This is a list of holy figures () in

Yazidism Yazidism, also known as Sharfadin, is a Monotheism, monotheistic ethnic religion which has roots in Ancient Iranian religion, pre-Zoroastrian Iranian religion, directly derived from the Indo-Iranians, Indo-Iranian tradition. Its followers, ca ...

. There are a total of 365 Yazidi holy figures venerated by

Yazidis Yazidis, also spelled Yezidis (; ), are a Kurdish languages, Kurdish-speaking Endogamy, endogamous religious group indigenous to Kurdistan, a geographical region in Western Asia that includes parts of Iraq, Syria, Turkey, and Iran. The major ...

. 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

* Sitiya Ês, mother of Şêx Adî ** Şêx Adî ***

Şêx Hesen Sheikh Hasan ibn Sheikh ‘Adī II () is a holy and historical figure who 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. Melik ...

(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 genu ...

and is considered their protector ****Sitiya Gul

Qatanî

Şêxûbekir Sheikh Abu Bakr (), Sheikh Obekr, or Sheikh Obekar, is a holy figure venerated in Yazidism Yazidism, also known as Sharfadin, is a Monotheism, monotheistic ethnic religion which has roots in Ancient Iranian religion, pre-Zoroastrian Iranian ...

, 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 ‘Imād ad-Dīn () was a 13th-century Yazidi saint. He was a member of the 'Adawiyya order of Sufism. He was known throughout Kurdistan Kurdistan (, ; ), or Greater Kurdistan, is a roughly defined geo- cultural region in West As ...

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

Şêx Mend Sheikh Mand or Sheikh Mend, Sheikh Mand Pasha () was a 12th-century Yazidi saint, ruler of Kilis principality, and an Ayyubid Army commanfiefdom is the son of Şêx Fexredîn and thus belongs to the Şemsanî lineage of sheikhs. His sister ...

, eldest son of Fexredîn who was ruler of Kilis emirate; Lord of Serpents ***

Xatûna Fexra Khatuna Fekhra () is a holy Yazidi female figure who is venerated as the Xudan of women and children as well as patron of childbirth and pregnancy. Biography Xatûna Fexra was the daughter is the daughter of the prominent Yazidi holy figure, ...

, female saint, daughter of Fexredîn, wife of Şêx Hesenê Şemsa; patron of birth and pregnancy, and guardian of women and children *** Şêx Bedir, son of Fakhraddin *** Aqûb, adopted son of Fakhraddin ** Nasirdîn, 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, member of the Heptad,

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

and messenger of death, associated with the mouse as a totemic animal and hence also considered the protector of mice.

Other Sheikh figures

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

Lalish Lalish (, also known as Lalişa Nûranî) is a mountain valley and temple located in the Nineveh Plains, Iraq. It is the holiest temple of the Yazidis. It is the location of the tomb of the Sheikh Adi ibn Musafir, a central figure of the Yazidi ...

and

Ain Sifni Ain Sifni (, , ) also known as Shekhan (), is a town and subdistrict in Nineveh Governorate, Iraq. It is located in the Shekhan District in the Nineveh Plains. Ain Sifni is largely populated by Yazidis, most of whom speak Kurmanji Kurdish. In ...

. * Şêx Bako. Has a shrine at

Bahzani Bahzani (, ), 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 of Bahzani, together with its twin village Bashiqa, have ...

. 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. * Şêx Kiras ("Lord Shirt"), Lord of revelations about spirits. Yazidis also speak of death and reincarnation as "changing one's shirt" (Kirasguhartin'''). * Şahsiwar/Şêx Suwar ("Lord of Horsemen"; Xudan of war and horsemanship). Has a shrine in Beban village. * Şêx Mihemed. He had a wife named Sitt Hebîbe. Fought against "the great Sheikh" at

Bashiqa Bashiqa (; ; ) is a town situated at the heart of the Nineveh Plains, Nineveh plain, between Mosul and Shekhan District, Sheikhan, on the edges of Mount Alfaf, Mount Maqlub. The inhabitants of the town are predominantly Yazidis. The urban area of ...

