Musa Sor: The Yazidi Lord of Air and Wind
- Sherko Sabir
- 15 hours ago
- 13 min read
Introduction
Musa Sor is a holy figure of the Yazidi faith, venerated as the Xudan, the Lord, of Air and Wind: the guardian to whom the moving air and the winds are entrusted, invoked at the winnowing of the grain and honoured as a patron of healing and a guardian of the breath of life.
In the Yazidi tradition, the holy figures known as Xudans are guardians to whom particular spheres of life and nature are entrusted, and Musa Sor, also called Sheikh Mus, is the Xudan of the air and the wind. He is invoked when the people winnow the grain, that the winds may help them, and he is venerated as a patron of healing; an honoured lineage of Yazidi Sheikhs is named after him.
To know Musa Sor is to encounter the Yazidi reverence for the natural world and its guardians, the holy Lord of Air and Wind, the guardian of the moving air, the winnowing breeze, and the breath of life, one of the cherished Xudans of the natural world in the Yazidi faith.
Contents
Who Is Musa Sor?
Musa Sor, whose name means Red Moses and who is also called Sheikh Mus, is a holy figure venerated in the Yazidi faith as the Xudan, the Lord and guardian, of Air and Wind. In the Yazidi tradition, a Xudan is a holy guardian or protector to whom a particular sphere of life or nature is entrusted, and Musa Sor is the guardian of the air and the moving wind, the holy Lord of the breezes and the breath of the world. He is invoked by the people at the winnowing of the grain, that the winds may come to help them separate the grain from the chaff, and he is venerated as a patron of healing, especially of ailments of the chest, the lungs, and the joints, those bound up with the breath and the air. An honoured sublineage of the Yazidi Sheikhs is named after him, and he had a companion remembered in the tradition. As the Lord of Air and Wind, the guardian of the moving air and the breath of life, Musa Sor holds an honoured place among the Xudans of the natural world in the Yazidi faith, alongside the other holy guardians to whom the elements and forces of nature are entrusted.
His Name and Title
Musa Sor is known by a name meaning Red Moses, joining the name Musa, or Moses, with a word meaning red; he is also called simply Sheikh Mus. His honoured title is the Lord, or Xudan, of Air and Wind, marking the sphere of nature entrusted to his guardianship.
The name Musa Sor, Red Moses, is a distinctive one; the reason for the epithet red is not certainly known, but such colourful epithets are common among the holy figures of the tradition, marking and distinguishing them. He is also called more simply Sheikh Mus, an affectionate and familiar form. His defining designation, however, is his title as the Xudan, the Lord and guardian, of Air and Wind, which marks the sphere of nature entrusted to him: the moving air, the breezes and the winds, the breath of the world. This title places him among the Xudans of the natural elements, the holy guardians to whom the forces and elements of nature, the fire, the water, the air, are entrusted in the Yazidi vision. The name and title thus mark him as a holy guardian of the air and the wind, the Lord of the moving breezes and the breath of the world. To know his name and title is to know his essential character, the holy Lord of Air and Wind, the guardian of the moving air in the Yazidi faith.
Key Takeaways
Musa Sor is a holy figure of the Yazidi faith, also called Sheikh Mus.
His name means Red Moses; his title is the Lord of Air and Wind.
He is the Xudan, the guardian, of the air and the moving wind.
He is invoked at the winnowing of the grain, that the winds may help.
He is venerated as a patron of healing, especially of chest and joints.
An honoured lineage of Yazidi Sheikhs is named after him.
Quick Facts
Name: Musa Sor (Red Moses); also Sheikh Mus
Venerated in: Yazidism
Title: Xudan (Lord) of Air and Wind
Guardian of: The air, the moving wind, and the breath of life
Invoked at: The winnowing of the grain
Patron of: Healing, especially of the lungs, chest, and joints
Companion: A companion remembered in the tradition
Lineage: An honoured Adani Sheikh sublineage is named after him
Among: The Xudans of the natural elements
Heritage: A cherished holy figure of the Yazidi faith
The Lord of Air and Wind
Musa Sor's central role is as the Xudan, the holy Lord and guardian, of the air and the wind, the guardian of the moving breezes and the breath of the world.
