Top of page

Book/Printed Material A Book Containing the History of the Samaritan Sect and the Rituals of Their Religion.

View 145 images in sequence.

About this Item

Title

  • A Book Containing the History of the Samaritan Sect and the Rituals of Their Religion.

Summary

  • This manuscript preserves an untitled treatise that is referred to in the introduction simply as Kitābun muḥtawin ʻalá siyyar ḥāl ṭāʻifati al-sāmirah wa ṭuqūsi diyānatihim (A book containing the history of the Samaritan sect and the rituals of their religion). The author is unknown. The work is divided into ten chapters, covering what Samaritans "believe to be the truth about their doctrine and faith." The chapters are: 1) On the origins of the Samaritan sect; 2) The belief in Mount Gerizim as their qibla (prayer direction); 3) The observance of the Sabbath; 4) Circumcision and the rules governing it; 5) Samaritan months and festivals; 6) Impurities and ablution; 7) Rules governing ritual slaughter; 8) Marriage rituals; 9) The nonexistence of a doctrine of abrogation in their Torah; and 10) The rituals pertaining to death, passage to the afterlife, and resurrection. The Samaritans are an ancient, ethnoreligious group of Levantine origins. They believe they are descendants of the original Israelites. Often referred to as the smallest religious minority in the world, today they number about 800, and live in tight-knit communities on the holy site of Mount Gerizim, near present-day Nablus, and in Holon, south of present-day Tel Aviv, Israel. The manuscript is written in black ink, in naskh style, with catchwords on rectos. Each chapter begins with a rubricated synopsis that gives an overview of the chapter. The manuscript is almost entirely void of images, with the exception of two small illustrations, on pages 126 verso and 127 recto (frames 69 and 70 in this presentation). The first illustration shows an altar "taken from the Book of Exodus," with two water bowls in the center, and notes on the sides indicating where a sacrifice is slaughtered and where worshipers stand. The second illustration is a drawing of a kiln "taken from the covenant with Abram." No scribe name or copy date is given, but the manuscript was likely produced in the 18th century.

Created / Published

  • [place of publication not identified] : [publisher not identified], [1700 to 1799]

Headings

  • -  Israel--Tel-Aviv
  • -  Israel--VeShomron--Nablus
  • -  1700 to 1799
  • -  Monastic and religious life
  • -  Naskh script
  • -  Religion
  • -  Samaritans

Notes

  • -  Title devised, in English, by Library staff.
  • -  Original resource extent: 133 folios ; 17 x 33 centimeters.
  • -  Original resource at: Qatar National Library.
  • -  Content in Arabic.
  • -  Description based on data extracted from World Digital Library, which may be extracted from partner institutions.

Medium

  • 1 online resource.

Digital Id

Library of Congress Control Number

  • 2021667376

Online Format

  • compressed data
  • pdf
  • image

Additional Metadata Formats

IIIF Presentation Manifest

Rights & Access

The Library of Congress is unaware of any copyright or other restrictions in the World Digital Library Collection. Absent any such restrictions, these materials are free to use and reuse. Researchers are encouraged to review the source information attached to each item. For information on contacting WDL partner organizations, see this archived list of partners

The Library asks that researchers approach the materials in this collection with respect for the culture and sensibilities of the people whose lives, ideas, and creativity are documented here.

Credit Line: [Original Source citation], World Digital Library

More about Copyright and other Restrictions

For additional information and contact information for many of the partner organizations, see this archived capture of the World Digital Library site from 2021.

For guidance about compiling full citations consult Citing Primary Sources.

Cite This Item

Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.

Chicago citation style:

A Book Containing the History of the Samaritan Sect and the Rituals of Their Religion. [Place of Publication Not Identified: Publisher Not Identified, to 1799, 1700] Pdf. https://www.loc.gov/item/2021667376/.

APA citation style:

(1700) A Book Containing the History of the Samaritan Sect and the Rituals of Their Religion. [Place of Publication Not Identified: Publisher Not Identified, to 1799] [Pdf] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2021667376/.

MLA citation style:

A Book Containing the History of the Samaritan Sect and the Rituals of Their Religion. [Place of Publication Not Identified: Publisher Not Identified, to 1799, 1700] Pdf. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/2021667376/>.