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Shabakism
There are about 60,000 Shabak people living today, all in northern Iraq. They are an ethnic group with a religion similar to orthodox Islam and Christianity. The Shabak have much in common with the Yazidis.
Shabakism is a syncretic faith with elements of Islam and Christianity, and is also similar to Yezidism. The fact Shabaks often go on pilgrimage to Yazidi shrines is proof of their similarities. However, many Shabak people regard themselves as Shi’a Muslims, even though their actual faith and rituals differ from Islam, and has characteristics that make it very different from Islam. Shabakism includes features from Christianity like confession and the consumption of alcohol, which makes it distinct from and even incompatible with Shi’a Islam. Nevertheless, the Shabak people go on pilgrimages to Shi’a holy cities such as Najaf and Karbala, and follow many Shiite teachings. The primary Shabak religious text is called Byruk or Kitab al-Managib (Book of Exemplary Acts) and is written in Turkoman.
Shabaks combine elements of Sufism with their own interpretation of divine reality. According to Shabaks, divine reality is more advanced than the literal interpretation of Qur’an which is known as Shari’a. Shabak spiritual guides are known as Pirs, and they are well versed in the prayers and rituals of the sect. Pirs are under the leadership of the Supreme Head or Baba. Pirs act as mediators between divine power and ordinary Shabaks. Their beliefs form a syncretic that the beliefs of the Yarsan closely resemble those of the Shabak people. Shabaks consider the poetry of Ismail to be revealed by God, and they recite the poetry during religious meetings.
Shabakism
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https://discerning-Islam.org
Last Update: 04/2021
