Yarsanism
Yarsanism (Kurdish: یارسان, romanized: Yarsan), Ahl-e Haqq (ئەهلی حەق, Ehl-e Heq; Persian: اهل حق), or Kaka'i, is an inherited, syncretic religion founded by Sultan Sahak in the late 14th century in western Iran. The total number of followers of Yarsanism is estimated to be over half a million to one million in Iran. The numbers in Iraq are unknown. Followers are mostly Kurds from the Guran, Sanjâbi, Kalhor, Zangana and Jalalvand tribes. Turkic-speaking Yarsan enclaves also exist in Iran.
| Yarsanism یارسان | |
|---|---|
| Type | Ethnic |
| Classification | Iranian, Abrahamic |
| Scripture | Kalâm-e Saranjâm |
| Theology | Syncretic |
| Region | Kurdistan |
| Language | Kurdish languages; Gorani language |
| Founder | Sultan Sahak |
| Origin | late 14th century Western Iran |
| Members | c. 500,000 to 1,000,000 (in Iran) |
| Other name(s) | Ahl-e Haqq, Kaka'i |
Some Yarsanis in Iraq are called Kaka'i. Yarsanis say that some people call them disparagingly as "Ali Allahi" or "worshipers of Ali", labels which Yarsanis deny. Many Yarsanis hide their religion due to the pressure of Iran's Islamic system, and there are no exact statistics of their population.
The Yarsanis have a distinct religious literature primarily written in the Gorani language. However, few modern Yarsani can read or write Gorani, as their mother tongue is Southern Kurdish or Sorani.
Their central religious book is called the Kalâm-e Saranjâm, written in the 15th century and based on the teachings of Sultan Sahak.