijah bint Khuwaylid ( ar, خَدِيجَة بِنْت خُوَيْلِد, Khadīja bint Khuwaylid, 555 – November 619 CE) was the first wife and is considered to be the first follower of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. Khadija was the da ...

. Has a shrine at Ba'shîqe.

References

{{Yazidi saints Yazidi mythology Mythology-related lists Lists of deities