Sheikh Shems: The Sun Angel of Yazidism
- Dala Sarkis
- 1 day ago
- 6 min read
Introduction
Sex Sems, also written Seşims and known formally as Melek Semsedin ('the sun of the faith'), is the Yazidi angel of the sun. One of the seven Holy Beings at the centre of the faith, he embodies sunlight, the divine light of God, and the life-giving warmth that sustains the world.
For Yazidis the sun is not merely a star but a sign and channel of the divine, and it is Sex Sems who stands behind it. Yazidis pray toward the sun, swear their most solemn oaths by him, and honour him with a fast each winter. He is among the most beloved and most visible of the Seven Angels.
Contents
Who Is Sex Sems?
Sex Sems is one of the Heft Sirr, the seven Holy Beings of Yazidism, and the personification of the sun and of divine light. His earthly incarnation is counted among the four sons of Ezdina Mir, the ancestors of the Semsani sheikh lineage. Associated with light, life, fire and the swearing of oaths, he is one of the most fundamental theological symbols in the Yazidi faith.
Key Takeaways
Sex Sems (Seşims) is the Yazidi angel of the sun and one of the seven Holy Beings.
His name, Semsedin, means 'the sun of the faith'; he embodies the divine light of God.
Yazidis pray toward the sun and swear their most binding oaths by him.
His earthly incarnation is one of the four sons of Ezdina Mir, ancestors of the Semsani sheikhs.
He is honoured with a three-day fast, the Rojiyen Seşims, each December.
Quick Facts
Name: Sex Sems (Seşims; Melek Semsedin, 'Shams ad-Din')
Meaning: 'Sheikh Sun' / 'the sun of the faith'
Tradition: Yazidism (the Ezidi faith)
Role: One of the Seven Angels (Heft Sirr); the divinity of the sun and of divine light
Symbols: The sun, light, fire and oaths
Earthly incarnation: One of the four sons of Ezdina Mir; ancestor of the Semsani sheikh lineage
Brother: Fexredin, the personification of the moon
Worship: Yazidis pray toward the sun; the morning prayer is addressed to him
Festival: Rojiyen Seşims, a three-day fast held in his honour in December
Attestation: Central to Yazidi oral tradition; he has a shrine at Lalish (Oral to Written)
The Sun of the Faith
Among the seven Holy Beings, Sex Sems is the one most closely tied to the sun. He is the divinity of sunlight, the source of light and life and, in Yazidi understanding, a manifestation of the divine light of God himself. Where the supreme God is hidden and transcendent, the sun is something of him that can be seen and felt each day.
He is also linked with fire, which is regarded as the earthly counterpart of the sun's heavenly light, and with oaths: to swear 'by Sex Sems' is among the most binding promises a Yazidi can make. Light, warmth, truth and life all gather around his name.
Sex Sems Among the Seven Angels
Sex Sems is one of the seven Holy Beings led by Tawuse Melek, the Peacock Angel. His earthly incarnation is remembered as one of the four sons of Ezdina Mir, an early leader of the faith, alongside his brothers Fexredin, Nasirdin and Sejadin. These four are honoured as the ancestors of the Semsani sheikh lineage, one of the great priestly families of Yazidism.
There is a fitting symmetry among the brothers: where Sex Sems is the personification of the sun, his brother Fexredin is the personification of the moon, and is also remembered as a great composer of the sacred hymns. Together they reflect the Yazidi reverence for the lights of heaven.
Sun Veneration in Yazidism
The reverence for Sex Sems shapes Yazidi worship every day. Yazidis pray facing the sun at set times, and the morning prayer in particular is offered toward the rising sun. The first light of dawn is treated as holy, a daily blessing from the divine.
At Lalish, the holiest Yazidi sanctuary, Sex Sems has his own shrine, and the rising sun is said to strike it first among the buildings of the valley. Pilgrims honour him there, and his presence is felt wherever sunlight falls upon the stones.
The Sesims Fast and Worship
Sex Sems is also honoured in fasting and song. Each December Yazidis keep the Rojiyen Seşims, a three-day fast held in his name shortly before the Feast of Ezi. Many personal prayers for help and healing are addressed to him, and he is praised throughout the sacred qewls, the hymns at the heart of Yazidi worship.
Ancient Roots and Parallels
The Yazidi veneration of the sun has long drawn the attention of scholars, who see in Sex Sems echoes of much older sun worship in the region, from the Mesopotamian sun god Shamash to the Iranian divinity Mithra, who was likewise bound up with the sun and with the keeping of oaths. Such parallels point to the deep antiquity of the tradition. As ever, though, they are best read as inheritances woven into a distinct living faith, not as proof that Yazidism is simply an older religion in disguise.
Symbolism
Sex Sems gathers together some of the most universal of all religious symbols. The sun is light against darkness, life against death, and constancy itself, rising faithfully each day. As the divine light of God, he makes the unseen Creator visible in the most ordinary and most magnificent of ways.
His link with oaths binds light to truth: just as the sun reveals all things, so a promise made in his name cannot be hidden or broken. In Sex Sems, the Yazidi sees the warmth of God shining upon the world.
Debates and Misconceptions
Do Yazidis worship the sun? Not as a god in itself. Yazidis are monotheists who revere the sun as a sign and channel of the one God's light, embodied in the angel Sex Sems. Turning toward the sun in prayer honours the Creator through his creation, much as believers in other faiths turn toward a holy place. For the same reason it is wrong to dismiss Yazidis as mere 'fire worshippers'.
Is Sex Sems the same as the poet Shams of Tabriz? No. Although some traditions link holy figures to the angels under many names, the Yazidi Sex Sems is the sun-being of the Heptad, a distinct holy figure, not the historical companion of the poet Rumi, despite the shared word 'shams', meaning sun.
Related Topics
The Seven Angels: the Heft Sirr, of whom Sex Sems is one
Tawuse Melek: the Peacock Angel who leads the Seven
Lalish: the sanctuary where Sex Sems has his shrine
The Qewls: the hymns that praise Sex Sems
Fexredin: the moon to Sex Sems's sun, and a great hymn-poet
Ezdina Mir and the Semsani sheikhs
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Sex Sems?
Sex Sems (Seşims) is the Yazidi angel of the sun, one of the seven Holy Beings of the faith. His name means 'the sun of the faith', and he embodies sunlight and the divine light of God.
Do Yazidis worship the sun?
No, not as a separate god. Yazidis are monotheists who honour the sun as a sign of the one God's light, embodied in the angel Sex Sems, and pray toward it as a way of honouring the Creator.
Why do Yazidis pray toward the sun?
Because the sun is seen as a manifestation of God's light through the angel Sex Sems. The morning prayer in particular is offered toward the rising sun, which is treated as a holy daily blessing.
What is the Rojiyen Seşims?
It is a three-day fast held each December in honour of Sex Sems, shortly before the Feast of Ezi. It is one of the ways Yazidis express their devotion to the sun angel.
How is Sex Sems related to the other Yazidi angels?
He is one of the seven Holy Beings led by Tawuse Melek. His earthly incarnation is one of the four sons of Ezdina Mir, alongside Fexredin (the moon), Nasirdin and Sejadin, ancestors of the Semsani sheikhs.
References and Further Reading
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