[2][3] The Haran Gawaita continues the historical narrative of the Mandaean Book of Kings,[4] adding a new eighth age to the seven described in that work.
The recipients of the text are stated to be those disciples who must persevere in their faith during the Arab age, meaning that it must post-date the early Muslim conquests at the least.
[6] According to the Haran Gawaita, John the Baptist was baptized, initiated, and educated by the patron of the Nasirutha (secret knowledge), Enosh (Anush or Anush-ʼuthra), the hierophant of the sect.
With the help of a king named Artabanus, whom the Mandaean Book of Kings identifies explicitly with Artabanus IV and describes as "one of our forefathers",[9] they travel to a region described as "Inner Harran ('haran gauaita) which is called the mountains of Madday" (Mandaic ṭura ḏ-madai), which some scholars have identified with Media.
[17] It was owned by Nasser Sobbi and was originally copied by Mulla Sa’ad, the grandfather of Jabbar Choheili.