Abba Yahiyya
Encyclopedia
Abba Yahiyya or Abu Yahiyya, was the leader of a sect of Afghani
Alenzar (Nizari
un Hagarenes
) who followed an independent Ishmaili Sufi Herat
tradition, introduced to the west by Omar Michael Burke in his 1976 book Among the Dervishes. The tradition that Isa
ibn Maryam (Jesus Christ) lived in India is followed by around one thousand Nizariun devotees of Maryam's son Isa, who live in several scattered villages in northwestern Afghanistan, centered around Herat. This was first discovered by Burke, who personally interviewed their spiritual leader, Abba Yahiyya (Father John), while researching Ishmaili Sufism in the area.. Alenzariun devotees also lived in South India and Kenya and were an inspiration for the Ansar
nation of Islam
movement, which placed the Messiah above Muhammed.
belonging to the house of Amram
and Harun
's line, which may be a reference to the Aga Khan
, all the way back to Isa's maternal relatives Jakub Assadiq, Yahiyya and Zakariya. According to their tradition, their Magian ancestors had been seduced by the anti-namus dualism of Nasiruta
until the Rock's missionaries came to guide their apostasy from Nasiruta back towards the siratulmustaqim, considering themselves a direct continuation of the pre-islamic Sabiah Hunafa. The essential differences from other Ishmaelis are that they regard Muhammed as nothing more than a title for the chief Mages (the آبائ who may be male or female) in their magisterium of إخوان, which continues the roles of the nabi and observe a sabbath from Friday nights and whose responsibility is to protect the identity of the 36 pairs of Zealot families and their priestly kahan Azwajrasul, from the general laity through a system of social eligibility rules concerning courtship.
The Traditions of the Masih (arranged and translated by Harvard University Press) is the holy book of the community which they say completes the injeel, the Gospels being only part of the truth. Burke describes Abba Yahiyya as "a towering figure with the face of a saint," an erudite man who knows his own scriptures and the Jewish writings. Father Yahiyya considered the various sects of Christians known to us today as heretics.
Every celebratory occasion is marked by a festive meal called Al-Maeda, which always commences with a breaking bread blessing, and concludes with a thanksgiving toast although they do not drink wine. They carry daggers which are never drawn, use bathing garments, grow their hair long and wear turbans like the sikhs. Ramadaan and Hajj
are considered to occur at the right time (winter and spring respectively) for three years in a row at intervals of 33 years. At such a Hajj, Alenzar vows are fulfilled with sacrifices, headshaving, free-association and edible vine products.
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
Alenzar (Nizari
Nizari
'The Shī‘a Imami Ismā‘īlī Tariqah also referred to as the Ismā‘īlī or Nizārī , is a path of Shī‘a Islām, emphasizing social justice, pluralism, and human reason within the framework of the mystical tradition of Islam. The Nizari are the second largest branch of Shia Islam and form the majority...
un Hagarenes
Hagarenes
Hagarenes , is a term that describes "the followers or descendants of Hagar". The name was used in Judeo-Christian literature and Byzantine chronicles for Hanif Arabs, then for Islamic forces known collectively as Saracens, and during the height of the Ottoman Empire, for Turks. The name, used...
) who followed an independent Ishmaili Sufi Herat
Herat
Herāt is the capital of Herat province in Afghanistan. It is the third largest city of Afghanistan, with a population of about 397,456 as of 2006. It is situated in the valley of the Hari River, which flows from the mountains of central Afghanistan to the Karakum Desert in Turkmenistan...
tradition, introduced to the west by Omar Michael Burke in his 1976 book Among the Dervishes. The tradition that Isa
ISA
Isa is the name by which Jesus is known in the Muslim world.Isa may also refer to:* Isha Upanishad, Hindu religious text* Isa , 2004 album by Enslaved* Isa , common Arabic and Turkish male name...
ibn Maryam (Jesus Christ) lived in India is followed by around one thousand Nizariun devotees of Maryam's son Isa, who live in several scattered villages in northwestern Afghanistan, centered around Herat. This was first discovered by Burke, who personally interviewed their spiritual leader, Abba Yahiyya (Father John), while researching Ishmaili Sufism in the area.. Alenzariun devotees also lived in South India and Kenya and were an inspiration for the Ansar
Ansar (Islam)
Ansar is an Islamic term that literally means "helpers" and denotes the Medinan citizens that helped Muhammad and the Muhajirun on the arrival to the city after the migration to Medina...
nation of Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
movement, which placed the Messiah above Muhammed.
