Prepare by Afzal Mohideen
Reviewed and slightly modified by Dr. Hatem al-Haj
The word saabi’ (Sabian) is derived from the verb saba’a which refers to the action of leaving one religion and entering another. There is a difference of opinion over the identity of the Sabians.
At-Tabari said: al-saabi’oon is the plural of saabi’, which means one who has changed his religion, such as an apostate from Islam who has left his religion, or anyone who leaves the religion that he used to follow and joined another.
Al-Shaafa’i (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: They are a kind of Christian.
Hatem: “Imam ash-Shafe’ee’s explanation is probably because the Sabians known in Iraq claim to follow Prophet Yahya (John). The Sabians who exist now in Iraq believe in baptism and they also revere the stars.”
Sufyaan Ath – Thawri said that Layth bin Abu Sulaym said that Mujaahid said: They are a people who come between the Majus, the Jews and the Christians. They do not have a specific religion. (At tabari 2:146)
In Tafseer Shaybaan it is narrated that Qataadah said: The Sabians are a people who worship the angels.
Ibn al-Qayyim said that this is an ancient nation which existed before the Jews and Christians and they were of different types: Sabians who were haneefs (monotheists) and Sabians who were mushrikoon (polytheists). They did not reject the Prophets or regard it as obligatory to follow them. In their view, whoever followed (the Prophets) is blessed and saved, and whoever follows a path similar to that of the Prophets by virtue of his own reasoning is also blessed and saved, even if he did not follow the Prophets in specific terms. In their view the call of the Prophets was true but there was no one specific route to salvation. They believed that the universe had a Creator and Sustainer, Who is Wise and above any resemblance to created beings, but many of them, or most of them, said: we are unable to reach Him without intermediaries, so we have to approach Him through the mediation of spiritual and holy who are pure and free of any physical elements and who are above place and time, rather they are created pure and holy.
Then he said: This is some of what was narrated by the scholar who studied religion and philosophy about the religion of the Sabians, and is based on what had come down to them. But among this nation are some who believe in Allaah and His names and attributes, His angels and Messengers and the Last Day; and among them are disbelievers. There are some who took from the religion of the Messengers whatever suited their own reasoning and ideas of what is good, so they followed it and were content with it.
Basically, they took what they thought was good from other religions, and they did not take the people of one religion as friends and others as enemies; they did not favour one religion over another. In their view all religions served some purpose in this world, so there was no sense in their fighting one another, rather the good things in each were to be adopted so as to perfect the human condition. Hence they were called saabi’een because they refrained from following any one particular religion. Hence more than one of the salaf (pious predecessors – companions of the Prophet and those who followed their way) said: They are not Jews or Christians or Magians.
Hatem: “They were mentioned in the Quran in the following verses:
Those who believe (in the Qur’an), and those who follow the Jewish (scriptures), and the Christians and the Sabians,- any who believe in Allah and the Last Day, and work righteousness, shall have their reward with their Lord; on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve. 2/62
Those who believe (in the Qur’an), those who follow the Jewish (scriptures), and the Sabians and the Christians,- any who believe in Allah and the Last Day, and work righteousness,- on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve. 5/69
Those who believe (in the Qur’an), those who follow the Jewish (scriptures), and the Sabians, Christians, Magians, and Polytheists,- Allah will judge between them on the Day of Judgment: for Allah is witness of all things. 22/17
What we need to know is that they are a nation that existed, and Allah will decree their fate on the day of judgment.
What has to be clear is that the ones who are saved in these verses are those who believed in Allah as he wished. Allah said:
)إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَكْفُرُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَرُسُلِهِ وَيُرِيدُونَ أَنْ يُفَرِّقُوا بَيْنَ اللَّهِ وَرُسُلِهِ وَيَقُولُونَ نُؤْمِنُ بِبَعْضٍ وَنَكْفُرُ بِبَعْضٍ وَيُرِيدُونَ أَنْ يَتَّخِذُوا بَيْنَ ذَلِكَ سَبِيلاً * أُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْكَافِرُونَ حَقّاً وَأَعْتَدْنَا لِلْكَافِرِينَ عَذَاباً مُهِيناً)(النساء 150-151)
“Those who deny Allah and His apostles, and (those who) wish to separate Allah from His apostles, saying: “We believe in some but reject others”: And (those who) wish to take a course midway,- They are in truth (equally) unbelievers; and we have prepared for unbelievers a humiliating punishment.” 4/150-151.
Thus, you are not a believer until you believe in Allah and his Messengers without exceptions. That clearly and most certainly includes the last and best of all of them, our most beloved, Prophet Muhammad (May Allah bless him and give him peace).”