Chapter

Page

INTRODUCTION--THE ORIGIN OF THE MANUSCRIPT

11

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 ŠEIḪ ‘ADI

70

V. THE PRINCIPAL PRAYER OF THE YEZIDIS

73

VI. SEVEN CLASSES OF YEZIDIS

75

VII. THE ARTICLES OF FAITH

77

NOTES ON PART I

83

PART II. THE CRITICAL DISCUSSION 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

118

Notes on Part I

138

p. 8

II. THE ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS IN YEZIDISM

145

I. The Yezidi View of God

145

II. The Deity of the Second Degree

147

1. Melek Ṭâ’ûs

147

2. Šeiḫ ‘Adî

158

3. Yezîd

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

174

Notes on Chapter III.

177

IV. SACRAMENTS, RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCES AND SACERDOTAL SYSTEM

178

I. Sacraments

178

II. Some Other Religious Practices

180

III. The Sacerdotal Orders

182

Notes on Chapter IV.

185

V. THEIR CUSTOMS

186

I. Marriage

186

II. Funerals

192

III. Nationality

194

IV. Locality

195

V. Dwellings

197

VI. The Language

198

VII. Occupation

198

Notes on Chapter V.

200

VI. LIST OF THE YEZIDI TRIBES

201

The Tribes Across the River from Mosul

201

The Tribes at Sinjar and Jezireh

202

The Tribes of Midyat Region

203

VII. PERSECUTION

205

Notes on Chapter VII

210

BIOGRAPHY

213

INDEX

p. 219