Are Kurds muslim? If so, how do their beliefs differ from the Shiites and Sunnis?

Answer 1

Before the spread of Islam in the 7th century CE, the majority of Kurds practised their indigenous religions, today are referred to as Yazdanism. Yazidism and Yarsan, which may stemmed from and eventually replaced those religions are still practised among the Kurds. Most Yazidis live in Iraqi Kurdistan, in the vicinity of Mosul and Sinjar. Yazidis are also found in Syria, Armenia, Turkey, and Germany. Their holy book is "Mishefa Reş" (The Black Book)[73]. The Yarsan, or Ahl-e Haqq, religion is practised in western Iran, primarily around Kermanshah. There were also many Kurds who practised Zoroastrianism. [74]

Also before arrival of Islam in the 7th century AD there were large Kurdish populations practising Christianity, still found in small numbers especially in Iraqi Kurdistan. The Kurdish kingdom of Adiabene, including a large number of its Kurdish citizens, converted to Judaism during the 1st century BC.[75] Rabbi Asenath Barzani, who lived in Mosul from 1590 to 1670 was among the very first Jewish women to become a Rabbi.


Malak Ta’us, the peacock angel of Yazidism religionIn the 7th century, Arabs conquered the Kurdish regions and converted the majority of Kurds to Islam. The majority of Kurds are Muslim, belonging to the Shafi school of Sunni Islam, distinguishing them in the region, (and to a much lesser degree, the Hanafi) Schools of Sunni Islam. There is also a significant minority of Kurds that are Shia Muslims, primarily living in the Ilam and Kermanshah provinces of Iran and Central Iraq ("Al-Fayliah" Kurds). The Alevis are another religious minority among the Kurds, mainly found in Turkey. There are also Kurds who are Agnostics.

Most Kurds have liberal tendencies toward religion, for instance Kurdish women usually do not wear hijab, do not cover their face and this differentiate them from Arab and Iranian women

Answer 2

Nearly three fifths of the Kurds, almost all Kurmanji-speakers, are today at least nominally Sunni Muslims of Shafiite rite. There are also some followers of mainstream Shiitem Islam among the Kurds, particularly in and around the cities of Kirmanshah, to Hamadan and Bijar in southern and eastern Kurdistan and the Khurasan. These Siite Kurds number around half a million. The overwhelming majority of Muslim Kurds are followers of one several mystic Sufi orders, most importantly the Bektashi order of the northwest Kurdistan, the Naqshbandi order in the west and north, Qadiri orders of east and central Kurdistan, and Nurbakhshi of the south.

Answer 3

The majority of Kurds are Muslims. Majority of Kurds belong to the Sunni group. there are some that are Shias and then agnostics. They are a culture. They are liberal in the way they dress and in their culture too.

Answer 4

Are Kurds Muslim? I don't know but eventually from what I heard it turns to a delicious cheese.

Answer 5

I 'm not sure..

To Nchanting:-- Kurds is not one of Islam's sect but it was a community or a race..

In islam if i was not mistaken there are only 5 sects..hanafi,hambali,syafie n to name a few.

Respect other people religions to know their norms n values so that we can make world a better place to live

Answer 6

Kurds and Shites are one and the same, which are a sect of Muslim community.