Who Are The Sabeans/sabiyyun?
12. This is an ancient religious group which was very well known in the time of revelation of the Qur’ān. The word ‘صَبَا’ means to ‘to rise [at dawn]’. Hence, the conjecture of Imam Farāhī seems to be true that these people were called Sabeans (Magians) because of their adeptness in astrology and their acquaintance with the influences of stars and heavenly bodies. The way the Qur’ān has mentioned them here shows that they were a righteous people and like the Jews and Christians, later deviated from the right path. Some of the early scholars of Islam say that these people used to worship the angels, prayed while facing the Ka‘bah and recited the Psalms. Some others regard them to be a sect of the People of the Book and still others opine that they were the followers of the Prophet Abraham (sws). It is evident from certain narratives that the Idolaters of Arabia would call the Prophet (sws) Muhammad and his followers by this name. Imām Farāhī is of the opinion that the reason for this was that these people used to pray a lot. When the Idolaters observed the diligence of the Prophet (sws) and his Companions (rta) in praying five times a day, they reckoned that these people too had become Sabeans. Certain orientalist scholars say that a few people who belong to them still exist in Iraq and the people of Iraq call them the people of the Prophet Yahya (sws). However, since no authentic historical record of theirs exists, nothing can be said about them with certainty.<div> </div><div>2:62</div><div> </div><div>Is it a typo or are the sabeans the same as the magians?</div>