Yazidi Book of Revelation

The Yazidi Book of Revelation (Kitêba Cilwe in Kurdish) and the Yazidi Black Book ("Mishefa Reş" in Kurdish) are the two principal holy books of the Yazidi [ [Esposito, John L., ed. The Oxford encyclopedia of the modern Islamic world. New York: Oxford University Press, 1995] ] .

The original text of the Book of Revelation is kept in the Yazidi village of Ba'idnFact|date=July 2007, and the original text of the Yazidi Black Book is kept in the village of Qasr 'tzz at-DinFact|date=July 2007.

Yazidis

The Yazidis are a religious minority of the Kurds, in northern IraqFact|date=July 2007. The Yazidis have been oppressed and considered devil-worshippers by Muslims for centuriesFact|date=July 2007, which is a false assumption, since Yazidis do not believe in the existence of devil or satan as an independent entity. They believe that "good" and "evil" exist in the heart of every human being.

Yazidism believes in God as the Creator, but considers Malak Ta’us to be in charge of the affairs on the face of the Earth. The active forces in Yazidism are Malak Ta’us, Sheikh Adi (a saint), and other minor deities.

Chapters

The Holy Scripture of the Yazidi's "Book of Revelation" contains five chapters, arranged like the surahs of the Qur'an, in order of decreasing length. In all five chapters of this book, the words of God are given in the first person, in contrast to the Black Book, which records the acts of God in the third person.

Chapter One

Chapter One of the Book of Revelation discusses the Yazidi doctrine of the nature of God, who is made to declare that he is the author of what "outsiders call evils". The rest of the chapter deals with the exercise of divine power.

Chapter Two

Chapter Two describes the omnipotence of God.

Chapter Three

Chapter Three treats of the omnipotence of God, and begins with the statement that God guides without a scripture.

Chapter Four

Chapter Four contains a warning against outsiders, and enunciates a doctrine concerning the "corruption" of holy books very similar to that of the Muslims.

Chapter Five

Chapter Five is a short to the faithful.

Excerpts from Chapters

"Chapter I

I was, am now, and shall have no end. I exercise dominion over all creatures and over the affairs of all who are under the protection of my image. I am ever present to help all who trust in me and call upon me in time of need. There is no place in the universe that knows not my presence. I participate in all the affairs, which those who are without call evil because their nature is not such as they approve. Every age has its own manager, who directs affairs according to my decrees. This office is changeable from generation to generation, that the ruler of this world and his chiefs may discharge the duties of their respective offices everyone in his own turn. I allow everyone to follow the dictates of his own nature, but he that opposes me will regret it sorely.

No god has a right to interfere in my affairs, and I have made it an imperative rule that everyone shall refrain from worshipping all gods. All of the books of those who are without are altered by them; and they have declined from them, although they were written by the prophets and the apostles. That there are interpolations is seen in the fact that each sect endeavors to prove that the others are wrong and to destroy their books.

To me truth and falsehood are known. When temptation comes, I give my covenant to him that trusts in me. Moreover, I give council to the skilled directors, for I have appointed them for periods that are known to me. I remember necessary affairs and execute them in due time. I teach and guide those who follow my instruction. If anyone obey me and conform to my commandments, he shall have joy, delight, and comfort.

Chapter II

I requite the descendants of Adam, and reward them with various rewards that I alone know. Moreover, power and dominion over all that is on earth, both that which is above and that which is beneath, are in my hands. I do not allow friendly association with other people, nor do I deprive them that are my own and that obey me of anything that is good for them. I place my affairs in the hands of those whom I have tried and who are in accord with my desires. I appear in diverse manners to those who are faithful and under my command.

I give and take away; I enrich and impoverish; I cause both happiness and misery. I do all this in keeping with the characteristics of each epoch. And none has a right to interfere with my management of affairs. Those who oppose me I afflict with disease; but my own shall not die like the sons of Adam that are without. None shall live in this world longer than the time set by me; and if I so desire, I send a person a second or third time into this world or into some other by the transmigration of souls.

Chapter III

I lead to the straight path without a revealed book; I direct aright my beloved and chosen ones by unseen means. All my teachings are easily applicable to all times and all conditions. I punish in another world all who do contrary to my will.

Now the sons of Adam do not know the state of things that is to come. For this reason, they fall into many errors. The beasts of the earth, the birds of heaven and the fish of the sea are all under the control of my hands. All treasures and hidden things are known to me; and as I desire, I take them from one and bestow them upon another.

I reveal my wonders to those who seek them, and in due time my miracles to those who receive them from me. But those who are without are my adversaries, hence they oppose me. Nor do they know that such a course is against their own interests, for might, wealth and riches are in my hands, and I bestow them upon every worthy descendant of Adam. Thus the government of the worlds, the transition of generations, and the changes of their directors are determined by me from the beginning.