In the Yazidi faith, the holy figures known as Xudans are guardians to whom particular spheres of life and nature are entrusted, and among them are the guardians of the natural elements, the fire, the water, the air. Musa Sor is the Xudan of the air and the wind, the holy guardian of the moving air, the breezes and the winds that blow through the world, the breath of the world and of all living things. The air and the wind are vital and beneficent forces, bringing the breath of life, the cooling and refreshing breeze, the winds that serve the people in their work, and Musa Sor is the holy guardian who watches over and governs these, the Lord of the moving air. As the guardian of the air and the wind, he holds an honoured place among the Xudans of the natural world, the holy guardians of the elements and forces of nature in the Yazidi vision. This role as the Lord of Air and Wind is the defining aspect of Musa Sor, the holy guardian of the moving air, the breezes, and the breath of the world. It is as the Xudan of Air and Wind, the guardian of the moving air and the breath of life, that Musa Sor is honoured among the holy figures of the Yazidi faith.
The Winnowing Winds
A vivid aspect of Musa Sor is that he is invoked at the winnowing of the grain, that the winds may come to help the people separate the grain from the chaff, a beautiful image of the holy guardian aiding the work of the community.
One of the most vivid and beautiful aspects of the veneration of Musa Sor is his invocation at the winnowing of the grain. In the traditional way of life, after the grain is threshed, it must be winnowed, tossed into the air so that the wind carries away the light chaff and the heavier grain falls back to be gathered; for this, a good wind is needed, and so the people invoke Musa Sor, the Lord of Air and Wind, that he may send the winds to help them in their work. This invocation is a beautiful image of the bond between the holy guardian and the daily life and labour of the community, the Lord of the winds called upon to send the breezes that serve the people at the harvest. It reflects the deep connection in the Yazidi tradition between the holy guardians and the practical life of the community, the natural forces governed by the Xudans being invoked to aid the people in their work and need. This role at the winnowing is a cherished and vivid aspect of Musa Sor, the Lord of the winds who sends the breezes to help the people separate the grain from the chaff. It is in such moments, the invoking of the Lord of Air and Wind at the winnowing, that the living bond between the holy guardian and the community is beautifully expressed.
Patron of Healing
Musa Sor is venerated as a patron of healing, especially of ailments of the chest, the lungs, and the joints, those bound up with the breath and the air over which he is the guardian.
Bound up with his guardianship of the air and the breath, Musa Sor is venerated as a patron of healing, to whom the people turn for relief from certain ailments. He is especially associated with the healing of ailments of the chest and the lungs, those of the breath and the breathing, and of the joints and the limbs, the rheumatic ailments; this association is fitting, for these are ailments bound up with the air, the breath, and the cold winds over which Musa Sor is the guardian. To him the people turn for relief and healing from such ailments, trusting in the care of the Lord of Air and Wind. This patronage of healing reflects the wider Yazidi understanding of the holy guardians as sources of help, protection, and healing in the troubles of life, the Xudans to whom the people turn in their need. The healing associated with Musa Sor, of the ailments of the breath and the joints, flows naturally from his guardianship of the air and the breath of life. This role as a patron of healing is an important aspect of Musa Sor, the Lord of Air and Wind to whom the people turn for relief from the ailments of the breath and the limbs. It is as a healer and helper, as well as the guardian of the air, that Musa Sor is honoured and turned to in the Yazidi community.
A Xudan of the Natural World
Musa Sor belongs to the company of the Xudans of the natural world, the holy guardians to whom the elements and forces of nature are entrusted in the Yazidi vision, alongside such great figures as Sheikh Shems the holy being of the Sun.
