tibil

{{Short description|World or Earth in Mandaeism}}

{{Mandaeism}}

In Mandaean cosmology, Tibil ({{langx|myz|ࡕࡉࡁࡉࡋ}}) or occasionally Arqa ḏ-Tibil (lit. "Tibil-Earth"){{cite book|last=Nasoraia|first=Brikha H.S.|author-link=Brikha Nasoraia|title=The Mandaean gnostic religion: worship practice and deep thought|publisher=Sterling|publication-place=New Delhi|year=2021|isbn=978-81-950824-1-4|oclc=1272858968}} is the Earth (World) or earthly middle realm. It is separated from the World of Light (alma ḏ-nhūra) above and the World of Darkness (alma ḏ-hšuka) below by ayar (aether).{{cite thesis|url=https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/1444088/|last=Aldihisi|first=Sabah|year=2008|title=The story of creation in the Mandaean holy book in the Ginza Rba|type=PhD|publisher=University College London}}

To reach the World of Light (alma ḏ-nhūra) from Tibil, Mandaeans believe that need they to establish laufa (connection, union) to be reunited with the World of Light. The laufa is re-created and reconfirmed by priests through rituals such as maṣbuta (baptism). Upon death, priests must perform masiqta rituals to help the departed soul successfully navigate from Tibil through the various maṭarta (watch-stations) that lie in between, in order to reach the World of Light.{{cite book|last=Buckley|first=Jorunn Jacobsen|title=The Mandaeans: ancient texts and modern people|publisher=Oxford University Press|publication-place=New York|year=2002|isbn=0-19-515385-5|oclc=65198443}}