. Buried near the monastery of Mar Gûrgîs in the

Mosul Mosul ( ; , , ; ; ; ) is a major city in northern Iraq, serving as the capital of Nineveh Governorate. It is the second largest city in Iraq overall after the capital Baghdad. Situated on the banks of Tigris, the city encloses the ruins of the ...

area. His servant was buried at

. * Şêx Entûş/Hentûş/Întûz, one of Sheikh Adi's first disciples ** Ebû ’l-Qasim, one of Sheikh Adi's early disciples. He was a son of Sheikh Hentûsh. * Şêx Şelal. Possibly identified with

Rumi Jalāl al-Dīn Muḥammad Rūmī (), or simply Rumi (30 September 1207 – 17 December 1273), was a 13th-century poet, Hanafi '' faqih'' (jurist), Maturidi theologian (''mutakallim''), and Sufi mystic born during the Khwarazmian Empire ...

. * Sitt Hebîbe,

Marta Hebîbta Marta may refer to: People * Marta (given name), a feminine given name * Märta, a feminine given name * Marta (surname) * Marta (footballer) (born 1986), Brazilian professional footballer Places * Marta (river), an Italian river that flow ...

("the Beloved Lady"), the wife of Şêx Mihemed. Has shrines near

and in

. * Sitî Hecicî/Xecîca, sister of Sitt Hebîbe and wife of Şêx Bedir * Şêx ‘Eqîl Munejî/Sheikh Uqail al-Manbiji, one of Sheikh Adi's first disciples. Associated wirth Me'rûf el-Kerkhî. His name might have been derived from ‘Uqayl al-Mambijî.

Pîrs

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

Tawûsî Melek Tawûsî Melek () is one of the central figures of the Yazidi religion. In Yazidi creation stories, before the creation of this world, God created seven Divine Beings, of whom Tawûsî Melek was appointed as the leader. God assigned all of th ...

, 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 (, ), is the capital and most populated city in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The city is the capital of the Erbil Governorate. Human settlement at Erbil may be dated back to the 5th millennium BC. At the h ...

. ** 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 (Mem Reshan), "the lion" and Lord of the Rains. ** Pîr Derbês * Pîrê Cerwan, Xudan of Scorpions. Subdivisions: ** Pîr Îsêbiya ("Pîr Îsa ibn Abî"), one of the followers of Sheikh Adi and his ''Xezîndar'' (treasurer). ** Pîr Hecî Mihemed ** Pîr Omerxala, 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 Hecî ‘Elî, Haciyal, Hacalî ** Pîr Bûb *** Bûbê Qelender. Likely identified with Pîr Bub. **Pîr Fadil **Pîr Sedîq **Pîr Mend (?) **Pîr Buwal (?) * Gavanê Zerzan (protector of cattle) * Mem Şivan ("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 Şeref, 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. * 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), Xudan of springs. Some Yazidis fast on one day in his honor. He has shrines and holy springs in his honour at the villages of Kerabeg, Kendale and Dêrebûn. * Bû Qetar Baba, representative of Sheikh Adi in the

Mardin Mardin (; ; romanized: ''Mārdīn''; ; ) is a city and seat of the Artuklu District of Mardin Province in Turkey. It is known for the Artuqids, Artuqid architecture of its old city, and for its strategic location on a rocky hill near the Tigris ...

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

Luqman Luqman, Lokman or Lukman (; also known as Luqman the Wise or Luqman al-Hakim) was a man after whom '' Luqman'', the 31st ''surah'' (chapter) of the Qur'an, was named. There are many stories about Luqman in Persian, Arabic and Turkish literatur ...

. 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

Holy figures of Abrahamic and Sufi background

In Yazidism, figures of

Abrahamic The term Abrahamic religions is used to group together monotheistic religions revering the Biblical figure Abraham, namely Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The religions share doctrinal, historical, and geographic overlap that contrasts them wit ...

Sufi Sufism ( or ) is a mysticism, mystic body of religious practice found within Islam which is characterized by a focus on Islamic Tazkiyah, purification, spirituality, ritualism, and Asceticism#Islam, asceticism. Practitioners of Sufism are r ...

origin include: * Shehîd ibn Jerr =

Seth Seth, in the Abrahamic religions, was the third son of Adam and Eve. The Hebrew Bible names two of his siblings (although it also states that he had others): his brothers Cain and Abel. According to , Seth was born after Abel's murder by Cain, ...

