Yazidi Black Book

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The Yazidi Black Book (Kurdish: Mishefa Reş) is one of the two holy books of the Yazidi religion, the other being the Book of Revelation (Kitêba Cilwe).

Yezidis believe the Black Book originated when the Lord descended Black Mountain. The Yazidi holy books are written in Kurmanji dialect of Kurdish language. The Black Book is not divided into chapters and is longer than the Book of Revelation. The first half of it gives an account of the Creation, beginning with the creation of a white pearl and Melek Taus, the Peacock Angel. There follows an account of the Fall (in which the forbidden comestible is wheat), and the creation of Eve after Adam has been driven from Paradise.

This is followed by an obscure statement of the names of certain ancient kings who are claimed to have belonged to the Yazidi community. Next comes a statement of certain food taboos of the Yazidis, certain prohibitions connected with personal hygiene and finally certain verbal taboos.

The discussion then reverts to the subject of ancient kings alleged to have been Yazidis, and the Book concludes with another account of the Creation, which diverges quite considerably from the first.