عقيدة الصابئة المندائيين في يحيى عليه السلام : عرض و نقد

Abstract EN

All praise is due to Allaah, the Lord of all creation, and may His salaat and salaam be upon our prophet Muhammad, as well as upon all of his family and companions.

This research presents the creed of the modern–day Mandaean Sabians regarding Prophet Yahyaa „alayhi assalaam (John).

I define the term “Saabi„ah” (Sabian), explaining its linguistic derivation, and contrasting between its theological definition according to Muslims and that of the Sabians.

I then present the main religious rituals and beliefs of Mandaeans including: baptism, reverence and sanctification of water, and dualism – believing in both a “World of Light” and a “World of Darkness”, and that each human being has two souls: a good and an evil one.

I also explain that – according to Mandaeans – Prophecy is the belief in a middle–man who has reached a high level and deep realization of Gnosis, and that it is open to anyone who is able to achieve this level of Gnosticism.

Prophecy did not start with Prophet Yahyaa, „alayhi assalaam, and there were previous prophets in which they believe; they are sometimes referred to as “guides”.

I then mention their belief regarding the birth of Yahyaa, „alayhi assalaam, and clarify that the only common element between their narrative and the revelations of Islaam is that he was born to an elderly couple.

According to Mandaeans, angels took Yahyaa from his mother as an infant to a “World of Light” where he was taught and raised, and reunited him with her after he had become a young man and a prophe