CONTENTS

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

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   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

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