Sheikh Shems

Sheikh Shems or Melek Shams ad-Din (Kurdish: Şêx Şems, Şêşims, Melek Şemsedîn^[1]) is a holy figure venerated in Yazidism, he is considered one of the Seven Divine Beings, to all of whom God assigned the World's affairs, and his earthly incarnation is considered one of the four sons of Ezdina Mir along with Nasirdîn, Fexredîn, and Sicadîn, who are the respective ancestors and patriarchs of the four Şemsanî Sheikh lineages.^[2]

Şêx Şems
Lord of sun, fire, light, sustenance
Member of the Heptad
Sheikh Shems shrine at Lalish
Venerated in	Yazidism
Symbols	Sun, fire, light,
Region	Kurdistan
Ethnic group	Kurds (Yazidis)
Festivals	Rojiyên Şêşims (Şêşims fasts), three-day fasting held in his honor during December, two weeks prior to Cejna Êzî.
Genealogy
Parents	Ezdina Mir (father)
Siblings	Fexredîn, Nasirdîn, Sejadin
Children	Şêx Alê Şemsa, Şêx Amadînê Şemsa, Şêx Avîndê Şemsa, Şêx Babadînê Şemsa, Şêx Bavikê Şemsa, Şêx ʿEvdalê Şemsa, Şêx Hesenê Şemsa, Şêxê Reş (Cinteyar), Şêx Tokilê Şemsa, Şêx Xidirê Şemsa, Sitya Îs (Ês), Sitiya Nisret, Sitiya Bilxan (Belqan)

Biography

Sêx Şems, also known as Şêşims,^[3] and Şemsedîn,^[4] is one of the members of the Heptad and one of the most fundamental theological symbols in Yazidism as the divinity of the Sun, source of light and life, the divine light of God. He is also linked with fire, which is his terrestrial counterpart and oaths, which are sworn by the doorway of his shrine. Annually, during the Feast of the Assembly, a ceremonial bull sacrifice is performed in front of his shrine in Lalish. Şêx Şems is the eponym of one of the four principal Şemsanî Sheikh lineages, was the patriarch of the Şemsanî family and brother of Fexredîn, Sicadîn and Nasirdîn.^[5][6][7][8]

Children

The nine sons of Sheikh Shems are:^[9][10]

• Şêx Alê Şemsa
• Şêx Amadînê Şemsa
• Şêx Avîndê Şemsa
• Şêx Babadînê Şemsa
• Şêx Bavikê Şemsa
• Şêx ʿEvdalê Şemsa
• Şêx Hesenê Şemsa
• Şêxê Reş (Cinteyar)
• Şêx Tokilê Şemsa
• Şêx Xidirê Şemsa

His daughters are:

• Sitiya Îs/Ês
• Sitiya Nisret
• Sitiya Bilxan (Belqan)

References

1. Omarkhali, Khanna (2017). The Yezidi religious textual tradition, from oral to written: categories, transmission, scripturalisation, and canonisation of the Yezidi oral religious texts. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz Verlag. ISBN 978-3-447-10856-0. OCLC 994778968.
2. Kreyenbroek, Philip (2005). God and Sheikh Adi are perfect: sacred poems and religious narratives from the Yezidi tradition. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz Verlag. ISBN 978-3-447-05300-6. OCLC 63127403.
3. "Übersicht zu den "Rojîs" - den ezidischen Feier-und Fastentagen". CELLEHEUTE.DE (in German). Retrieved 2021-10-23.
4. Kreyenbroek, Philip G.; Rashow, Khalil Jindy; Jindī, Khalīl (2005). God and Sheikh Adi are Perfect: Sacred Poems and Religious Narratives from the Yezidi Tradition. Otto Harrassowitz Verlag. ISBN 978-3-447-05300-6.
5. Fobbe, Sean; Navrouzov, Natia; Hopper, Kristen; Khudida Burjus, Ahmed; Philip, Graham; Nawaf, Maher G; Lawrence, Daniel; Walasek, Helen; Birjandian, Sara; Ali, Majid Hassan; Rashidani, Salim (2019-08-02). "Destroying the Soul of the Yazidis: Cultural Heritage Destruction during the Islamic State's Genocide against the Yazidis": 55–109. doi:10.5281/zenodo.3826126. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
6. "The Yazidi mausoleums in Bozan". Mesopotamia. Retrieved 2021-10-24.
7. Murad, Jasim Elias (1993). The Sacred Poems of the Yazidis: An Anthropological Approach. University of California, Los Angeles. pp. 313–326.
8. Kreyenbroek, Philip G. (1995). Yezidism--its Background, Observances, and Textual Tradition. E. Mellen Press. pp. 92–124, 127. ISBN 978-0-7734-9004-8.
9. Kreyenbroek, Philip (1995). Yezidism: its background, observances, and textual tradition. Lewiston NY: E. Mellen Press. ISBN 0-7734-9004-3. OCLC 31377794.
10. Diar Khalaf and Hayri Demir. 2013. Mythos und Legende der Shex Mend und das Symbol der Schlange (Myth and legend of the Şêx Mend and the symbol of the snake) (in German).