Muhammad in the Haran Gawaitha: Difference between revisions

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The '''Haran Gawaitha'''  or ''Inner Haran'' is a Mandaean text written during the 7<sup>th</sup> to 9<sup>th</sup> century which purports to tell the history of the Mandaeans and their arrival in [[Iraq]] as Nasoreans from Jerusalem.<ref>Karen L. King - [http://www.amazon.co.uk/What-Gnosticism-Karen-L-King/dp/0674017625 What is Gnosticism?] - Harvard University Press, 2005, P. 140, ISBN 9780674017627</ref> It contains some of the earliest non-Muslim references to [[Muhammad]].  
The '''Haran Gawaitha'''  or ''Inner Haran'' is a Mandaean text written during the 7<sup>th</sup> to 9<sup>th</sup> century which purports to tell the history of the Mandaeans and their arrival in [[Iraq]] as Nasoreans from Jerusalem.<ref>Karen L. King - [http://www.amazon.co.uk/What-Gnosticism-Karen-L-King/dp/0674017625 What is Gnosticism?] - Harvard University Press, 2005, P. 140, ISBN 9780674017627</ref> It contains some of the earliest non-Muslim references to Prophet [[Muhammad]].  


==Text from the Haran Gawaitha==
==Text from the Haran Gawaitha==
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And Hibil-Ziwa hath delivered this saying and warning to Nasoraeans who exist at the end of the last age: "Beware, and again beware! Act only (in accordance) with this writing of the Great Revelation. The (Mandaean) Root (Church) shall be steadfast, shall testify, shall act and not neglect this pure warning, and (so) will ascend to the presence of the Father. (But) any man who doth not testify to this Way or lay hold of it, seeketh darkness and will fall. (O) ye Nasoraeans that shall exist at the end of the last age, I exhort you, be firm and act according to this book - its name is the Great Revelation. For at that time peoples, nations and tongues will multiply, and every individual will seek his own gain. And books and religious treatises of Ruha and Adonai ('s making) will be many, and through them souls will sink down to the Darkness". Thus, before the appearance of the Son-of-Slaughter, the Arab, the Christian, Idumaean, Jewish, Hurdabaean and Dilbilaean peoples became many. The peoples were divided and languages became numerous; even the languages of Nasoraeans multiplied. This; and then sovereignty was taken from the descendants of King Artabanus, and (they were driven) from Baghdad; the Hardbaeans (Sasanians) taking over the kingdom. (Nevertheless) there remained one hundred and seventy banners and bimandiaia in Baghdad.  
And Hibil-Ziwa hath delivered this saying and warning to Nasoraeans who exist at the end of the last age: "Beware, and again beware! Act only (in accordance) with this writing of the Great Revelation. The (Mandaean) Root (Church) shall be steadfast, shall testify, shall act and not neglect this pure warning, and (so) will ascend to the presence of the Father. (But) any man who doth not testify to this Way or lay hold of it, seeketh darkness and will fall. (O) ye Nasoraeans that shall exist at the end of the last age, I exhort you, be firm and act according to this book - its name is the Great Revelation. For at that time peoples, nations and tongues will multiply, and every individual will seek his own gain. And books and religious treatises of Ruha and Adonai ('s making) will be many, and through them souls will sink down to the Darkness". Thus, before the appearance of the Son-of-Slaughter, the Arab, the Christian, Idumaean, Jewish, Hurdabaean and Dilbilaean peoples became many. The peoples were divided and languages became numerous; even the languages of Nasoraeans multiplied. This; and then sovereignty was taken from the descendants of King Artabanus, and (they were driven) from Baghdad; the Hardbaeans (Sasanians) taking over the kingdom. (Nevertheless) there remained one hundred and seventy banners and bimandiaia in Baghdad.  


And so a Hardabaean (Sasanian) dynasty ruled for three hun-dred and sixty years, and then the Son of Slaughter, the Arab, set up as king, went forth and took a people to himself and performed circumcision. (Even then), after this had happened and these events had taken place, sixty banners (still) remained and pertained to me in Baghdad. Then he took the sword and put to the sword from the city of Damascus unto Bit Dubar, which is called Bdin. He governed it all and ruled over the lord of the hill-country of the Persians who are called Hardbaeans and took away sovereignty from them.  
And so a Hardabaean (Sasanian) dynasty ruled for three hundred and sixty years, and then the Son of Slaughter, the Arab, set up as king, went forth and took a people to himself and performed circumcision. (Even then), after this had happened and these events had taken place, sixty banners (still) remained and pertained to me in Baghdad. Then he took the sword and put to the sword from the city of Damascus unto Bit Dubar, which is called Bdin. He governed it all and ruled over the lord of the hill-country of the Persians who are called Hardbaeans and took away sovereignty from them.  


