InMandaean cosmology,Tibil (Classical Mandaic:ࡕࡉࡁࡉࡋ) or occasionallyArqa ḏ-Tibil (lit. "Tibil-Earth")[1] is theEarth (World) or earthly middle realm. It is separated from theWorld of Light (alma ḏ-nhūra) above and theWorld of Darkness (alma ḏ-hšuka) below byayar (aether).[2]
To reach the World of Light (alma ḏ-nhūra) from Tibil, Mandaeans believe that need they to establishlaufa (connection, union) to be reunited with the World of Light. Thelaufa is re-created and reconfirmed by priests through rituals such asmaṣbuta (baptism). Upon death, priests must performmasiqta rituals to help the departed soul successfully navigate from Tibil through the variousmaṭarta (watch-stations) that lie in between, in order to reach the World of Light.[3]
Häberl (2022) considers Tibil to be a borrowing from Hebrewtebel (Hebrew:תֵבֵל).[4]