Chapter IV

I will not give my rights to other gods. I have allowed the creation of four substances, four times and four corners; because they are necessary things for creatures.

The books of Jews, Christians and Muslims, as of those who are without, accept in a sense, i.e., so far as they agree with and conform to my statutes. Whatsoever is contrary to these, they have altered; do not accept it. Three things are against me and I hate three things. But those who keep my secrets shall receive the fulfillment of my promises. Those who suffer for my sake I will surely reward in one of the worlds.

It is my desire that all my followers unite in a bond of unity, lest those who are without prevail against them. Now, then, all ye who have followed my commandments and my teachings, reject all the teachings and sayings of such as are without.

I have not taught these teachings, nor do they proceed from me. Do not mention my name nor my attributes, lest ye regret it; for ye do not know what those who are without may do.

Chapter V

O yea that have believed in me, honor my symbol and my image, for they remind you of me. Observe my laws and statutes. Obey my servants and listen to whatever they may dictate to you of the hidden things. Receive that, that is dictated, and do not carry it before those who are without, Jews, Christians, Muslims and others; for they know not the nature of my teaching. Do not give them your books, lest thy alter them without your knowledge. Learn by heart the greater part of them, lest they be altered.

Qu'ret al-Yezid Revelation of Melek Ta'us

Wherefore, it is true that my knowledge encompasses the Very truth of all that is, And my wisdom is not separate from my heart, And the manifestation of my descent is clear unto you, And when it is revealed to the children of Adam it will Be seen by all. And many will tremble thereby. All habitations and desert spaces are indeed of my own creation, set forth, All fully within my strength, not that of the false gods; Wherefore I am he that men come with their rightful worship, Not the false gods of their books, wrongly written; But they come to know me, a peacock of bronze and gold, Wings spread over Kaaba, temple, and church, not to be overshadowed. And in the secret cave of my wisdom it is known that there is no god but myself, Archangel over all the host, Melek Ta'us. Knowing this, who dares deny? Knowing this, who dares fail to worship? Knowing this, who dares worship the false gods of the Koran and bible? Know that who knows me will I cast into paradisiacal gardens of my pleasure! But the Yezid who knows me not will I cast into affliction. Say then, I am the only and exalted archangel; And I make prosperous whom I will, And I enliven whom I will. Say then, I alone am to be praised from the Towers of Lalish, And from the mountain of Ararat to the western sea. Say then, let the light of knowledge flash forth from the ziarahs, Flash forth from the river of Euphrates to the hiddeness of Shamballah. Let my Sanjak be carried from its safe place into the temple, And let all the clans of Yezid know of my manifestation, Even Sheikan, and Sinjar, and Haliteyeh, and Malliyeh, and Lepcho, And the Kotchar who wander among the heathen."

Additional text can be found in the book Al-Jiwah.

The principal Yazidi prayer

::"Amen, Amen, Amen!::Through the of Shams-ad-din,::Fakh ad-Din, Nasir-ad-Din::Sajad ad-Din, Sheikh Sin (Husein),::Sheikh Bakr, Kadir ar-Rahman.::Lord, thou art gracious, thou art merciful;::Thou art God, king of kings and lands,::King of joy and happiness,::King of good possession (eternal life).::From eternity thou art eternal. ::Thou art the seat of luck (happiness) and life;::Thou art lord of grace and good luck.::Thou art king of jinns and human beings,::King of the holy men (saints),::Lord of terror and praise,::The abode of religious duty and praise,::Worthy of praise and thanks.::Lord! Protector in journeys,::Sovereign of the moon and of the darkness,::God of the sun and of the fire.::God of the great throne,::Lord of goodness.::Lord. No one knows how thou art.::Thou hast no beauty; thou hast no height.::Thou hast no going forth; thou hast no number.::Lord Judge of kings and beggars,::Judge of society and of the world,::Thou hast revealed the repentance of Adam.::Lord, thou hast no house; thou hast no money;::Thou hast no wings; hast no feathers;::Thou hast no voice, thou hast no colour.::Thou hast made us lucky and satisfied.::Thou hast created Jesus and Mary.::Lord, thou art gracious,::Merciful. Faithful.::Thou art Lord; I am nothingness,::I am a fallen sinner,::A sinner by thee remembered.::Thou hast led us out of darkness into light.::Lord! My sin and my guilt,::Take them and remove them.::O God, O God, O God, Amen!

References

External links

* [http://www.sacred-texts.com/asia/sby/index.htm Devil Worship; The Sacred Books and Traditions of the Yezidiz by Isya Joseph (1919)] Primary source for information on this text