Then, when this had taken place, in time there came (one) Anus', called the son of Danqa, from the uplands of the Arsaiia [from (to? ) the city of Baghdad bis'us' kings of the planting of Artabanus, and brought in his own, belonging to Muhammad son of 'Abdallah son-of-Slaughter, the Arab, when he was seven hundred years old] . And he took him from his city to Suf-Zaba which is called Basrah, and showed him the hill-country of the Persians (unto) the city of Baghdad. And Anus' (-'Uthra?) instructed the Son-of-Slaughter, as he had instructed Anus'-son-of Danqa, about this Book (compiled) by his fathers, upon which all kings of the Nasoraeans stood firm. And a list of kings is in this book, which teacheth (chronicleth) from Adam, king of the world, unto King Artabanus, (yea even) unto Anus'-son-of-Danqa, who were (all? ) of the Chosen Root. Then he told him about the king of the Ardubaiia (Sasanians); about all he sought to do and (of) his connection with the children of the great Nation of Life , in order that they (the Moslems) should not harm the Nasoraeans who lived in the era of his government . Thus did Anus'-son-of-Danqa explain and speak so that, through the power of the lofty King of Light - praised be his name! - it was not permitted to the Son-of-Slaughter, the Arab, to harm the congregation of souls, owing to the protection afforded by these explanations of the Great Revelation - praised be its name! And, concerning that which I found in these commentaries on the Great Revelation , I found not (its equal?) amongst all the treatises and mis'rria and miscellanies about the Great Life which were in libraries and in my possession. I went round to all the Nasoraean ris'-amia that there were; I saw many scripts, writings of research and manuscripts of the Great Revelation, but saw not the like of this well-established Source. For it is reliable, existing from ancient times and eternally, from the beginning of the eighth world unto worlds' end. (These are) writings which teach orthodox procedure, that are all clarity. Instruction about the beginnings of all light and the end of all darkness is found in these writings of the Great Revelation and not found in any other books. That which is taught in this book and Road of the Righteous hath been bestowed upon the righteous unto worlds' end; this Road of the Righteous hath been bestowed upon (every) son of the True Root, upon (every) son of the Pure Drop who, when listening to the words and teachings of this writing of the righteous, witnesseth publicly thereto, and his mind testifieth thereto and is enlightened. But when a foolish person heareth these trustworthy words his mind groweth dark and he doth not appreciate them, nor can (such a person) discern that they are pure sayings. And (their) colours die away from his mind like as a burgeoning plant (fadeth) and the root from which it appeared".  
Then, when this had taken place, in time there came (one) Anus', called the son of Danqa, from the uplands of the Arsaiia [from (to? ) the city of Baghdad bis'us' kings of the planting of Artabanus, and brought in his own, belonging to Muhammad son of 'Abdallah son-of-Slaughter, the Arab, when he was seven hundred years old] . And he took him from his city to Suf-Zaba which is called Basrah, and showed him the hill-country of the Persians (unto) the city of Baghdad. And Anus' (-'Uthra?) instructed the Son-of-Slaughter, as he had instructed Anus'-son-of Danqa, about this Book (compiled) by his fathers, upon which all kings of the Nasoraeans stood firm. And a list of kings is in this book, which teacheth (chronicleth) from Adam, king of the world, unto King Artabanus, (yea even) unto Anus'-son-of-Danqa, who were (all? ) of the Chosen Root. Then he told him about the king of the Ardubaiia (Sasanians); about all he sought to do and (of) his connection with the children of the great Nation of Life , in order that they (the Moslems) should not harm the Nasoraeans who lived in the era of his government . Thus did Anus'-son-of-Danqa explain and speak so that, through the power of the lofty King of Light - praised be his name! - it was not permitted to the Son-of-Slaughter, the Arab, to harm the congregation of souls, owing to the protection afforded by these explanations of the Great Revelation - praised be its name! And, concerning that which I found in these commentaries on the Great Revelation , I found not (its equal?) amongst all the treatises and mis'rria and miscellanies about the Great Life which were in libraries and in my possession. I went round to all the Nasoraean ris'-amia that there were; I saw many scripts, writings of research and manuscripts of the Great Revelation, but saw not the like of this well-established Source. For it is reliable, existing from ancient times and eternally, from the beginning of the eighth world unto worlds' end. (These are) writings which teach orthodox procedure, that are all clarity. Instruction about the beginnings of all light and the end of all darkness is found in these writings of the Great Revelation and not found in any other books. That which is taught in this book and Road of the Righteous hath been bestowed upon the righteous unto worlds' end; this Road of the Righteous hath been bestowed upon (every) son of the True Root, upon (every) son of the Pure Drop who, when listening to the words and teachings of this writing of the righteous, witnesseth publicly thereto, and his mind testifieth thereto and is enlightened. But when a foolish person heareth these trustworthy words his mind groweth dark and he doth not appreciate them, nor can (such a person) discern that they are pure sayings. And (their) colours die away from his mind like as a burgeoning plant (fadeth) and the root from which it appeared".  
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