Al-Hasan ibn Adi

Shaykh al-Hasan ibn ‘Adī, known also by the Yazidi terms Şêx Hesen and Şêx Sin, was a descendant of Umayyad Caliph Marwan ibn al-Hakam. He was the son and religious heir of ‘Adī ibn Sakhr and thus head of the ‘Adawiyya Ṣūfī Order. He was executed in a Mongol purge of the ‘Adawiyyūn in 1254. Şêx Hesen's subsequent role in Yezidi religion is formidable, rivaling only that of his ancestor, Şêx Adi.

By the time of Şêx Hesen, a significant cult of sainthood had grown around the leaders of the ‘Adawiyya, and under his term of office, indigenous Yezidi beliefs and myths began to be incorporated into the beliefs of those following the Order.

More significantly, the growing military power of the followers of Şêx Hesen lead to Mongol unease. The result of this was a crackdown on the community, and under the direction of the Atabeg of Mosul, Badr al-Din Lu'lu' (r. 1222–1259), the main worship center of the ‘Adawiyya was attacked and destroyed in 1254 and the bones of Şêx Adi disinterred and burned. Two hundred ‘Adawī followers were killed, and among them was Şêx Hesen.