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Prophet Mani (pbuh) is a mysterious figure in history. His claims intrigued many and he accumulated many followers over the years. His religion became one of the most widespread religions that the world had seen. Today, however, not many people know much about this great personality or his teachings. What is even more unfortunate is that many of the holy books authored by Mani were lost or intentionally destroyed. Only small fragments remained, but what has remained, gives us a good idea of what he taught and preached, and what the results were from his teachings.
Prophet Muhammad (pbuhahf) is known throughout the world as the founder of the religion of Islam, he was born several centuries after the death of Prophet Mani (pbuh). Today the Islamic religion is one of the world’s most practising religions, widespread across the globe. Both of these founders were born after the founding of Christianity and had emerged as new faiths. It may come as a shock to learn that the closest religion to Islam with many shocking similarities, is not Judaism nor Christianity, but rather Manichaeism, we will be looking in-depth into what makes these two similar, and how they are connected.
Prophet Muhammad (pbuhahf) at the age of 40 had also received his first revelation from an angel, that angel was none other than Gabriel (pbuh), and at the age of 43, he declared himself openly to the public to be a Prophet and Messenger of God. Both Mani and Muhammad (pbut) had declared themselves publicly by these angels to be on a mission from God the almighty, and what is even more interesting are the names that Mani (pbuh) had called out as past Prophets, ‘Buddha, Zoroaster, and Jesus (pbuh)’, and that he was the next in line in a succession of prophets.
“We already sent messengers before you. We have told you the stories of some of them, while others We have not. It was not for any messenger to bring a sign without Allah’s permission. But when Allah’s decree comes, judgment will be passed with fairness, and the people of falsehood will then be in ˹total˺ loss.”
– Holy Quran, Ghafir verse 78
“We surely sent a messenger to every community, saying, “Worship Allah and shun false gods.” But some of them were guided by Allah, while others were destined to stray. So travel throughout the land and see the fate of the deniers!”
– Holy Quran, An-Nahl verse 36
“…and for boasting, “We killed the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, the messenger of Allah.” But they neither killed nor crucified him—it was only made to appear so. Even those who argue for this ˹crucifixion˺ are in doubt. They have no knowledge whatsoever—only making assumptions. They certainly did not kill him.”
– Holy Quran, An-Nisa verse 157
Another controversial belief besides the concept of the trinity and crucifixion which both religions reject is the idea that Jesus (pbuh) was the absolute God in the flesh.
The Quran states:
“Those who say, “Allah is the Messiah, son of Mary,” have certainly fallen into disbelief. The Messiah ˹himself˺ said, “O Children of Israel! Worship Allah—my Lord and your Lord.” Whoever associates others with Allah ˹in worship˺ will surely be forbidden Paradise by Allah. Their home will be the Fire. And the wrongdoers will have no helpers.”
– Holy Quran Al-Ma’idah verse 72
Al-Nadim has reported about the Manichaean prayer in his book Al-Fihrist: “Now indeed he, the man, stands up and washes in the flowing water or something else, and he turns towards the greater Luminary, standing.” This shows a clear similarity between the Muslim and Manichaean ablution and prayer.
Not only this but just as the Muslims bow and prostrate several times in their prayers, the Manichaeans also bow and prostrate several times throughout their prayers, the Manichaeans also used to supplicate to their lord with their hands up with their palms facing towards the sky, and this is exactly how you find Muslims supplicating today.
In Islam, there are five pillars, four of which are: The declaration of faith, prayer, charity, and fasting. From these four, we have already gone over the fact that Islam and Manichaeism share the belief in One God and the belief of their founders being a sent Messenger of God, and both of these religions have daily obligatory prayers, but what of the other two pillars?
“Establish prayer, and pay alms-tax. Whatever good you send forth for yourselves, you will ˹certainly˺ find ˹its reward˺ with Allah. Surely Allah is All-Seeing of what you do.”
