Hibil

In Mandaeism, Hibil (ࡄࡉࡁࡉࡋ) or Hibil Ziwa (ࡄࡉࡁࡉࡋ ࡆࡉࡅࡀ) is an uthra ("excellency", an angel or guardian) from the World of Light. Hibil is considered to be the Mandaean equivalent of Abel. Prayers in the Qolasta frequently contain the recurring formula "In the name of Hibil, Shitil, and Anuš" (ࡁࡔࡅࡌࡀࡉࡄࡅࡍ ࡖࡄࡉࡁࡉࡋ ࡅࡔࡉࡕࡉࡋ ࡅࡀࡍࡅࡔ ). According to Mandaean beliefs and scriptures including the Qolastā, the Mandaean Book of John and Genzā Rabbā, Abel is cognate with the angelic soteriological figure Hibil Ziwa, (ࡄࡉࡁࡉࡋ ࡆࡉࡅࡀ‎, sometimes translated "Splendid Hibel"), who is spoken of as a son of Hayyi or of Manda d-Hayyi, and as a brother to Anush (Enosh) and to Shitil (Seth), who is the son of Adam. Elsewhere, Anush is spoken of as the son of Sheetil, and Sheetil as the son of Hibil, where Hibil came to Adam and Eve as a young boy when they were still virgins, but was called their son. Hibil is an important lightworld being (uthra) who conquered the World of Darkness. As Yawar Hibil, he is one of multiple figures known as Yawar (ࡉࡀࡅࡀࡓ), being so named by and after his father. In the Scroll of Abatur, Hibil tells the uthra Abatur to go and reside in the boundary between the World of Light and the World of Darkness, and weigh for purity those souls which have passed through all the purgatories and wish to return to the light. Hibil's soteriological descent to the World of Darkness and his baptisms before and after are detailed in book 5 of the Right Volume of the Ginza Rabba, and also in a separate text named The Baptism of Hibil Ziwa (ࡃࡉࡅࡀࡍ ࡌࡀࡑࡁࡅࡕࡀ ࡖࡄࡉࡁࡉࡋ ࡆࡉࡅࡀ). Hibil battles and defeats Krun and seals the abodes of the rulers of darkness. Some versions of this account have parallels with the Hymn of the Pearl included in the Acts of Thomas. In response to an upset of the dualistic balance of the universe, Manda d-Hayyi summons Hibil, whom the King of Light proceeds to baptise in 360,000 or 360 yardeni. In connection with this baptism, Hibil is bestowed with 360 robes of light, the Great Mystery, seven staves, and the name Yawar, amongst other attributes.