Yazdânism

Yazdânism is a contested umbrella term proposed for Kurdish religious traditions, especially Yazidism and Yarsanism, as survivals of a pre-Islamic religion. Scholars and communities dispute whether these traditions share a single historical religion.

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Yazidism: A distinct religious tradition whose communities are concentrated among Kurds and whose central figure is Tawûsî Melek. It is the best-known tradition commonly included under the proposed umbrella.
Pre-Islamic Arabia: The Arabian Peninsula’s societies and religions before the rise of Islam in the seventh century. The term’s proposed survival narrative invokes religious worlds predating Islam.
Kurdish languages: A group of Northwestern Iranian languages spoken by Kurdish communities. Language helps explain the Kurdish association without proving that the traditions share one religion.
Comparative religion: The scholarly study of similarities and differences among religious traditions. Comparative methods can test proposed links without assuming that resemblance proves common origin.
Yarsanism: A Kurdish religious tradition, also called Ahl-e Haqq, centered on sacred narratives, community rites, and divine manifestations. It is often paired with Yazidism in accounts that use the umbrella term.
Islamization: The historical spread and adoption of Islam by societies and individuals. The umbrella’s origin story depends on traditions retaining elements through regional Islamization.
Religious syncretism: The combination or interaction of beliefs and practices from different religious traditions. It is often invoked to describe traditions that the umbrella treats as retaining older elements.
Religious historiography: The study of how histories of religions are written, interpreted, and revised. Debates over this label concern how evidence is used to reconstruct religious pasts.
Ahl-e Haqq: A name meaning “People of Truth,” commonly used for the Yarsan religious tradition. This community name is often used instead of Yarsanism in discussions of the proposed grouping.
Kurdish people: An Iranic-speaking people native to a region spanning parts of Turkey, Iraq, Iran, and Syria. The proposed label associates its traditions with Kurdish communities and histories.