Sultan Êzîd (or sometimes Êzî or Siltan Êzîd) is a divine figure in the Yazidi religion.[1] Although many scholars consider his name to be derived from that of the second Umayyad caliph Yazid I, Yazidis consider him to be a separate figure unconnected to the historical Yazid I.[2] Yazidis typically consider him to be part of a triad of divine emanations of God (which are, in order, Melek Tawus, Sheikh Adi, and Sultan Ezid),[3] though he is sometimes also considered to be identical with the angel Melek Tawus, and thus a manifestation or emanation of God.[4]

Sultan Ezid
Sultan Êzîd
Other namesSultan Êzî

The Yazidi people and religion are named after him.

Origin

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Most modern historians hold that the name Ezid derives from the name of Caliph Yazid I.[5] In Yazidi religious lore, there is no trace of any link between Sultan Ezid and the second Umayyad caliph.[6] A pro-Umayyad movement particularly sympathetic towards Yazid existed in the Kurdish mountains before the 12th century, when Shaykh Adi,[7] a Sufi of Umayyad descent venerated by Yazidis to this day,[8] settled there and attracted a following among the adherents of the movement. The name Yazidi seems to have been applied to the group because of his Umayyad origins.[7]

Shrines

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Yazidis also consider Melek Tawus's shrine at Lalish to be identical with that of Sultan Ezid's, since the two figures are often held to be identical.[4]

Holidays

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The Feast of Ezid commemorates him.[9][10][11]

References

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  1. ^ Kreyenbroek, Philip (2005). God and Sheikh Adi are perfect: sacred poems and religious narratives from the Yezidi tradition. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz. ISBN 978-3-447-05300-6. OCLC 63127403.
  2. ^ Asatrian & Arakelova 2016, p. 49.
  3. ^ Asatrian & Arakelova 2016, p. 45.
  4. ^ a b Kreyenbroek, Philip (1995). Yezidism: its background, observances, and textual tradition. Lewiston NY: E. Mellen Press. ISBN 0-7734-9004-3. OCLC 31377794.
  5. ^ Kreyenbroek 2002, p. 313.
  6. ^ Asatrian & Arakelova 2016, p. 386.
  7. ^ a b Kreyenbroek 2002, p. 314.
  8. ^ Langer 2010, p. 394.
  9. ^ Admin. "Fest zu Ehren des Siltan Ezid". SJA - DE (in German). Retrieved 2021-06-15.
  10. ^ Hayrî Demir. 2009. Eyda Ezid. (in German)
  11. ^ Maisel, Sebastian (2016-12-24). Yezidis in Syria: Identity Building among a Double Minority. Lexington Books. ISBN 978-0-7391-7775-4.

Sources

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