Yazidism: Do they really worship the devil?

The first time I heard about this sect was in early 90s from the Iraqis. I was told that The Butcher of Baghdad, Saddam Hussein (the dictator) had ancestors from the Yazidi sect.

Briefly:

The Yazidi believe in God as creator of the world, which he placed under the care of seven holy beings or angels, the chief of whom is Melek Taus, the Peacock Angel.

According to the Encyclopedia of the Orient: 

The reason for the Yazidis reputation of being devil worshipers is connected to the other name of Melek Taus, Shaytan, the same name the Koran has for Satan

Furthermore, the Yazidi story regarding Tawûsê Melek's rise to favor with God is almost identical to the story of the jinn Iblis in Islam, except that Yazidis revere Tawûsê Melek for refusing to submit to Adam, while Muslims believe that Iblis' refusal to submit caused him to fall out of Grace with God, and to later become Satan himself

The  cast system in the Yazidi sect

The Yazidi faith has a three-tiered caste system: Al-Thira, Al-Shuyukh and Al-Maridiyya. They are forbidden from marrying across castes. Yazidism does not proselytize. However, it has been in contact with many faiths across the years, and has undoubtedly been affected by (and has affected) them. In fact, it shares very similar beliefs with some of them while differing in others: Yazidis believe in reincarnation, and many of their religious festivals have pagan rites.

Sourced: http://www.niqash.org/content.php?contentTypeID=74&id=1874&lang=0

 

Yazidi temples in Northern Iraq

Prayers:

Prayers in Yazidism must be performed some distance from non-Yazidis, twice a day, and in the direction of the sun. Prayer is dedicated to Malak Ta'us. Saturday is the day of rest, but it is Wednesday that is the holy day. In December, a 3 day fast is performed.

Researchers believe that the Yazidi creed has elements from Zoroastrianism, Manicheism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. http://i-cias.com/e.o/yazidism.htm 

I am told they don’t follow Yazid(LA), the killer of Hussein(as). Rather they worship the devil (shaytan) – the fallen angel.

Do you guys know that Yazidi believe we (they and us) don’t follow the same ancestors Adam or Eve.

The Yazidis believe that they are the descendants of Adam only, while the rest of the world are descendants of Eve, hence inferior. It is impossible to convert to Yazidism; you must be born one. The strongest punishment among Yazidis is expulsion, which means that your soul is lost forever.

Also, they don’t believe in hell

There appears to be the concept of a paradise, but there is no hell, thanks to Malak Ta'us. Rather it seems that souls that do not go to paradise are lost or extinguished.

Questions:

1. Could their faith/belief predate Islam?

2. Do they believe in Allah swt or the Holy Prophet?

ShiaChat discussions

Topic #1

Topic #2