– Holy Quran, Al-Baqarah verse 110
Prophet Muhammad (pbuhahf) has placed a huge emphasis on giving to the poor in charity, it is narrated by Abu Burda that the Prophet (pbuhahf) said, “Every Muslim has to give in charity.” The people asked, “O Allah’s Prophet! If someone has nothing to give, what will he do?” He said, “He should work with his hands and benefit himself and also give in charity (from what he earns).” The people further asked, “If he cannot find even that?” He replied, “He should help the needy who appeal for help.” Then the people asked, “If he cannot do that?” He replied, “Then he should perform good deeds and keep away from evil deeds and this will be regarded as charitable deeds.”
– Sahih Bukhari, Abi Abdullah Muhammad ibn Isma’il Al-Bukhari, Book of Obligatory Charity (Zakat), hadith 1445
“O believers! Fasting is prescribed for you—as it was for those before you—so perhaps you will become mindful ˹of Allah˺.”
– Holy Quran, Al-Baqarah verse 183
Fasting was prescribed so this way those who were more fortunate than others in this world would have an idea of what it was like to have the pains of hunger like that of the less fortunate, it allowed one to become more humble and sympathetic towards others, fasting in itself is considered in Islam as a charity for the body itself.
And if fasting has been decreed upon those before Islam, then let’s take a look at Manichaeism and see if fasting is included along with charity.
“This is kephalaion 79: ‘Concerning the Fasting of the Saints’ (191.9-192.3)
Once more the enlightener speaks to his disciples: ‘The fasting that the saints fast by is profitable for four great works.
The first work: Shall the holy man punish his body by fasting, he subdues the entire ruling-power that exists in him.
The second: This soul that comes in to him in the administration of his food, day by day; it shall be made holy, cleansed, purified, and washed from the adulteration of the darkness that is mixed in with it.
The third: That person shall make every deed a holy one; the mystery of the children of light in whom there is neither corruption nor […] the food, nor wound it. Rather, they are holy, there is nothing in them that defiles, as they live in peace.
The fourth: They make a […] the Cross, they restrain their hands from the hand […] not destroy the living soul.
The fasting is profitable to the saints for these four great works should they persist; that is if they are constant in them daily, and cause the body to make all its 3 members to fast with a holy fast.
[…] faith. They who have not strength to fast daily should make their fast on the lord’s day. They too make a contribution to the works and the fasting of the saints by their faith and their alms.”
– Manichaean Texts from the Roman Empire, Iain Gardner and Samuel N. C. Lieu, p. 240
Prophet Muhammad (pbuhahf) is known throughout the world as the founder of the religion of Islam, he was born several centuries after the death of Prophet Mani (pbuh). Today the Islamic religion is one of the world’s most practising religions, widespread across the globe. Both of these founders were born after the founding of Christianity and had emerged as new faiths. It may come as a shock to learn that the closest religion to Islam with many shocking similarities, is not Judaism nor Christianity, but rather Manichaeism, we will be looking in-depth into what makes these two similar, and how they are connected.
Monotheism and Rejection of the Trinity
The first and most important belief that both Mani and Muhammad (pbut) had preached was Monotheism, the oneness of God, without a partner, they also rejected the concept of a triune God, which distinguished Manichaeism from their mainstream Christian rivals.Prophethood
At the age of 12, Mani received his first revelation from what is believed to be an Angel as a messenger to him saying: “Withdraw from this sect, for none of its people belongs to you; your concern is with purifying the soul and abandoning the passions. But (the time for) your public appearance has not yet come, for you are still too young.”(Gospel of Mani p. 25) At the age of 24, he was once again visited by this Angel who had informed him to declare himself publicly to the people, Mani (pbuh) had called out to his people stating: “As once Buddha came to India, Zoroaster to Persia, and Jesus to the lands of the West, so came in the present time, this prophecy through me, Mani, to the land of Babylonia.” (The Acts of the Apostle Thomas, Prof. M. M. Ninan, p.275) He had declared himself to be a prophet to his people by the command of this angel who he identified as his Twin.Prophet Muhammad (pbuhahf) at the age of 40 had also received his first revelation from an angel, that angel was none other than Gabriel (pbuh), and at the age of 43, he declared himself openly to the public to be a Prophet and Messenger of God. Both Mani and Muhammad (pbut) had declared themselves publicly by these angels to be on a mission from God the almighty, and what is even more interesting are the names that Mani (pbuh) had called out as past Prophets, ‘Buddha, Zoroaster, and Jesus (pbuh)’, and that he was the next in line in a succession of prophets.
