The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (2771 page)

(Arab.,
zahada
, ‘abstain’). Abstinence in Muslim life, at first from sin and from all that separates from God; then (for those pursuing a
S
f
path) from all that is created in order to cling only to the Creator.

 
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1794–1886).
Jewish historian. Zunz was among the founders of the ‘Science of Judaism’. Zunz became editor of
Zeitschrift für die Wissenschaft des Judentums
in 1823, the purpose of which was to redefine Judaism in accordance with the spirit of the times. He hoped that Jewish Studies would be recognized as an academic subject taught in secular universities. Although this aim was not realized in his lifetime, his work was continued after his death by the specially created Zunz Foundation (Zunzstiftung).

 
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Zurvan
.

‘Time’ in
Zoroastrianism
, speculation on which subject appears to have given rise to a ‘heresy’ so powerful that it was dominant in Sasanian if not Achaemenid times. Essentially it appears to have been an intellectual interpretation of the doctrine rather than a formal cult, since there is no evidence of a separate priesthood or temples. Probably under Greek philosophical influence, Time was seen as the source and controller of all things, as the unity behind the polarity of the twin spirits of good and evil,
Ahura Mazda
and
Angra Mainyu
. If the idea of twins requires a father, then Zurvan was that father. But Time as the controller of all things led to a doctrine of pre-destination, fundamentally at variance with ‘orthodox’ teachings on free will (
Fravasi
).

 
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(Jap.). A small shrine or sanctuary dedicated to the
Buddha
or to a transmitter of
dharma
.

 
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Zutra, Mar
.

Three Jewish
exilarchs
of the 5th and 6th cents. CE. Mar Zutra I (d.
c.
414), known as ‘the pious’, was famous for his compassion and exemplary character. Mar Zutra II (d. 520) defeated the Persians and set up an independent Jewish state, 513–20. His son, Mar Zutra III, was traditionally born on the day his father was executed. He left Babylon and eventually settled in
Erez Israel
.

 
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