Who or what are the Sabians?
The Sabians (Arabic: الصابئة, as-Sābiʾa) are a religious community mentioned in the Quran. Along with Jews, Christians, and Muslims, they are considered in certain verses as "People of the Book," a recognized monotheistic religious community.
There are two main theories about who the Sabians were historically:
The Mandaeans:
A Gnostic religion that exists today primarily in Iraq and Iran.
They worship John the Baptist.
Their religion emphasizes purity, water ceremonies, and a dualistic worldview.
Many researchers believe that this group is referred to as the Sabians in the Quran.
The Sabians of Harran:
A pagan (non-monotheistic) group from the city of Harran (in present-day southeastern Turkey).
They worshipped planets and celestial bodies, but had their own philosophy and were strongly influenced by ancient Greek philosophy.
To be protected under Islamic rule, they called themselves "Sabians," even though their religion was not strictly monotheistic.
Conclusion:
The identity of the "Sabians" is historically disputed, but they are mentioned respectfully in the Quran. Today, the Mandaeans are often equated with them, at least in religious terms.
🌊 The Mandaeans - Beliefs and Customs
The Mandaeans (presumably the Sabians in the Quran) are a gnostic religion, meaning they believe that true salvation can only be achieved through secret, spiritual knowledge (gnosis). Their beliefs are strongly dualistic—light versus darkness, good versus evil.
🔑 Central Beliefs:
A God of Light: They believe in a supreme, hidden God called Hayyi Rabbi (the living God).
John the Baptist: He is their most important prophetic figure—not Jesus or Muhammad.
Rejection of Jesus and Moses: They reject both because they believe these figures were misunderstood or misguided.
Soul vs. Matter: The human body is a kind of prison for the soul. The goal is to ultimately return to the realm of light.
💧 Daily baptisms and purity:
Water is sacred—similar to Christianity, but much more intense.
Baptisms (in Aramaic, masbuta) occur regularly, not just once in a lifetime.
Running water, called yardna (symbolically the Jordan River), is essential for rituals.
Many ritual ablutions to cleanse oneself of "worldly filth."
📖 The Sabians in the Quran
The Sabians are mentioned in three places in the Quran – for example:
"Verily, those who believe, and the Jews, and the Christians, and the Sabians – whoever believes in God and the Last Day and does righteous deeds – will have their reward with their Lord."
(Surah 2:62)
🔍 Meaning in Islam:
They are counted among the ahl al-kitab (People of the Book), although it is unclear whether they have a "Book" in the classical sense.
They enjoy (at least theoretically) protection under Islamic rule – like Jews and Christians.
In the Middle Ages, some non-Muslim groups deliberately called themselves "Sabians" to fall under this protection (e.g., the Philosophers of Harran).