Religion in Kurdistan

The majority of Kurds are Sunni Muslims. The exact proportion is uncertain but McDowall gives the percentage as 'approximately 75%',[5] while Martin van Bruinessen estimates around two thirds or three quarters at least. Sunni Kurds follow the Shafi‘i madhhab, which distinguishes them from Arab and Turkish neighbors who in general are Hanafi. This difference is identified by some Kurds as being essential to their ethnic identity and deliberately emphasized.[1]

Historically, Kurds played an important role in Islamic intellectual development. Kurdistan was situated in a geographic location which enabled Kurds to equip Arabic, Persian and Turkish, all had been principal languages of Islamic civilization at different times. This condition had made Kurds playing mediators of different Islamic cultural centers. Kurdish ulama were especially significant at the high ranks of Ottoman Nizamiye Courts, Al-Azhar University in Cairo and the holy cities of Mecca and Medina in the Arabian Peninsula. After the securalization of Turkey, Turkish Kurdistan became the only remaining place where traditional Islamic institutions were preserved in the country, and many Turkish Muslim scholars went to Kurdistan in order to obtain the Islamic education.[1]

Sunni Islam among Kurds is characterized by a strong overtone of mysticism and its scholars’ affiliation with Sufi orders. In Kurdish society these constitute a hierarchical system, in which the leaders (sheikh) deploy their influence onto the localities through their deputies (khalifa), who mediate between sheikhs and common people. Today, Naqshbandiya and Qadiriyya are the most active tariqas. These tariqas had produced numbers of significant figures in the early history of Kurdish nationalist movement, including Mahmud Barzanji of Qadiriyyah, and Sheikh Said and Sheikh Ubeydullah of Naqshbandiyyah. Strong influences of sheikhs in the late 19th and the early 20th centuries were attributed to the Ottoman administrative reforms and the defense against the intrusion of Christian missionaries.[1]

Modern political development among Sunni Muslim Kurds varies throughout the state to which they belong. In Turkey, Said Nursî exerted major influence. In the early days, Nursi contributed significantly to the formation of Kurdish nationalism. Later, Nursi broke with the nationalists and devoted himself to intellectual development. This became the basis of the Nur Movement which espoused Islamic Modernism, mysticism, compatibility with modern science and tolerance. The Nur movement garnered several million followings in the mid 20th century.[6] The group fragmented substantially in the 1970s and 1980s, resulting in offshoots such as the Gülen movement.[7] In Iraqi Kurdistan and Iran, although Muslims are pious, Islam didn’t take a root as a strong political rallying force.[1] Today, significant movements include Kurdistan Islamic Union led by Salaheddine Bahaaeddin and Kurdistan Islamic Group led by Ali Bapir.

There is a minority of Twelver Shi'i Muslims in southern parts of Kurdistan in Kermanshah, Khanaqin and the Ilam Province.[1] The proportion of Kurds who ascribe to Twelverism is potentially up to 15%.[5]

Alevi community that sometimes are called Qizilbash, mostly live in north western parts of Kurdistan. They are mostly concentrated in Tunceli Province.