, the son of

Adam Adam is the name given in Genesis 1–5 to the first human. Adam is the first human-being aware of God, and features as such in various belief systems (including Judaism, Christianity, Gnosticism and Islam). According to Christianity, Adam ...

and the progenitor of the

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

. * Ibrahîm Khelil = Ibrahim (

Abraham Abraham (originally Abram) is the common Hebrews, Hebrew Patriarchs (Bible), patriarch of the Abrahamic religions, including Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. In Judaism, he is the founding father who began the Covenant (biblical), covenanta ...

) * Mûsa =

Moses In Abrahamic religions, Moses was the Hebrews, Hebrew prophet who led the Israelites out of slavery in the The Exodus, Exodus from ancient Egypt, Egypt. He is considered the most important Prophets in Judaism, prophet in Judaism and Samaritani ...

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

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

. *Ebdilqadirê Gîlanî ( Abd al-Qadir al-Gilani), a Sufi Sheikh who was a famous preacher and theologian. According to Yazidi tradition, he visited Şêx Adî to see the

karamat In Sufism, ''karamat'' (, singular ) refers to supernatural wonders performed by Muslim saints. In the technical vocabulary of Islamic religious sciences, the singular form ''karamat'' has a sense similar to ''charism'', a favor or spiritual g ...

, i.e wonders performed by him. Şêx Adî was one of the most respected dervishes and Ebdilqadir greatly appreciated and respected him. According to one version of Yazidi tradition, Şêx Adî and Ebdilqadirê Gîlanî first met at the site where the town of Shekhan is situated today, hence the name Shekhan which means "Two Sheikhs" in Arabic and takes its name from this encounter. * Weys el-Qeneyrî =

Owais al-Qarani Awais () or Owais is an Arabic given name. Meaning Awais means 'gifted' or 'bestowed' and was the name of one of Prophet Muhammad's companions Uways al-Qarani. Notable people Notable people with the name include: ; Given name * Awais Ali (born ...

. Has a shrine near

Ba'shîqe Bashiqa (; ; ) is a town situated at the heart of the Nineveh plain, between Mosul and Sheikhan, on the edges of Mount Maqlub. The inhabitants of the town are predominantly Yazidis. The urban area of Bashiqa and Bahzani had the third largest Y ...

. * Rabi‘e el-‘Edewiyye =

Rabia of Basra Rābia al-Adawiyya al-Qaysiyya (; 801 CE) or Rabia Basri was a Saints in Islam, poet, one of the earliest Sufi mystics and an influential religious figure from Iraq. She is regarded as one of the three preeminent Qalandar (title), Qalanda ...

* el-Hesen el-Beşrî =

Hasan al-Basri Abi Sa'id al-Hasan ibn Yasar al-Basri, often referred to as al-Hasan al-Basri, was an ancient Muslim preacher, ascetic, theologian, exegete, scholar, and judge. Born in Medina in 642,Mourad, Suleiman A., “al-Ḥasan al-Baṣrī”, in: ''Encyc ...

. Identified with Sheikh Hesen. * Bayezîd of Bisṭam =

Bayazid Bastami Bayazīd 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 Basṭāmī (), was a Sufi from north-central Iran.Walbridge, John. "Suhrawardi a ...

* Sheikh Menşûr el-Hellaj, Hisênê Hellaj =

Mansur al-Hallaj Mansour al-Hallaj () or Mansour Hallaj () ( 26 March 922) ( Hijri 309 AH) was a Persian HanbaliChristopher Melchert, "The Ḥanābila and the Early Sufis," ''Arabica'', T. 48, Fasc. 3 (2001), p. 352 mystic, poet, and teacher of Sufism. He ...

. Has a shrine at

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Yazidi holy figures Yazidi mythology Mythology-related lists

Yazidi holy figures This is a list of holy figures () in Yazidism. There are a total of 365 Yazidi holy figures venerated by Yazidis. Many Yazidi tribes and lineages are named after Yazidi holy figures and there are many List of Yazidi holy places, temples and shr ...