Mehemed Elî

General Information

Also Known As

Ziyareta Mehemed Elî, Mehemed Elî shrine

Type

Ziyareta

Nahiya (Subdistrict)

Reco

Village or Nearby Villages

Ĥec Xelîl

Religious Affiliation

Yezidi

The Mehemed Elî shrine (Kurdish: Ziyareta Mehemed Elî) is one of the shrines of Ĥec Xelîl. It lies between Ĥec Xelîl and Kûra. It is a different shrine from Mehmê Elî, the other Elî-named shrine of the village. The Ax û Welat visit to Ĥec Xelîl (Episode 747) presents the two separately, Ziyareta Mehmê Elî inside the village near the start of the episode and Mehemed Elî, between the two villages, later in it.

Dedicated Figure & Historical Roots

A local woman describes Mehemed Elî, Şêxmûs, and Bîlalê Hebeş as three brothers whose sacred places are nearby. Their sister's place, Kêlşîr, where women went when seeking breast milk, has its own page.3

Ritual Practices & Beliefs

People from different villages came on Wednesdays and Fridays, slaughtered sacrificial animals, and asked God for their wishes.1

The woman says that children were named after Mehemed Elî. She named her own son after him, allowed the child's hair to grow for seven years, then cut it and weighed it against money.2

For Mehemed Elî itself, she says that visitors came because of childlessness, sickness, paralysis, heavy burdens, and wishes. She says that no one dared take even a twig home from the shrine. According to her, a person who swore falsely by Mehemed Elî could become mad, blind, or disabled, and she says such cases had occurred, particularly in the past.4

The woman also connects the shrine with benefit and rain. At the grave, visitors touched and kissed it while directing their requests to God. The woman likewise states that their primary faith was in the Lord of the Worlds.5

Transcripts

Ĥec Xelîl (Ax û Welat - Episode 747):

  • 36:21 – The host mentions the holy shrine of Mehemed Elî.
  • 36:26 – The host describes Wednesday and Friday visitation, sacrifices, and wishes.
  • 37:35 – A local woman describes naming children after Mehemed Elî and her son's seven-year hair vow.
  • 38:08 – The woman describes Mehemed Elî, Şêxmûs, and Bîlalê Hebeş as brothers.
  • 38:59 – Having returned to Mehemed Elî, she lists the reasons people visited.
  • 39:16 – She describes the twig taboo and consequences of a false oath.
  • 40:37 – The host stands at the grave and describes visitors touching and kissing it.

Videography

Ĥec Xelîl (Ax û Welat - Episode 747): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D053Y3Xyce0

Bibliography

References

  1. Ax û Welat, Episode 747, "Ĥec Xelîl," published 2017, YouTube video, at 36:14-36:35, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D053Y3Xyce0. Quote: "Livir jî ziyaretek heye, di navbera du gundan da ye. Gundê Kûra, gundê Heçqelîl livir. Livir jî ziyaretek pîroz e, ziyareta navê xwe Mehemed Elî ye. Millet jî her hefteyêkê tê vira, ji her gundekî tê vira. Roja çarşem û înê. Livir jî millet tê livir, dewarên şerjê dike. Daxwazê wan çi ne, li ber Xwedê digerîn." English translation: "Here too there is a shrine; it is between two villages. The village of Kûra and the village of Ĥec Xelîl are here. Here too there is a holy shrine; its name is Mehemed Elî. People come here every week, from every village. On Wednesdays and Fridays, people come here and slaughter sacrificial animals. Whatever their wishes are, they ask God for them." ↩