Overview
In Among the Dervishes, author Burke records that in Herat he encountered around a thousand Nizariun Sufis who followed the teachings of "Isa, son of Maryam." Their chief, Abba Yahiyya or Father John, was able to recite a succession of Mages through sixty generations back to the Rock and finally "Isa, son of Mary, of Nazara, the Kashmiri." These clerics were partnered to "sadiqin" in IndiaIndia
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
belonging to the house of Amram
Amram
In the Book of Exodus, Amram Arabic عمران Imran, is the father of Aaron, Moses, and Miriam and the husband of Jochebed.-In the Bible:In addition to being married to Jochebed, Amram is also described in the Bible as having been related to Jochebed prior to the marriage, although the exact...
and Harun
Harun
-Given name:* Haroon , a Pakistani pop singer* Haroon Rashid Aswat, a British terrorist* Harun Erdenay, Turkish basketball player* Haroun Kabadi, Chadian politician* Harun Karadeniz, Turkish activist* Haroon Khan, British boxer...
's line, which may be a reference to the Aga Khan
Aga Khan
Aga Khan is the hereditary title of the Imam of the largest branch of the Ismā'īlī followers of the Shī‘a faith. They affirm the Imamat of the descendants of Ismail ibn Jafar, eldest son of Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq, while the larger Twelver branch of Shi`ism follows Ismail's younger brother Musa...
, all the way back to Isa's maternal relatives Jakub Assadiq, Yahiyya and Zakariya. According to their tradition, their Magian ancestors had been seduced by the anti-namus dualism of Nasiruta
Mandaeism
Mandaeism or Mandaeanism is a Gnostic religion with a strongly dualistic worldview. Its adherents, the Mandaeans, revere Adam, Abel, Seth, Enosh, Noah, Shem, Aram and especially John the Baptist...
until the Rock's missionaries came to guide their apostasy from Nasiruta back towards the siratulmustaqim, considering themselves a direct continuation of the pre-islamic Sabiah Hunafa. The essential differences from other Ishmaelis are that they regard Muhammed as nothing more than a title for the chief Mages (the آبائ who may be male or female) in their magisterium of إخوان, which continues the roles of the nabi and observe a sabbath from Friday nights and whose responsibility is to protect the identity of the 36 pairs of Zealot families and their priestly kahan Azwajrasul, from the general laity through a system of social eligibility rules concerning courtship.
The Traditions of the Masih (arranged and translated by Harvard University Press) is the holy book of the community which they say completes the injeel, the Gospels being only part of the truth. Burke describes Abba Yahiyya as "a towering figure with the face of a saint," an erudite man who knows his own scriptures and the Jewish writings. Father Yahiyya considered the various sects of Christians known to us today as heretics.
Every celebratory occasion is marked by a festive meal called Al-Maeda, which always commences with a breaking bread blessing, and concludes with a thanksgiving toast although they do not drink wine. They carry daggers which are never drawn, use bathing garments, grow their hair long and wear turbans like the sikhs. Ramadaan and Hajj
Hajj
The Hajj is the pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. It is one of the largest pilgrimages in the world, and is the fifth pillar of Islam, a religious duty that must be carried out at least once in their lifetime by every able-bodied Muslim who can afford to do so...
are considered to occur at the right time (winter and spring respectively) for three years in a row at intervals of 33 years. At such a Hajj, Alenzar vows are fulfilled with sacrifices, headshaving, free-association and edible vine products.