Şêx Qesab

General Information

Also Known As

Şêx Qesab shrine, Ziyareta Şêx Qesab, Sheikh Qassab, الشيخ قصاب, Nebî Qesab, Nebî Qesab shrine, Ziyareta Nebî Qesab, Gulî Sor, Gulî Sor shrine, Ziyareta Gulî Sor

Type

Ziyareta

Nahiya (Subdistrict)

Nubl

Village or Nearby Villages

Bircilqazê

Religious Affiliation

Yezidi, Muslim

Şêx Qesab, also named Nebî Qesab and Gulî Sor, is a cave shrine south of Bircilqazê. In the Ax û Welat visit to Bircilqazê (Episode 954), the narrator calls the cave Şêx Qesab, while the young woman interviewed at the same cave names the shrine Nebî Qesab and Gulî Sor.1

Physical & Landscape Features

The shrine is inside a cave south of the village. The cave is said to house snakes, and the shrine stands inside it.2

Dedicated Figure & Historical Roots

The people of the village and the surrounding villages place their faith in the shrine. The woman interviewed at the cave identifies it as Yezidi.3

Ritual Practices & Beliefs

Yezidis visit on Wednesdays, while Muslims visit on Thursdays and Fridays. On Thursday evenings people light candles and ask for their wishes. Visitors light candles in the cave, slaughter chickens as sacrifice, pray, ask for wishes, and prepare dinner for distribution to the poor.4

The young woman interviewed at the cave tells a childlessness story about her brother, who was married for ten or twelve years without children. He went to doctors, shrines, and doorsteps, and even to Lebanon, and after visits that included this shrine, he had a son. People from the surrounding villages and from the city also come to the shrine.5

Transcripts

Bircilqazê (Ax û Welat - Episode 954):

  • 33:07 – The narrator describes the Şêx Qesab cave shrine south of the village and the Thursday-evening candle-lighting.
  • 33:38 – The host visits the cave shrine south of the village.
  • 34:02 – Interview with a young woman at the shrine detailing the visitation days.
  • 34:17 – The woman describes the chicken sacrifice, candle lighting, wishes, food for the poor, and the childlessness story.
  • 35:20 – The woman names the shrine Nebî Qesab/Gulî Sor and calls it Yezidi.

Videography

Bircilqazê (Ax û Welat - Episode 954): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1E3jCYi3i_0

Bibliography

References

  1. Ax û Welat, Episode 954, "Bircilqazê," published 2017, YouTube video, at 33:07 and 35:20, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1E3jCYi3i_0. Quotes: "Ziyaretgehek bi navê Şêx Qesab"; "Nebî Qesab. Gulî Sor." English translation: "A shrine named Şêx Qesab"; "Nebî Qesab. Gulî Sor." ↩

  2. Ax û Welat, Episode 954, "Bircilqazê," at 33:07–33:44. Quotes: "di başûrê gund heye"; "Ew mîna şikeftekê ye"; "Di şikeftê da ziyatet heye." English translation: "It is south of the village"; "It is like a cave"; "Inside the cave there is a shrine." The English transcript adds that the cave "houses snakes." ↩

  3. Ax û Welat, Episode 954, "Bircilqazê." Quote (English transcript): "The people of this village, the people surrounding this village, all place their faith in this shrine, and they pass through here." Quote: "Ew jî Êzidî ye, erê." English translation: "That is also Yezidi, yes." ↩

  4. Ax û Welat, Episode 954, "Bircilqazê," at 33:15–34:30. Quotes: "gel mûman vêdixin û daxwaza mirad û hêviyên xwe dikin"; "Rojê çarşem û pêncşemê"; "Em mirîşkê serjê dikin." English translation: "People light candles and ask for their wishes and hopes"; "On Wednesdays and Thursdays"; "We slaughter chickens." The English transcript adds: "Wednesday is the belief of our Yezidi people, and Thursday and Friday are for the Muslims"; "We slaughter the chicken as a sacrifice for the Lady (Saint), and we make dinner and distribute it to the poor"; "We entered the shrine, we came and lit candles. We slaughtered our sacrifice, we prayed, we saw it again, we asked for wishes." ↩

  5. Ax û Welat, Episode 954, "Bircilqazê," at 34:17–35:25. Quote: "Birakê min ... zarokê wî çênebûn." English translation: "My brother ... had no children." The English transcript adds: "My brother was married, for ten, twelve years he didn't have children. No matter how much he went to doctors, and to shrines, and doorsteps... he didn't have kids. He went to Lebanon. Praise God, meaning it was resolved, and today he has a son"; "Did he also come to this shrine?" "He also came"; "Yes, the surroundings come, they come from the city." ↩