Sheikh Sheikh ( , , , , ''shuyūkh'' ) is an honorific title in the Arabic language, literally meaning "elder (administrative title), elder". It commonly designates a tribal chief or a Muslim ulama, scholar. Though this title generally refers to me ...

(''Rabbi'')

Ganzibra A ganzibra (singular form in , plural form in , literally 'treasurer' in Mandaic; ) is a high priest in Mandaeism. Tarmidas, or junior priests, rank below the ganzibras.Drower, E. S. 1960. ''The Secret Adam: A Study of Nasoraean Gnosis''. Oxfor ...

Dakhil Aidan (also spelled Dakheel Edan or Dakhil Idan, ;

Mandaean baptismal name Mandaean names can include both birth names (i.e., secular names) and baptismal names (i.e., religious names; also called maṣbuta names or zodiacal names), called ''malwasha'' () in Mandaic. Birth names Mandaean birth names are secular names ...

: Mhatam Zihrun bar Adam; ; born April 14, 1881, died June 24, 1964) was the Iraqi Mandaean patriarch and international head of the Mandaean religion from 1917 until his death in 1964. The

mandi Mandi may refer to: Places India * Mandi, Jammu and Kashmir, a town on the Mandi River in the Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir * Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, a city in Himachal Pradesh ** Mandi State, former princely state ** Mandi (Lok Sabha co ...

(beth manda) in

Liverpool, Sydney Liverpool is a Suburbs and localities (Australia), suburb of South Western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia, south-west of the Sydney CBD. It is the administrative seat of the City of Liverpool (New South Wales), City of Li ...

, Australia is named in his honor (

Ganzibra Dakhil Mandi Ganzibra Dakhil Mandi (officially registered as Mandi Genzvra Dakhil) is a Mandaean temple ( mandi) in downtown Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia. It is named after Rishama Dakhil Aidan, who was the head priest of the Mandaean community i ...

Biography

Dakhil Aidan was born on April 14, 1881, in the city of

Amarah Amarah (), also spelled Amara, is a city in south-eastern Iraq, located on a low ridge next to the Tigris River waterway south of Baghdad about 50 km (31 mi) from the border with Iran. It lies at the northern tip of the marshlands between ...

Maysan Governorate Maysan Governorate () is a governorate in southeastern Iraq, bordering Iran. Its administrative centre is the city of Amarah, and it is composed of six districts. Before 1976, it was named Amara Province. Etymology This region was called ''Messè ...

, southern

Iraq Iraq, officially the Republic of Iraq, is a country in West Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to Iraq–Saudi Arabia border, the south, Turkey to Iraq–Turkey border, the north, Iran to Iran–Iraq border, the east, the Persian Gulf and ...

. He belonged to the Manduia lineage, a long line of Mandaean religious leaders. He was a fluent speaker of the Arabic and

Mandaic Mandaic may refer to: * Mandaic language * Mandaic alphabet The Mandaic alphabet is a writing system primarily used to write the Mandaic language. It is thought to have evolved between the second and seventh century CE from either a cursive fo ...

languages. His father, Sheikh Aidan (also known as Adam, son of Mhatam Yuhana), died in

Nasiriyah Nasiriyah ( , ; , BGN: , ), also spelled Nassiriya or Nasiriya, is a city in Iraq, the capital of the Dhi Qar Governorate. It lies on the lower Euphrates, about south-southeast of Baghdad, near the ruins of the ancient city of Ur. Its po ...

when he was 12 years old. In 1904, he became a ''

tarmida A tarmida (singular form in , plural form in ; ; ) is a junior Mandaean priest, priest in Mandaeism. Ganzibras, or head priests, rank above tarmidas.Drower, E. S. 1960. ''The Secret Adam: A Study of Nasoraean Gnosis''. Oxford: Clarendon Press. ...

'' (junior priest) in

at the age of 23. In 1917, he was appointed as ''

'' (head priest) of the Mandaean community. Dakhil Aidan also became a member of the

municipal council in 1920. His ''malwasha'' (

) was Mhatam Zihrun, son of Adam (Mhatam Zihrun bar Adam). Dakhil Aidan was also a copyist. In 1898 and also in 1935, he copied the ''

Ginza Rabba The Ginza Rabba (), Ginza Rba, or Sidra Rabba (), and formerly the Codex Nasaraeus, is the longest and the most important holy scripture of Mandaeism. The Ginza Rabba is composed of two parts: the Right Ginza (GR) and the Left Ginza (GL). T ...

''. The 1898 Ginza is currently used by the Mandaean community in Australia, while the 1935 Ginza was given to

Lamea Abbas Amara Lamia Abbas Amara (; ), also sometimes spelled Lamea Abbas Amara; 1929 – 18 June 2021) was an Iraqi poet. She was a pioneer of modern Arabic poetry and an important figure in contemporary poetry in Iraq. Name Lamia is her given name, while Abb ...

in San Diego, United States. Ganzibra Dakhil Aidan died on June 24, 1964, at his home in the Al-Dora suburb of

Baghdad Baghdad ( or ; , ) is the capital and List of largest cities of Iraq, largest city of Iraq, located along the Tigris in the central part of the country. With a population exceeding 7 million, it ranks among the List of largest cities in the A ...

Family

Dakhil Aidan's sister's daughter was the poet

, who spent much of her life in

San Diego San Diego ( , ) is a city on the Pacific coast of Southern California, adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. With a population of over 1.4 million, it is the List of United States cities by population, eighth-most populous city in t ...

, United States. When he was near his death in June 1964, he bequeathed some of his manuscripts to Lamea Abbas Amara. His father was Sheikh Aidan (

baptismal name A Christian name, sometimes referred to as a baptismal name, is a religious name, religious personal personal name, name given on the occasion of a Christian baptism, though now most often given by parents at birth. In Anglosphere, English-spe ...

: Adam bar Mhatam Yuhana), ), known for copying the Ginza Rabba in 1886. His paternal grandfather was Mhatam Yuhana (also known as Sheikh Damouk).

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Aidan, Dakhil 1881 births 1964 deaths Mandaean priests Iraqi Mandaeans Iraqi religious leaders People from Amarah People from Nasiriyah Iraqi scribes Manduia family Rishamas

Biography

Family

See also

References