How Close Is ‘Ali to God? On the Status of ‘Ali in the Yezidi Tradition

Abstract

While the deification of ‘Ali serves as a defining feature of extreme Shi‘ite currents, his role within Yezidism has not yet received focused scholarly attention. Given the notable parallels between Yezidism and the heterodox Shi‘ite milieu, this article seeks to explore and clarify the position of ʿAli within the Yezidi religious tradition. References to ‘Ali appear multiple times in Yezidi religious texts, and in certain hymns he assumes a central role. A close examination of these sources reveals that, in contrast to extremist Shi‘ism, Yezidism does not attribute divine status to ‘Ali. Nonetheless, some of his functional attributes and a unique role in certain contexts suggest that he once held a particular and possibly significant position within the Yezidi tradition.