Prophets and Messengers
You will find Islamic scholars that believe or consider Buddha and Zoroaster (pbut) to be past Prophets whose call and message had become distorted over time, it’s also reported that the Muslims who had invaded Persia had considered Zoroaster (pbuh) to be a divinely sent prophet, and the Muslims had labelled Zoroastrians under the category of ‘People of the Book’ like the Christians and Jews. The Quran also testifies that there are unknown Prophets who are not mentioned in the Quran:“We already sent messengers before you. We have told you the stories of some of them, while others We have not. It was not for any messenger to bring a sign without Allah’s permission. But when Allah’s decree comes, judgment will be passed with fairness, and the people of falsehood will then be in ˹total˺ loss.”
– Holy Quran, Ghafir verse 78
“We surely sent a messenger to every community, saying, “Worship Allah and shun false gods.” But some of them were guided by Allah, while others were destined to stray. So travel throughout the land and see the fate of the deniers!”
– Holy Quran, An-Nahl verse 36
Divine Successors and Reformers
Both Prophet Muhammad (pbuhahf) and Prophet Mani (pbuh) had claimed to come as reformers of the religions of their predecessors after their call and message had been distorted and corrupted over time, such as the religion of Christianity, which is why you will find some unique claims in these religions. For example, just as Mani (pbuh) claimed to be the direct successor and disciple of Jesus (pbuh), so do the Muslims, as they claim that Muhammad (pbuhahf) was a successor of Jesus (pbuh).Denial of the Crucifixion and Absolute Divinity of Jesus Christ (pbuh)
In Islam fasting is also obligatory, it is upon every Muslim man and woman to fast during the holy month of Ramadan, consisting of 29 or 30 days, abstaining from food and drink and during the entirety of the month from dawn to sunset.“…and for boasting, “We killed the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, the messenger of Allah.” But they neither killed nor crucified him—it was only made to appear so. Even those who argue for this ˹crucifixion˺ are in doubt. They have no knowledge whatsoever—only making assumptions. They certainly did not kill him.”
– Holy Quran, An-Nisa verse 157
Another controversial belief besides the concept of the trinity and crucifixion which both religions reject is the idea that Jesus (pbuh) was the absolute God in the flesh.
The Quran states:
“Those who say, “Allah is the Messiah, son of Mary,” have certainly fallen into disbelief. The Messiah ˹himself˺ said, “O Children of Israel! Worship Allah—my Lord and your Lord.” Whoever associates others with Allah ˹in worship˺ will surely be forbidden Paradise by Allah. Their home will be the Fire. And the wrongdoers will have no helpers.”
– Holy Quran Al-Ma’idah verse 72
Daily Prayers
Prophet Muhammad (pbuhahf) had assigned 5 daily obligatory prayers to his followers, Manichaeans are reported to have prayed between 4 to 7 times a day.Ritual Purification and Acts of Worship
Even the start of the prayer is quite similar, in Islam one must perform ablution to approach and initiate the prayer, at the beginning of the prayer there is a standing position facing the Qibla, the direction of prayer, the Kaaba, which is considered by Muslims to be the ‘House of God’ in which the worshipper recites praises, bows, and prostrates to the Lord, in Manichaeism, the direction of prayer was, the Sun and the Moon, as they represented the Light of God, and if the Moon was not Visible at night, they prayed in the direction of the North, the Throne of the Light King.Al-Nadim has reported about the Manichaean prayer in his book Al-Fihrist: “Now indeed he, the man, stands up and washes in the flowing water or something else, and he turns towards the greater Luminary, standing.” This shows a clear similarity between the Muslim and Manichaean ablution and prayer.
