The Yezidis and their Books, and traditions
Isya Joseph,
Devil Worship
Compte d’auteur
Ce livre m’a été offert par Monsieur Dimitri Petros Elloff, le 28 Dec.1958 C'est le fils du fameux Agha Petros General des Assyriens puens durrat la premiere guerre mondiale, qui s'est instaler en France. Arrivé en aout 1921 il se fixe, avec une soixantrine de familles assyrienres, dans le domai ne de Novital a St. Jory (Haute-Garone) en sentembre 1923. Il mourut en fevrier 1932.
Il semble que les ratures et corrections faites dans le live soient de la main même d’Agha, Petros oui avait l’intention d'ecrire un ouvraye sur les Yezidis pour lequel il avait recueilli beaucouo de documents.
Contents
Introduction—The Origin of The Manuscript / II
Notes on The Introduction / 22
Part I. the Translation of the
Arabic Text
Preface, In the Name of The Most Compassionate God / 29
I. Al-Jilwah—The Revelation / 30
II. Mashaf Res—The Black Book / 36
III. Appendix to Part I / 53
IV. The Poem In Praise of Seih ‘Adi /
V. The Principal Prayer of The Yezidis / 73
VI. Seven Classes of Yezidis / 75
VII. The Articles of Faith / 77
Notes on Part I
Part II. The Critical Discussio1s 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 / 18
Notes on Rart I / 38
II The Essential Elements In Yezidism / 145
I. The Yezidi View of God / 145
II. The Deity of the Second Degree / 147
1. Melek Ta’us / 147
2. geih ‘Adi / 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
Notes on Chapter III
IV. Sacraments, Religious Observances? Nri Sacerdotal System
I. Sacraments
II. Some Other Religious Practices
III. The Sacerdotal Orders
Notes on Chapter IV
V. Their Customs
I. Marriage
II. Funerals
III. Nationality
IV. Locality
V. Dwellings
VI. The Language
VII. Occupation
Notes on Chapter V
VI. List of the Yezidi Tribes ....
The Tribes Across the River from Mosul
The Tribes at Sin jar and Jezireh
The Tribes of Midyat Region
VII. Persecution ........
Notes on Chapter VII
Bibliography
Index / 219
INTRODUCTION
The Origin of the Manuscript
1 The Arabic manuscript here translated was presented to me before I left Mosul by my friend Dindas a memento ofz our fciendship was a my sympathy with western thought, and an intimate acquaintance of je vice-consul of the French Republic in …
…..
The manuscript comprises a brief Introduction, the Sacred Books, and an Appendix. In the first, the compiler indicates the sources of his information and gives a sketch of the life of the chief saint of the yezidis…
The SacrecIlBooks comprise Kitab al- Jilwah (Book of Revelation), and ilqs/of Resh (Black Book)—so named because in it mention! is /nade of the descent of the Lord upon the Black Mountain (p. 32). Al Jilwahf'is, ascribed to S^ih-AAd* himself, and would accordingly date from the twelfth century A. D. It is divided into a brief introduction and five short chapters. In each, ‘Adi is represented as the speaker. In the Preface the s4ih says that he existed with Melek Ta-us before the creation of the world, and that he was sent by his god Ta-us to instruct the Yezidi sect in truth. In the first chapter he asserts his omnipresence and omnipotence; in the second he claims to have power to reward those who obey him and to punish those who disobey him; in the third he declares that he possesses the treasures of the earth; in the fourth he warns his followers of the doctrines of those that are without; and in the fifth he bids them keep his commandments and obey his servants, who will communicate to them his teachings. The Black Book,9 which perhaps dates from the thirteenth century, is larger than the Book of Revelation, but is not divided into chapters. It begins with the narrative of creation: God finishes his work in seven days—Sunday to Saturday. In each day he creates an angel or king (melek). Melek Ta2Ts, who is created on Sunday, is made chief of all. After that Fahrad Din creates the planets, man, and animals. Then follows a story about Adam and Eve, their temptation and quarrel; the coming of the chief angels to the world to establish the Yezidi kingdom; the flood; the miraculous birth of Yezftl tjji Mu'awiya; and certain ordinances in regard to food, the New Year, and marriages.
The Appendix contains the following:
1. A collection of materials concerning the Yezidi belief and practice.
2. A poem in praise of sheikh Adi (on Christian church)
3. The principal prayer of the Yezidis, in the Kurdish language.
4. A description of the Yezidi sacerdotal system.
5. A petition to the Ottoman government to exempt the sect from military service, presented in the year 1872 A. D.
An analysis of the texts shows that the material is taken from different sources: part of it is clearly derived from the religious books of the sect; another part from a description of the beliefs and customs of the sect given by a member of it to an outsider; a third, partly from observations by an outsider, partly from stories about Yezidis current among their Christian neighbors. Unfortunately the compiler does not specify whence each particular part of his information is obtained. On closer examination it is evident that part, at least, of the Arabic in hand is a translation from Syriac.
The Yezidis, frequently called “Devil-Worshippers,” are a small and obscure religious sect, numbering about 200,000? They are scattered … from the neighborhood of Aleppo in northern Syria to the Caucasus in southern Russia. The mass of …
Isya Joseph
Devil Worship
The Yezidis and their Books, and traditions
Compte d’auteur
Compte d’auteur
The Yezidis and their Books,
and traditions
Isya Joseph
Devil Worshi
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