المعنى الاصطلاحي :

A paganistic, dualistic, and Magian religion that is ascribed to Māni ibn Fātik, who claimed prophethood for himself. They said that the world is created from light and darkness and believe that the souls transfer from one body to another.

الشرح المختصر :

"Al-Mānawiyyah" (Manichaeism) is one of the Magian religions; it is also called "Al-Manāniyyah". It is ascribed to its founder Māni ibn Fātik, the Magian who emerged in the time of King Shāboor ibn Azdasher, which was after the time of Jesus, peace be upon him. He used to believe in the prophethood of Jesus but not in the prophethood of Moses, so he created his ideology from the Magian religion and Christianity. From their most important beliefs are: 1. Their belief that the world is created from two origins: light and darkness. 2. Their founder is Māni ibn Fātik, who claimed prophethood. 3. The belief in transmigration of souls and their transfer from one body to another. 4. The prohibition of everything that encourages fulfilling the desires of one’s body and senses, such as forbidding marriage, eating meat, etc. 5. Celebrating the day that their founder died; they call it "the divine supper" or "the holy meal" and it takes place in the end of December. This belief spread in the lands of Persia (Iran), India, and China. It remained until the 11th century A.D.

التعريف اللغوي المختصر :

"Mānawiyyah": ascribed to Māni. They were called "Al-Mānawiyyah" because they were following a man named Māni ibn Fātik.