Basic Mandaean Information

The Mandaeans

The information below is from a pamphlet that is produced by the Mandean Council in Iraq.

Mandaeans Sabians

"Sabian" is a word derived from the Aramaic-Mandic verb "Saba" which means "baptised" or "dyed", "immersed in water". "Mandaeans" is derived from "menda" which means in the mandiac language "knowledge". Thus, "Mandaean Sabians" means those who are baptised and who know the religion of God.


Aspects of the Mandaean Religion

a-Monotheism
b-Baptism
c-Prying
d-Fasting
e-Alms-giving


Beliefs and prophets:

Mandaean Sabians believe in God and His Monotheism. God is called in their holy book and other religious sources, The Great Life or The Eternal Life. Also, they believe that Adam (God bless his name) was their first prophet and teacher. Their second prophet was sheet who is named "shetel" in Mandaiac; followed by Sam bin Noah and Yahya bin Zekaria (God bless their names)


Holy Books:

Mandaean Sabians have many holy books:

a-Ginza Raba
(The Great Treasure): which contains the books of Adam, Sheet and Sam. It consists of 600 pages and falls into two parts:

Part one: from the right hand, includes the book of Genesis; the teachings of the Great Life; the ever lasting struggle between Good and Evil, Light and Darkness. It relates details of how the "Soul" came down into Adam's body. The book contains prayers to the Creator, and religious and theological rules.

Part two: from the left-hand deals with the Soul, reward and punishment.
b-Drasha id Yahia:
It includes the teachings and wise sayings of the prophet Yehia bin Zekaria.
c-The book of souls:
telling the story of how the soul descended into Adam's body.
d-Adam' Boghra (body):
an explanation of Adam's body.
e-The Kilesta:
Hymns of marriage rituals
f-Niani:
Book of prayers
Seven- Various Booklets


The language:

The Mandiac language is dialect of the Eastern Aramic language, which is derived from the Semitic family of languages. All religious manuscripts concerning rites were written in this language. The mandaeans believe that God taught Adam His knowledge. Adam, therefor knew his God and himself, and began to read the alphabet (Aa, ba, ka, da?). His select sons (Adam's) and his descendants knew it. The Mandaean alphabet consist of 24 letters starting with "alef" and ending with it because the Mandaeans believe that all things return to their origins and beginnings.


Rituals:

The mandaeans direct their faces northwards while practising their religious rites because the world of Light (paradise) lies in that sacred place of the universe to which souls go when the journey of life ends. There they enjoy immorality alongside their God. Besides, the Mandaean religion recommends alms giving (moral and material). It recommends also the great Fasting, which means the abstinence from anything that distorts man's relation with his God; while the small Fasting means abstinence from slaughtering animals and eating meat at certain days of the year. This religion stresses on the importance of marriage (including the marriage of the clergymen). Marriage rites are performed by the clergyman, attended by witnesses and a crowd of people in a happy festival. The rituals stress the sacredness of marriage. The rituals summed up as follows:

a- Baptism:The purpose is to purify the couple physically and spiritually while they are dressed in the Resta, ....the white religious clothes.

b- Taking the oath before their Lord, angles and attending people

c- Complimentary rites symbolising partnership in a new house; fertility and breeding or regeneration.



Prohibition in Mandaeasim:

Mandaeansim shares other celestial religions in identifying and diagnosing many prohibitions. This religion takes scientific and deep human dimensions in setting forth these commandments; they are:

1-Blasphemy
2-Murder
3- Adultery
4-Stealing
5-Telling lies
6-False testimony
7-Disloyalty and dishonesty
8-Lust
9-Magic and witchcraft
10-Circumcision
11-Alcoholic drinks
12-Usury
13-Crying over the dead
14-Eating dead animals, pregnant animals or animals attacked by other furious animals and blood
15-Divorce (save in some exceptional cases)
16-Suicide and abortion
17-Self-torturing and body-hurting



Location and their number Through history:

The Mandaeans have lived in many regions over a wide geographical setting. Yet, they live mainly in Iraq and Ahwaz (Iran). There are sabian communities in Europe, America, Australia and other countries. Their number does not exceed 100,000. Despite this little number, they have had an outstanding role in the fields of science, literature and knowledge since the Abassid age.

Their History:

The Ginza Raba, in the book of Genesis, mentions that the world of light is a Mandaean world. The book describes them in detail while they are praying to the Great Life. God, the Eternal Life, ordered the creation of Adam and Eve, knowing the teachings of the Mandaean religion. God ordered Adam to teach his children this religion and spread its celestial commandments. Under the inspiration of the Great Life, prophets and messengers followed Adam, to continue spreading the Maandaean teachings. Yehia bin Zekria is the last Mandaean prophet whose name was mentioned in three Sura (chapters) of the Holy Quran.