Mandaeands 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.
1. Aspects of the Mandaean Religion
a-Monotheism
b-Baptism
c-Praying
d-Fasting
e-Alms-giving
2. 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)
3.

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
4.
 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.
5. Rituals:
The mandaeans direct their faces northwards while practicing 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 immortality 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.
6. 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.
7. Women in the Mandaean Religion:
The Mandaean religion stresses the importance of the active role of women in life since she constitutes half of society. Man and woman are equal creatures in the greatest miracle of heavenly creation. All holy books including the Ginza Raba emphasise that the Great Creator created all creatures. He created Adam and Eve by his Power, from clay. The woman is a symbol of fertility, regeneration and the cornerstone of the family and its happiness.
8. Religious feats:
Mandaeans have four feasts:

a- The Great Feast (Dihwa Raba) and lasts two days.
b- The Short Feast (Dihwa Hnina) and lasts one day.
c- The feast of Creation (Bronaia) and lasts five days.
d- Feast of Golden Baptism (Dihwa id Dimana) one day.
9. 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.
10. 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 Mandaean teachings. Yehia bin Zekria is the last Mandaean prophet whose name was mentioned in three Sura (chapters) of the Holy Quran.
11. Outstanding Names in their History:
Mandaeans have been well known throughout history by their interest in knowledge and literature. They were also well known in the fields of astronomy and medicine. Some of them were concerned with history. The list of names includes:

1- Ibrahim bin Sinan: who was a famous engineer during the Abaassid period.
2- Albutani: who was a mathematician and astronomer.
3- Abu Ishak Alsabi: Minister of letters during Abassid era.
4- Thabit bin Qura: who was a physician philosopher and mathematician during Abassid era.
5- Sinan bin Thabit: who was the chief doctor in Baghdad during the Abassid era.
6- Dr. Aabdul Jabar Abdullah: a well-known modern physicist
12. Professions and Occupations:
Since ancient times, the Mandaeans have practiced certain professions such as jewellery making which became their own trademark. They practice other jobs such as smiths and carpenters as well as boat making.
13. Modern History:
The Mandaean community is part and parcel of Iraqi society. They have shared with the Iraqis their happiness and suffering especially under the unjust embargo imposed on Iraq since 1990. The community produced a large number of outstanding intellectuals, doctors, engineers, professors, men of letters, artists, tradesmen and industrialists who contributed actively to the development of Iraqi people.
14. The command system:
a- The General council of the Community: Involves representations of Mandaean families. It is the general ....board of the community.
b- The General Spiritual Council: Includes all clergymen; concerned with religious affairs
c- The Council of the general affairs: this council is concerned with non-religious affairs of the community ....through its department:

1-Legal Affairs Court
2-Social Committee.
3- Cultural Dept.
4-Public Relations Dept.
5- Mandaean Research Canter.
15. Their Relations with other religions:
The Mandaeans Sabians respects all heavenly religions in their society and the world at large. They live peacefully with their Muslim and Christians brothers as well as other religions because the Mandaean religion is not missionary. Therefore, others had always respected the Mandaeans in their practices and rites.
16. Sabians In Iraqi Law:
All Iraqis, regardless of their religions and nationalities are one and equal before the law in their duties and rights.
17. Political History:
Mandaeans Sabians, being part of Iraqi people, have taken part in all the situations and problems that faced Iraq through its history. They presented sacrifices and martyrs for the sake of their homeland like any other Iraqi sect. The Mandaeans are still ready to defend their country and are proud of their love of home and its ancient civilization, seeking to maintain its unity and territorial integrity.
 
The following is the opening verses of the Ginza Raba.
(Great is thy name, my Lord I mention your name with pure heart, thou Lord of all worlds; Blessed and Holy thy name my Lord, the High the mighty, king of worlds of Sublime Light, whose power is infinite thou, the brilliant and the inexhaustible Light. God, you, the Merciful, the compassionate, and the Forgiving the saviour of all believers and the supporter of all good people. Thou art the wise, the omnipotent who knows everything. Thou art capable of doing every thing; Lord of all worlds of Light, the high, middle and lower worlds. Thou art of the respectful Face, which can not be seen; thou art the only God who has no partner and no equal in his Power. Any one who trusts in you will never be disappointed; any one who depends on you; will never be humiliated, Lord of all angels, without His presence, there is no existence; without Him, nothing could exist, He is Eternal without beginning and an end).
Mandaean Research Centre
Council of General Affairs
Baghdad - Iraq
1999