Mandaean in Iraq


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Other / Small (Mandaeism)
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

Sabeans are perhaps the remnant of the Essen community (who wrote the dead sea scrolls) after it was destroyed in 70 AD. They fled eastward and took up residence along the banks of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers where their communities flourished. Several hundred years ago, their customs were recorded in their holy book, "Kenz irRabba" [the great treasure], which reads from both covers to the middle [you start at one cover and read to the middle, and then you turn it over and start from the other cover and read to the middle].


Where Are they Located?

They are located in Iraq along the banks of the major rivers, but lived mostly among the Marsh Arabs for centuries. They have large communities in Sweden, Australia, Canada and the USA (especially in Worchester, MA).


What Are Their Lives Like?

They were the gold smiths of Iraq, so they became targets of kidnapping and extortion by the radical Muslims after the fall of Saddam. They have lost a large part of their community due to the violence in Iraq.


What Are Their Beliefs?

They build their worship centers on the banks of rivers and canals and divert part of the flow to come through their building into a pool and flow out the other end back to the river. This helps them perform multiple baptisms in "living water" [i.e. flowing water]. Baptism is the most important part of their religion, besides observing the festive calendar.

They have a large and small Eid [i.e. holiday] like their Muslim neighbors, one in the spring and another in the summer. They have elaborate death rituals including giving a new name to the deceased to assist them entering the "world of light." Angels also play a large role in the community life of Sabeans.


What Are Their Needs?

They need political safety in Iraq since they are targets of annihilation.


Prayer Points

Christian witness in the lands of their Diaspora.
Wisdom for the many refugees stuck in Jordan and Syria who are not accepted for UNHCR relocation.
Pray for the few known believers in the USA, Germany and Jordan.


Scripture Prayers for the Mandaean, Sabean in Iraq.


Profile Source:   Anonymous  

Mandaean / Sabean People Video

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People Name General Mandeaen
People Name in Country Mandaean, Sabean
Natural Name Mandaean
Pronunciation man-DAY-un
Alternate Names Sabbehi
Population this Country 30,000
Population all Countries 80,000
Total Countries 6
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 13483
ROP3 Code 106221
Country Iraq
Region Africa, North and Middle East
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 16  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Scattered in Baghdad and Al Basrah governorates.   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Country Iraq
Region Africa, North and Middle East
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 16  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Scattered in Baghdad and Al Basrah governorates..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016

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Ethnolinguistic map or other map

Primary Religion: Other / Small (Mandaeism)
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
100.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Neo-Mandaic
Language Code mid   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Unknown
Total Languages 2
Secondary Languages
Arabic, Mesopotamian
Primary Language Neo-Mandaic
Language Code mid   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 2
Secondary Languages
  Arabic, Mesopotamian
People Groups Speaking Neo-Mandaic

Primary Language:  Neo-Mandaic

Bible Translation Status:  Unspecified

Resource Type Resource Name Source
None reported  
Photo Source Suomen Mandean Yhdistys - Wikimedia  Creative Commons 
Profile Source Anonymous 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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