Yazdânism
Yazdânism or Cult of Angels (also Yazdâni or Yazdanism) is a modern term for the monotheistic, though universalist, religion that was practiced by most Kurds up to the Islamisation during the sixteenth century. Yazdânism involved a belief in incarnation as well as 7 angelic beings which defend the world from their equal and opposite number. In Kurdistan a fair estimate still claims Yazdanists being close to one third of the population. They are the Sabians of Harran described in Maimonides' Guide for the Perplexed and mentioned in Bahå'à writings and in the Qur'an as Sabeans. The name Yazdânism derives from the Persian language word Yazdân, or E-zad, meaning god .
History
Yazdânism may have once been known as Hâk or Haq, in reference to the primary deity or "universal spirit". Long interaction between Zoroastrianism and Yazdânism has left many similarities between the two religions.[1]
This religion is known as "RAE HAQ" (Way of Truth).
Today
Today Yazdânism is split into three branches:
- Alevism (northwestern Kurdistan, Turkey and the Syrian coast)
- Yarsani (southernmost part of Kurdistan, western Iran)
- Yazidi (central Kurdistan).
Mutual exchange and contacts between these branches are infrequent and members of the three groups are often not aware of their origins.
References
Mehrdad R. Izady, The Kurds A Concise Handbook, (1992) Taylor & Francis Group. ISBN 0-8448-1727-9 (also at Crane Russak. ISBN 0-8448-1729-5 )
See also
- Mandaeanism
- Manicheism
- Mazdakism
- Zoroastrianism
- Indo-Iranian religion
- Indo-European religion
External links
- Yazdanism, Encyclopaedia of the Orient
- Daniel Bart in Kurdistan (2003)
- Yazdânism: Cult of Angels
