But still the sect lives on; and (what is stranger yet) it occasionally attracts proselytes! Why a Christian should turn Moslem, we can understand--at least he ensures worldly advancement. But what conceivable benefit can he look to acquire by turning Yezidi? Unless indeed he is tired of life, and has a conscientious objection to suicide.
One peculiar privilege, however, has recently been conceded to the Yezidis. They have gained that exemption from military service which Kurds and Christians earnestly desire. This was done not exactly in kindness to them, but more for the comfort of the army. For, about a dozen times a day, every Moslem is accustomed to "take refuge with Allah from Sheitan the stoned:" and a Yezidi who hears such blasphemy has a choice of just two alternatives; either he may kill the blasphemer, or he may commit suicide himself!
Mohammed in the Koran draws a very emphatic distinction between those unbelievers who are "men of a book," and those who are not; between the Christians and Jews, who follow a written revelation; and the idolaters, who follow tradition alone. The former may be admitted to tribute; but the latter are expressly condemned to extermination.
Now the Yezidis also are in fact "men of a book;" though this would not probably be considered much extenuation for "worshipping Sheitan." But for a very long period they guarded their book so jealously as actually to invite the pains and penalties of being supposed to have none. Two sacred books, however, they have; the _Kitab el Aswad_, or Black Book,[54] dating from about the tenth century; and the _Kitab el Jilwa_, or Book of Enlightenment, which dates from about the thirteenth; and from these we are able to gather some of the principal articles of their creed.
The Yezidis believe in a Supreme Being--Yazdan, "the Most High." But to Him they pay no worship. He is the Lord of Heaven, and takes no account of earth. From His name in all probability they derive their own appellation of Yezidis; though the Moslems (or at least the Shiites) declare that they inherit it from Yezid ibn Mo'awiya, the murderer of Hosein, and see in it an additional argument for persecuting them.[55]
From _Yazdan_ emanated seven Great Spirits, of whom _Melek Taüs_ was the first and most powerful. To him was committed the creation of the world; and the governance of it for 10,000 years, of which 4000 still remain to run. _Melek Taüs_ is an evil and a fallen spirit; but not fallen beyond redemption. He is a sort of celestial Absalom--vicious, tyrannical, rebellious; but secure of ultimate pardon and rehabilitation. "Shall there not at length come a time when the Chief of the Archangels shall be restored to his first pre-eminence? And will he not then be mindful of the poor Yezidis, who alone of all mankind never cursed him in his disgrace?"