  2. Ax û Welat, Episode 747, "Ĥec Xelîl," at 37:25-38:04. Quote: "Weleh çarşemê û înê. Hêj ta salê du car sê cara em têne vira. ... Em tên işte em nexweş dibin, qîçik tên nobin, qîçiko pê nof dikin. Ziyaret pir meqedes e. ... Kurê min ma pê nof kir. Û hev jî layî tî min e, ma pê nof kir, heft sala ma porê ginde berda. Û qut kir, û tayî pera kir ... Weleh navê hew Mehemed Elî ye. ... Û hev Mehemed Elî pir rind e. Û pir kîbar e." English translation: "By God, Wednesdays and Fridays. We still come here two or three times a year. ... We come when we are sick; children come, children are named after him. The shrine is very holy. ... I named my son after him. He is my dear son; I named him after him and let his hair grow for seven years. Then I cut it and weighed it against money ... By God, his name is Mehemed Elî. ... This Mehemed Elî is very good and very noble." ↩

  3. Ax û Welat, Episode 747, "Ĥec Xelîl," at 38:08-38:57. Quote: "Hew bir, sê birak in e. Hewa Mehemed Elî livir ketî. Û Şêx Mûs livir e. Û Bilîlê Hebeş serî çiya ye. Û xoka wî heye, Gilyaqîb. Gilyaqîb jî derê hana ye. Vêra dibên Kêlşîr. Jine (bi) şîrê xwe tîne da diçîm ber, bi şîr dibûn. ... Ew hamo li pozê zeytûna derê hana. Bin gundî û rî ye. Nêzîk e. Hewa tirba wa bû. ... Vêra dibên Kêlşîr. Ekîd enizim Gilyaqîb e, bes navê xwe Kêlşîr bû. Ê ekîd xoka Mehemed Elî ye." English translation: "He is a brother; they are three brothers. Mehemed Elî fell here. Şêx Mûs is here, and Bilîlê Hebeş is on top of the mountain. He has another place, Gilyaqîb; Gilyaqîb is over there. They call it Kêlşîr. Women brought their milk there and became supplied with milk. ... It is all at the olive peak over there, below the village and the road; it is near. That was their grave. ... They call it Kêlşîr. I do not know for certain if it is Gilyaqîb, but its name was Kêlşîr. This, for certain, is the ground of Mehemed Elî." ↩

  4. Ax û Welat, Episode 747, "Ĥec Xelîl," at 38:59-39:51. Quote: "İşte însan tê ce, bar, ma'nê qîçkê xwe nabin, ma'nê nexweşiyê, ê kwîd bûyî, ê qiloqê xwe giran bûyîn, ê ma'nê miroz o tên bar. ... Ziyaret... û kes newêre qişkî ginde ji vir bibe mal. ... Yek sond xwe bi ziyareta Mehemed Elî, û îşî xwe vir be, ya yêkê dîn bibe, ya yêkê kwîr bibe, ya yêkê seqet bibe ... Wa bûne bes berê vê pirî. ... Û milletî me hew vira... sûrê girtin bar. Û şilyo jî îşela dimeşe." English translation: "People come here for children they do not have, for sickness, for paralysis, for heavy burdens, and for wishes. ... The shrine... no one dares take even a twig from here home. ... If someone swears by the shrine of Mehemed Elî and his business is crooked, one may become mad, blind, or disabled ... Such things happened, especially in the past. ... Our people received benefit from him, and the rain too, God willing, comes." ↩

  5. Ax û Welat, Episode 747, "Ĥec Xelîl," at 40:37-41:18. Quote: "Ev gora Şehîd Mehemed Elî ye. ... Tên li vir mes'h dikin, maç dikin... Û daxwaziya wan çiye? Qeneetê pê dikin, li ber Xwedê şidegerin. ... Daxwaza me, tişta me qeneet... Serek Rebîûl Alem e. ... Ji Rebîûl Alem e de mûy. ... Hîşta qick tên dewa dikin. Yani Xwedê bi rê ve dibe..." English translation: "This is the grave of Martyr Mehemed Elî. ... They come here, wipe it, and kiss it... What are their requests? They have faith in it and seek from God. ... Our request, the thing in which we have faith, is first the Lord of the Worlds. ... It is from the Lord of the Worlds. ... Small children still come seeking remedy. God guides them." ↩