In conjunction with Ramadan, the Sabians also begin fasting
In conjunction with the month of Ramadan for Muslims, which is the month of fasting, the Sabian-Mandaean people also begin the days of fasting two days later, when they celebrate the Festival of Creation or “Brunaya”, which is the most important holiday for the Mandaeans, which lasts for five days, during which the Mandaean families fast and the morning prayer and baptism are performed in the water. The sacrifices are also slaughtered and alms are given to the needy.
These five days of the Eid are considered the white days and symbolize the mysteries of the sacred beginning and the dawn of the first life. Religious rituals take place during the day and night, and are not limited to the day only, because they represent luminous days not separated by darkness. However, this Eid passes through an explicit invitation from the head of the Sabian sect. Mandaeans in Iraq and the world, to European countries to grant asylum to members of the sect in waiting countries, namely Turkey, Jordan and Syria.
?What is the Feast of Creation
The head of the Sabian-Mandaean sect in Iraq, Sheikh Sattar Jabbar al-Helu, speaks to “Al-Alam Al-Jadeed” about the details of the Creation Day, saying that “the Sabians have four holidays, some of which are related to the worlds of light, which are the spiritual worlds, and other holidays are related to the material worlds, which are the earth, planets, sun, and moon. The Feast of Creation, which the Sabians celebrate these days, in which worlds of light were created, including gardens, rivers, and angels.”
He adds, “Every day of this holiday carries a certain symbolism. The first day is for the attribute of the Lord of Greatness, the second is for the Lord Most High, the third is All-Knowing, and the fourth day bears the attribute of the Lord of Truth. As for the fifth and final day, waters and running springs burst forth and before Adam was created.” The Lord commanded the angels Gabriel to take a scoop of living water and throw it into the stagnant water to make it palatable to human beings.
He continues: “These days, we baptize the Mandaeans, the clergy, and everything related to the clergy, including utensils and tools. We dedicate the temple to conduct the major religious rituals, and we carry out procedures for the deceased in special religious clothing for those who did not receive the shroud.”
Regarding the migration of members of the sect abroad, Al-Hilu confirms that “the migration process has declined in recent years due to the relative stability of the situation and the lack of an outlet for members of the religion in waiting countries, where they have lived for more than ten years or less in Jordan, Syria and Turkey and have not found a way out for themselves, as they When they left Iraq, because they were subjected to death threats, they sold all their possessions and could not return again.”
He continues: “We urge the authorities of European countries and humanitarian organizations to take into consideration the members of the sect,” noting that “some wish to return to Iraq but cannot because of their fear for their lives and the lack of a place to live.”
Just days ago, the sect's temple in Maysan Governorate, which is one of the governorates where the Sabians are concentrated alongside Basra, was subjected to an armed attack whose motives are not yet known, which led to the injury of the guards in the temple.
The “Feast of Creation” belongs to the holidays of the world of light. The prayer that is prayed at every time of this holiday is the morning prayer only, and baptism (dying) is performed three times in running water. It is obligatory on the days of the Feast of Creation, and the verse (Butha) is repeated in the morning prayer: “Arise, arise.” O chosen and righteous ones, arise and praise the Great Living One.”
The Sabians are one of the ancient monotheistic religions, and their prophet is Yahya bin Zakariya, and their language is Aramaic, a language that dates back to the tenth century BC, and it is the same language used in their holy book, “The treasure of interest.”
Southern Iraq has been home to the members of the sect for thousands of years, as they were stationed near rivers and marshes, because their religious rituals are linked to water, but today their presence there is rare after most of them migrated to their original homeland and settled in countries of asylum or safer areas in the Kurdistan region.
“Brunaya” ritual
For his part, Hatem Munther (42 years old), a member of the sect, explained during an interview with “Al-Alam Al-Jadeed” that “the days of the Eid of Creation are days of light, so the prayer that is held on these days is the morning prayer and everything that is used in this holiday must be baptized in Water.”
He adds, “Mandaean prayer is a recitation and blessings. When praying, the person praying faces the north, which is the Mandaean qibla, believing that it is the blessed direction. We feed those in need, meaning good deeds.”
As for the conditions for charity, Munther explains: “It is necessary that it be given secretly, and announcing it is considered a major sin,” indicating that “fasting among the Mandaeans is 36 separate days throughout the year and usually ends with holidays.”
Among the established Mandaean rituals are baptism, prayer, fasting, and zakat. Mandaean baptism is practiced in three types, which are (masbuta) and is usually held inside the mandi (the temple of this sect) with a wreath of despair in reference to life and perfume. The second type is personal baptism (tamasha), which is simply ablution of all kinds. Impurities. The third type is called (Rashama), which is equivalent to ablution and is performed three times daily.
Also among the Sabian holidays is the Golden Baptism Feast, commemorating the spiritual birth of their Prophet Yahya bin Zakariya, in addition to the Great Feast, which falls in the month of July and lasts 7 days. It is the beginning of creation, and it is where the minutes, hours, and days began. The last is the Feast of Prosperity, which is the small Feast, in which The Great Living Creator created flowers, fruits, birds, and animals, and in addition to this, he created Adam and Eve, and this holiday is considered the beginning of the emergence of creation.
Baptism is considered one of the most important pillars of the religion, and this ritual includes the person going down into running water, accompanied by a cleric, who recites verses from their holy book, “Al-Kinza Riba.” This is done in special white clothes called “al-Rusta.” This baptismal outfit is worn by women, men, and children. .
?The Feast of Creation...why 5 days
The Vice President of the Sabian Affairs Council in Iraq, Sheikh Abdul Salam Jabbar, during an interview with Al-Alam Al-Jadeed, recounted the details of the five days of the Feast of Creation, saying: “The Mandaean year has 360 days, and five days in it are considered one complete month, because each month is a Thirty days, as the sect does not have leap days.”
He adds, “These five days are luminous days, and express the heavenly creation, while the remaining days of the year express the material creation,” indicating that “these five days in which the Creator’s power was manifested in His creation, and these luminous worlds were formed, and five angels were entrusted to establish them.” The decrees and establishment of the luminous universes in these days.”
Jabbar explains, “The Mandaeans consider these days to be a memorial to the creation of this light because we are children of the world of light, and man is connected in these worlds,” pointing out that “during these days, major religious rituals are performed, including the baptism of men, women, and children, and we erect the “dervish,” which is the banner of the Prophet Yahya. Which expresses the symbol of peace.”
He points out that “these rituals are held in all the places of worship of the sect’s members in Baghdad and the other southern governorates, Kirkuk and Erbil as well,” pointing out that “there are diligent efforts to develop these worship sites located on the banks of the rivers.”
After 2003, the members of the Mandaean sect in Iraq faced many challenges that threatened their survival as one of the most prominent religious minorities in Mesopotamia, most notably murder and robbery, because they worked in goldsmithing, which exposed them to continuous theft and kidnapping, and this matter led to a mass migration towards the West.
In the 1990s, the holy book of the religion was translated by clerics, under the supervision of the late Iraqi poet Abd al-Razzaq Abd al-Wahid, who supervised the Arabic language of the book after its translation.
Source : websites