In the Yazidi faith, the one God has entrusted the affairs of the world to the holy guardians, and among these are the Xudans of the natural elements and forces, the holy guardians of the fire, the water, the air, the sun, and the other features of the natural world. Musa Sor, as the Lord of Air and Wind, belongs to this company of the guardians of nature, alongside such great figures as Sheikh Shems, the holy being of the Sun, fire, and light, and Sheikh Mend, the guardian associated with the sacred serpent. Together, these guardians watch over and govern the natural world and its forces, the holy powers through whom the one God's care for the creation is expressed. Musa Sor, the Lord of the air and the wind, holds his place among them as the guardian of the moving air and the breath of the world. This place among the Xudans of the natural world is an important aspect of Musa Sor, marking him as one of the holy guardians of the elements and forces of nature in the Yazidi vision. It is as a guardian of the natural world, the Lord of Air and Wind among the holy guardians of the elements, that Musa Sor holds his honoured place in the Yazidi faith.
Meaning and Significance
Musa Sor embodies, above all, the Yazidi reverence for the natural world and its holy guardians, the Lord of Air and Wind who watches over the moving air, the winnowing breeze, and the breath of life. As the Xudan of the air, he represents the holy guardianship of one of the vital elements of the world.
Musa Sor embodies, too, the living bond between the holy guardians and the daily life and labour of the community, in his invocation at the winnowing and his patronage of healing, and the Yazidi understanding of the natural forces as governed by holy guardians through whom the care of the one God is expressed. In this, he represents the close and living relationship between the Yazidi community and the holy guardians of their world. In all this, Musa Sor is among the cherished Xudans of the natural world in the Yazidi faith, embodying the guardianship of the air and the wind, the aiding of the people's labour, and the healing of the ailments of the breath. He is the Lord of Air and Wind, one of the holy guardians of nature, honoured alongside the great holy beings of the Heft Sirr, the Seven Holy Beings led by Tawuse Melek. The reverence for the natural world and its guardians that he embodies is among the beautiful features of the Yazidi faith.
Musa Sor and the Kurds
Musa Sor is a holy figure of the Yazidi faith, one of the ancient indigenous religious traditions of the Kurdish people, and he is part of the rich religious and cultural heritage of the Kurds, especially of the Yazidi Kurdish community.
The Yazidi faith is one of the ancient indigenous religious traditions of the Kurdish people, and its holy figures, including Musa Sor, the Lord of Air and Wind, are part of the rich and distinctive religious heritage of the Kurds, especially of the Yazidi Kurdish community for whom they are living objects of devotion. The reverence for the natural world and its guardians that Musa Sor embodies, and the close bond between the holy guardians and the daily life and labour of the community, reflect a deep and beautiful relationship between a people and the land and elements of their world. For the Yazidi Kurds, Musa Sor is a living holy guardian, invoked at the winnowing and turned to for healing, a cherished part of the devotional life of the community. In presenting Musa Sor, we honour a holy figure of the Yazidi faith, part of the distinctive religious heritage of the Kurdish people, the Lord of Air and Wind whose guardianship of the moving air and the breath of life, and whose aiding of the people's labour and healing of their ailments, are among the beautiful features of the tradition, and whose veneration continues as a living devotion in the Yazidi community to this day.
Debates and Misconceptions
Is the veneration of Musa Sor as the Lord of Air and Wind a kind of polytheism or nature-worship? No. This is an important point, for the Yazidi faith has long been gravely misunderstood. Yazidism is a monotheistic faith, centred on belief in one God, the creator of all things. The Xudans, the holy guardians of the natural elements such as Musa Sor, are not rival gods or worshipped in place of the one God; they are holy guardians to whom the one God has entrusted the care of the world and its elements, through whom his care for the creation is expressed, honoured and venerated within a faith centred on the one God. The veneration of Musa Sor as the guardian of the air is honour given to a holy guardian of the one God, not the worship of the wind as a god. It is important to understand the Yazidi faith accurately as the monotheistic tradition it is, setting aside the misrepresentations long directed at it, including those wrongly directed at the great Tawuse Melek.
