Markanites
Origins
Markanites origins are a controversial issue. Some believe they are immigrated to their current homeland from arabia before the expansion of Semitic Peoples. Others believe they are Sumerian explorers who set sail from Dilmun and ended up where they are currently while others tie them with Harappans aka Indus valley civilization. They speak a language isolate that shows some similarities to Sumerian but is poorly studied. Markanites also speak swahili and Hadramouti arabic in their daily lives and most are trilingual.
Religion
Majority of Markanites believe in a system called Barqadat, a word evolved from baraqa and adat. In this system core islamic values are mixed and sometimes replaced with Markan native beliefs. Around 70% of Markanites believe in this traditionalised form of Islam while remainder is mostly Sunni Muslims but a small minority of Shias and Christians are also present.
So what is Barqadat? Barqadat is hard to describe for it has no texts. Main concept of Barqadat is the belief in Barq, a karma like force that is more like a substance that sticks to person and causes them misfortune. It is believed only gods light can burn away Barq from a persons soul and to attain gods light one must reach a state of oneness with the god which is only possible by oneness with the Markanite community which is the material shadow of god on earth similar to how Caliphs of arabs are. To achieve oneness with the community one must follow traditions of the community. This belief is often compared to sikhism and Jainism for it has many similarities with them and allowed preservation of Markanite traditions such as worship of Shams(Sun), Mevuz(Moon), Isa(Jesus) and Zulkarnayn(Alexander the great) alongside Allah since they are part of Markanite tradition. Markanite interpret religion so that allah is not the only god but the greatest god and other gods still exist. In Markanite aqidah recognizes only Meccan surahs as authentic and Medinan surahs and Hadith literature is believed by Markanites to be later inventions of Umayyad and Abbasid Caliphates. Because of their lack of belief in integrity of Quran and their polytheism, Markanites are not considered muslim by rest of the muslim world
Markanite traditions include animals sacrifices to prementioned gods, Drinking Sea water to purify the soul and Sea burials where the corpse of the deceased is tied to stones and thrown out in special sand mounts. This sea mounds are considered sacred and believed to host spirit creatures who carry the souls of the deceased to god. Markanites do not believe in heaven or hell for themselves. Their souls become part of god. Markanites also scar certain verses from the Quran on their skin when they turn 16 which is in tribal Markanite law the age one becomes an adult and can be married. Every family has a desiganted verse and only those with complimentary verses are allowed to marry.
Markanites also practise what they call shirim whic is best translated as sorcery. This sorcery includes folk healing, divination using sea sparkle and stars and use of talisman to ward off evil eye and mantras to give one good luck. Belief in this magics is unanimous amongst Markanites regardles of whether they follow Barqadat, Islam or Christianity.
Location
Markanites mostly live in various Islands and Sea mounts of the Mascarene Plateu in indian ocean(OTL sheycelles). Some have also settled in swahili coast and Northern madagascar.
Population
It is estimated there is aroud 2 million Markanites in the world. Two thirds of them live in their homeland as well as other Indian ocean islands and coasts.
Cuisine:
Markanite cuisine includes fish in all forms. They also consume Kelp and corals. Markanites have developed a reistance to various toxins found in sea life in the region such as Lionfish venom and Pufferfush poison throughout generations and some are known to be able to safely eat raw pufferfish.
Persecution:
Markanites have been persecuted for their unusual beliefs for generations by somali and Maldivian traders and pirates who embargoed and raided their islands for slaves. This persecution and enmity continues even today.
Origins
Markanites origins are a controversial issue. Some believe they are immigrated to their current homeland from arabia before the expansion of Semitic Peoples. Others believe they are Sumerian explorers who set sail from Dilmun and ended up where they are currently while others tie them with Harappans aka Indus valley civilization. They speak a language isolate that shows some similarities to Sumerian but is poorly studied. Markanites also speak swahili and Hadramouti arabic in their daily lives and most are trilingual.
Religion
Majority of Markanites believe in a system called Barqadat, a word evolved from baraqa and adat. In this system core islamic values are mixed and sometimes replaced with Markan native beliefs. Around 70% of Markanites believe in this traditionalised form of Islam while remainder is mostly Sunni Muslims but a small minority of Shias and Christians are also present.
So what is Barqadat? Barqadat is hard to describe for it has no texts. Main concept of Barqadat is the belief in Barq, a karma like force that is more like a substance that sticks to person and causes them misfortune. It is believed only gods light can burn away Barq from a persons soul and to attain gods light one must reach a state of oneness with the god which is only possible by oneness with the Markanite community which is the material shadow of god on earth similar to how Caliphs of arabs are. To achieve oneness with the community one must follow traditions of the community. This belief is often compared to sikhism and Jainism for it has many similarities with them and allowed preservation of Markanite traditions such as worship of Shams(Sun), Mevuz(Moon), Isa(Jesus) and Zulkarnayn(Alexander the great) alongside Allah since they are part of Markanite tradition. Markanite interpret religion so that allah is not the only god but the greatest god and other gods still exist. In Markanite aqidah recognizes only Meccan surahs as authentic and Medinan surahs and Hadith literature is believed by Markanites to be later inventions of Umayyad and Abbasid Caliphates. Because of their lack of belief in integrity of Quran and their polytheism, Markanites are not considered muslim by rest of the muslim world
Markanite traditions include animals sacrifices to prementioned gods, Drinking Sea water to purify the soul and Sea burials where the corpse of the deceased is tied to stones and thrown out in special sand mounts. This sea mounds are considered sacred and believed to host spirit creatures who carry the souls of the deceased to god. Markanites do not believe in heaven or hell for themselves. Their souls become part of god. Markanites also scar certain verses from the Quran on their skin when they turn 16 which is in tribal Markanite law the age one becomes an adult and can be married. Every family has a desiganted verse and only those with complimentary verses are allowed to marry.
Markanites also practise what they call shirim whic is best translated as sorcery. This sorcery includes folk healing, divination using sea sparkle and stars and use of talisman to ward off evil eye and mantras to give one good luck. Belief in this magics is unanimous amongst Markanites regardles of whether they follow Barqadat, Islam or Christianity.
Location
Markanites mostly live in various Islands and Sea mounts of the Mascarene Plateu in indian ocean(OTL sheycelles). Some have also settled in swahili coast and Northern madagascar.
Population
It is estimated there is aroud 2 million Markanites in the world. Two thirds of them live in their homeland as well as other Indian ocean islands and coasts.
Cuisine:
Markanite cuisine includes fish in all forms. They also consume Kelp and corals. Markanites have developed a reistance to various toxins found in sea life in the region such as Lionfish venom and Pufferfush poison throughout generations and some are known to be able to safely eat raw pufferfish.
Persecution:
Markanites have been persecuted for their unusual beliefs for generations by somali and Maldivian traders and pirates who embargoed and raided their islands for slaves. This persecution and enmity continues even today.