[a. Arab. zindīq atheist, fire-worshipper, disbeliever in a future state, etc., Pers. zandīq fire-worshipper; cf. late Avestic zandā- a kind of heretic (Bartholomae).] A name given in the East to a disbeliever in revealed religion or a practiser of heretical magic. Also Zendician. Hence Zendicism, the belief of a zendik; Zendikite (Zin-), a believer in zendicism.
1697. Prideaux, Mahomet (1708), 13. Zendicism, an Error among the Arabs near of kin to the Sadducism of the Jews,… denying Providence, the Resurrection, and a Future State.
1842. Brande, Dict. Sci., etc., s.v. The sect of Zendiks opposed the progress of Mohammedanism in Arabia with great obstinacy.
1845. Encycl. Metrop., XI. 558/2. The Zendicians…. Their belief seems to have been a medley formed from the doctrines of the Magians and Paulicians.
1877. Smith & Wace’s Dict. Chr. Biog., I. 477/2. The Persians exulted in crimes and Zendicism abounded. Ibid., 478/1. Hareth, son of Amr,… who is said by Hamza to have been a Zendikite, was of Kendite race.