Why is Musa Sor connected with both the wind and with healing? The connection is a natural one within the logic of the tradition. Musa Sor is the guardian of the air and the wind, the moving air and the breath; and the ailments he is especially associated with healing, those of the chest, the lungs, and the joints, are precisely those bound up with the breath, the air, and the cold winds. His guardianship of the air and his patronage of the healing of the ailments of the breath thus flow naturally together, the Lord of the air who is also the healer of the ailments of the breath and the limbs.
Is Musa Sor a historical or a purely legendary figure? In the Yazidi tradition, Musa Sor is honoured as a holy figure of the past, after whom an honoured lineage of Yazidi Sheikhs is named, as well as a holy guardian venerated in sacred tradition. As with many revered holy figures, history and sacred tradition are woven together in his story. The honest position is to honour both: the remembered holy figure and ancestor of a Sheikh lineage, and the beloved Lord of Air and Wind of sacred devotion.
Related Topics
Sheikh Shems: the holy being of the Sun, fire, and light
Sheikh Mend: the guardian associated with the sacred serpent
The Heft Sirr: the Seven Holy Beings of the Yazidi faith
Tawuse Melek: the Peacock Angel, leader of the Holy Beings
Sheikh Adi: the great reformer of the Yazidi faith at Lalish
Sheikh Hasan: the Master of the Pen, a Heptad member
Sheikh Fakhradin: the author of the sacred hymns
Ezdina Mir: the ancestor of the Shemsani Sheikhs
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Musa Sor in the Yazidi faith?
Musa Sor, whose name means Red Moses and who is also called Sheikh Mus, is a holy figure venerated in the Yazidi faith as the Xudan, the Lord and guardian, of Air and Wind. He is the holy guardian of the moving air and the breezes, invoked at the winnowing of the grain so the winds may help the people, and venerated as a patron of healing, especially of ailments of the chest, lungs, and joints. An honoured lineage of Yazidi Sheikhs is named after him.
What does the name Musa Sor mean?
The name Musa Sor means Red Moses, joining the name Musa, or Moses, with a word meaning red. The reason for the epithet red is not certainly known, but such colourful epithets are common among the holy figures of the tradition. He is also called more simply Sheikh Mus. His defining title is the Xudan, the Lord and guardian, of Air and Wind, marking the sphere of nature entrusted to him.
Why is Musa Sor invoked at the winnowing?
After the grain is threshed, it must be winnowed, tossed into the air so the wind carries away the light chaff while the heavier grain falls back to be gathered; for this a good wind is needed. So the people invoke Musa Sor, the Lord of Air and Wind, that he may send the winds to help them. It is a beautiful image of the bond between the holy guardian and the daily labour of the community, the Lord of the winds aiding the people at the harvest.
Why is Musa Sor a patron of healing?
Musa Sor is especially associated with the healing of ailments of the chest and lungs, those of the breath, and of the joints and limbs, the rheumatic ailments. This is fitting, for these are ailments bound up with the air, the breath, and the cold winds over which Musa Sor is the guardian. His guardianship of the air and his patronage of the healing of the ailments of the breath flow naturally together, and the people turn to him for relief.
Is the veneration of Musa Sor nature-worship?
No. Yazidism is a monotheistic faith centred on belief in one God. The Xudans, the holy guardians of the natural elements such as Musa Sor, are not rival gods or worshipped in place of the one God; they are holy guardians to whom the one God has entrusted the care of the world, through whom his care for the creation is expressed. The veneration of Musa Sor is honour given to a holy guardian of the one God, not the worship of the wind as a god.
How is Musa Sor related to the Kurds?
Musa Sor is a holy figure of the Yazidi faith, one of the ancient indigenous religious traditions of the Kurdish people, and he is part of the rich religious heritage of the Kurds, especially of the Yazidi Kurdish community for whom he is a living object of devotion. The reverence for the natural world and its guardians that he embodies, and the bond between the holy guardians and the daily life of the community, reflect a deep relationship between a people and the elements of their world.
References and Further Reading
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