Not only this but just as the Muslims bow and prostrate several times in their prayers, the Manichaeans also bow and prostrate several times throughout their prayers, the Manichaeans also used to supplicate to their lord with their hands up with their palms facing towards the sky, and this is exactly how you find Muslims supplicating today.
In Islam, there are five pillars, four of which are: The declaration of faith, prayer, charity, and fasting. From these four, we have already gone over the fact that Islam and Manichaeism share the belief in One God and the belief of their founders being a sent Messenger of God, and both of these religions have daily obligatory prayers, but what of the other two pillars?
Charity
In Islam it is obligatory to give in charity also known as Zakat, to help the poor and needy. The Quran states:“Establish prayer, and pay alms-tax. Whatever good you send forth for yourselves, you will ˹certainly˺ find ˹its reward˺ with Allah. Surely Allah is All-Seeing of what you do.”
– Holy Quran, Al-Baqarah verse 110
Prophet Muhammad (pbuhahf) has placed a huge emphasis on giving to the poor in charity, it is narrated by Abu Burda that the Prophet (pbuhahf) said, “Every Muslim has to give in charity.” The people asked, “O Allah’s Prophet! If someone has nothing to give, what will he do?” He said, “He should work with his hands and benefit himself and also give in charity (from what he earns).” The people further asked, “If he cannot find even that?” He replied, “He should help the needy who appeal for help.” Then the people asked, “If he cannot do that?” He replied, “Then he should perform good deeds and keep away from evil deeds and this will be regarded as charitable deeds.”
– Sahih Bukhari, Abi Abdullah Muhammad ibn Isma’il Al-Bukhari, Book of Obligatory Charity (Zakat), hadith 1445
Fasting
In Islam fasting is also obligatory, it is upon every Muslim man and woman to fast during the holy month of Ramadan, consisting of 29 or 30 days, abstaining from food and drink and during the entirety of the month from dawn til sunset.“O believers! Fasting is prescribed for you—as it was for those before you—so perhaps you will become mindful ˹of Allah˺.”
– Holy Quran, Al-Baqarah verse 183
Fasting was prescribed so this way those who were more fortunate than others in this world would have an idea of what it was like to have the pains of hunger like that of the less fortunate, it allowed one to become more humble and sympathetic towards others, fasting in itself is considered in Islam as a charity for the body itself.
And if fasting has been decreed upon those before Islam, then let’s take a look at Manichaeism and see if fasting is included along with charity.
“This is kephalaion 79: ‘Concerning the Fasting of the Saints’ (191.9-192.3)
Once more the enlightener speaks to his disciples: ‘The fasting that the saints fast by is profitable for four great works.
The first work: Shall the holy man punish his body by fasting, he subdues the entire ruling-power that exists in him.
The second: This soul that comes in to him in the administration of his food, day by day; it shall be made holy, cleansed, purified, and washed from the adulteration of the darkness that is mixed in with it.
The third: That person shall make every deed a holy one; the mystery of the children of light in whom there is neither corruption nor […] the food, nor wound it. Rather, they are holy, there is nothing in them that defiles, as they live in peace.
The fourth: They make a […] the Cross, they restrain their hands from the hand […] not destroy the living soul.
The fasting is profitable to the saints for these four great works should they persist; that is if they are constant in them daily, and cause the body to make all its 3 members to fast with a holy fast.
[…] faith. They who have not strength to fast daily should make their fast on the lord’s day. They too make a contribution to the works and the fasting of the saints by their faith and their alms.”
– Manichaean Texts from the Roman Empire, Iain Gardner and Samuel N. C. Lieu, p. 240
