Sabians, Sabians

Thus they appear to have gravitated around the original pro-Jewish Hanputa of Elchasai out of which the miso-Judaic prophet Mani seceded and are identified therefore as the pro-Torah Sampsaeans but also less accurately with the anti-Torah Mandaean Nasaran "Sabeans". They are the people of Noah Khalil ibn Ahmad (d. 786-787 AD) who was in Basra before his death, wrote: The Sabians believe they belong to the prophet Noah, they read Zaboor, and their religion looks like Christianity. He also states that "they worship the angels." who follow the path of the Budasaf, as was the practice of the Persians until Arsames and Vishtaspa were converted by Sami and Zoroaster, and who await a future Persian prophet The Knowledge of Life by Sinasi Gunduz (Journal of Semitic Studies pg.31) which has certainly influenced Shi'ite eschatology.

Sbi'n read from the Zaboor and use the sun for a Qiblah facing the equator at mid day Hasan al-Basri (d728 AD) wrote:"They read the Zaboor and pray facing a qiblah." Abul Ailya said: The Sabis are a sect of people of the Scripture who recite the Zabur . Qatadah ibn Diamah (d736 AD) wrote:"they pray towards the sun." . Their fundamental teaching is "La ilahah il Allah" Abd al-Rahman ibn Zayd (d. 798 AD) wrote: "The Sbi'n say that their religion is a religion to itself and they live near Mosul (jazirat al-mawsil) and believe in only one God." He also wrote that they have: " no cult though their main belief is La ilaha il Allah." He also remarked that: "the Sbi'n did not believe in the Prophet Mohammed (in the same way as his followers did), yet the polytheists were known to say of the Prophets and his companions these are the Sabians comparing them to them." , but besides this ardent unitarianism, Sbi'n are quite akin to Christians Al-Shaafai said: "Their case is to be examined further; if they resemble the Christians in basic matters but they differ from them in some minor issues, then the jizya is to be taken from them. But if they differ from them in basic issues of religion then their religion cannot be approved of by taking the jizya from them." And he elaborated elsewhere: "They are a kind of Christian." . Unlike their Mushrik Sabian cousins, who consider themselves the people of Idris' son Sabi, Hanif Sabians are more universal looking to Noah as their prophet of the Din Sbi'n have five daily prayers Qatadah ibn Diamah (d736 AD) wrote:"The Sabians worship angels, read Zaboor, pray five ritual prayers." (though Zohar can join Asr while Ma'ariv can join Isha giving the appearance of three). They believe in all prophets reiterating the Din of Noah and, not in the same way as the Muslims, believe in The Seal of The Prophets Ziyad ibn Abihi (d. 672 AD) who was the governor of Iraq during the first Umayyad caliph Mur awiyah wrote:"The Sabians believe in the prophets and pray five times daily." . They also fast for 30 days Abdul al-Zanad (d.747 AD) wrote:"The Sabians are from Kutha in Iraq, they believe in prophets, fast 30 days in a year, and pray 5 times daily towards the Yemen." (NB "towards the Yemen" is equivalent to facing south).

Generally such groups are more attracted to the Yazdan beliefs of the Sabians of Harran than independent rational theology. Naturally, some of the groups, seeming to encourage independent research, peddle their organization's current astrology and magic as well as other religious beliefs and practices as based more or less directly upon the ancient practices of their namesake groups.

Although neglecting the Budasaf independent rational theist's Noachian path, having a somewhat more polytheistic orientation, and even confusing "Shin" Sabaeans with "Saad" Sabians is The Sabaean Religious Order , they have grasped however that Sabi'anism per se revolves around astrological angelology and despite shortcomings seem to manifest the path of Sabiah Mushrikun.

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