Sabean - Mandaeans : Remnants of Ancient Civilization

Mandaeism or Mandaeanism, also known as Sabaeanism, is a monotheistic and gnostic religion (gnostic means collection of religious ideas and systems which originated in the first century CE among early Christian and Jewish sects). Its supporters, the Mandaeans, revere Adam, Abel, Seth, and especially John the Baptist (a name they have attributed to Yahya A.S). 

Mandaeans are counted among the Semites (Abrahamic) religion and speak an eastern Aramaic Dialect called Mandaic. The name Mandaeans is believed to come from Aramaic Manda which means “Knowledge”. Outside the Middle East, they are known as Arabic. They do not consider themselves Arabs as they themselves demand to be distinguished from the remnants of Arabs in the area and plead to be given a separate identity from them. They are more commonly known as “Subba” (Sabean) an Arabic name meaning Baptist; that’s why they are also known as “Christian of Saint John” (John the Baptist – Prophet Yahya A.S)

Sabean are also mentioned in the Holy Quran along with Christians and Jews but modern scholars reject it and contend that the people mentioned in the Holy Quran are not present-day Mandaeans. 

Sabean – Mandaeans are a lingo-religious minority that originated in the first three centuries in Mesopotamia (present-day Iraq). This religion has been in practice primarily around Euphrates and Tigris and Parts of Southern Iraq and Khuzestan Province of Iran.

Their total population worldwide is from 50000 to 70000. Before the invasion of Iraq, they were concentrated in Iraq but afterward, they emigrated to North America, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Presently they are 3500 to 6000 in Iraq struggling not to become extinct in the near future.

Belief System:

Sabean - Mandaeans is a very private, singular and strange religion as far as its beliefs are concerned.

“They are very simple people who claim to possess a secret law of God, which they preserve in beautiful books. Their writing is a sort of middle way between Syriac and Arabic. They detest Abraham because of circumcision and they venerate John the Baptist above all. They live only near a few rivers in the desert. They wash day and night so as not to be condemned by God”

Their cult has the following prominent features:

Rituals:

Panja festival is the main religious event of the year which continues for five days. During the festival they submerge themselves in the river to cleanse and wash their sins known as Baptism following their Patriarch John the Baptist (Prophet Yahya A.S). They wash their food in the water and also drink it. Their holy Book is Ginza Rba, they believe, is the first book of Adam, Seth ( Shees) and Yahya (PBUT).

Current Challenges:

They are the most persecuted religious minority in present day Iraq. They are rich people, mostly goldsmiths and gold traders, so are exploited by both type of warlords - Shia and Sunni. They are kidnapped for ransom, robbed and persecuted. But the persecution was not due to their faith, but due to their wealth. Every faction out there demands money whenever they want. It puts them in a difficult position. They are forced to attend religious festivities of Shia and Sunni communities, and have to align themselves with the faction in whose territory they are living in; otherwise, they have to face the music and wrath of the community they are surrounded by. They are proclaimed pacifists – against carrying off arms even in self-defense. The Sabean – Mandaeans community has a dearth of economic opportunities, employment and education. 

Due to these circumstances the community has moved to many different destinations worldwide which, however, saved their lives yet posed many other challenges like preservation of their culture, traditions, beliefs, and finding suitable partners from their own community for their children.