historical

Sabeans

الصَّابِئِينَ

The Sabeans (الصَّابِئِينَ) are an ancient religious community whose exact identity and beliefs have been a subject of scholarly discussion and intrigue throughout Islamic history. Mentioned in the Quran alongside Jews, Christians, and Muslims, their inclusion in these verses offers profound insights into divine justice and mercy. The Quran assures us that among [those who were Jews or Christians or Sabeans], anyone who [believed in Allah and the Last Day and did righteousness] will have [their reward with their Lord, and no fear will there be concerning them, nor will they grieve]. This highlights a core Islamic principle: that sincere faith in God and righteous conduct are paramount, irrespective of one's specific communal affiliation. Furthermore, the Quran states that [Allah will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection], affirming His ultimate wisdom and fairness in assessing all people across time. Their mention serves as a reminder of the universality of God's message and His boundless justice.

Quran 3 verses

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَٱلَّذِينَ هَادُوا۟ وَٱلنَّصَٰرَىٰ وَٱلصَّٰبِـِٔينَ مَنْ ءَامَنَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرِ وَعَمِلَ صَٰلِحًا فَلَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ وَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ

Innal lazeena aamanoo wallazeena haadoo wan nasaaraa was Saabi'eena man aamana billaahi wal yawmil aakhiri wa 'amila saalihan falahum ajruhum 'inda Rabbihim wa laa khawfun 'alaihim wa laa hum yahzanoon

Indeed, those who believed and those who were Jews or Christians or Sabeans [before Prophet Muhammad] - those [among them] who believed in Allah and the Last Day and did righteousness - will have their reward with their Lord, and no fear will there be concerning them, nor will they grieve.

جو لوگ مسلمان ہیں یا یہودی یا عیسائی یا ستارہ پرست، (یعنی کوئی شخص کسی قوم و مذہب کا ہو) جو خدا اور روز قیامت پر ایمان لائے گا، اور نیک عمل کرے گا، تو ایسے لوگوں کو ان (کے اعمال) کا صلہ خدا کے ہاں ملے گا اور (قیامت کے دن) ان کو نہ کسی طرح کا خوف ہوگا اور نہ وہ غم ناک ہوں گے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: The previous verse spoke of how the Israelites drew upon themselves the wrath of Allah through their habitual insolence and disobedience. Now, this account may lead the listeners, or the Jews themselves, to suppose that, in view of such transgression, their Taubah (repentance), if they agree to offe...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: Surely those who believe who believed before in the prophets and those of Jewry the Jews and the Christians and the Sabaeans a Christian or Jewish sect whoever from among them believes in God and the Last Day in the time of our Prophet and performs righteous deeds according to the Law given to him —...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Faith and doing Righteous Deeds equals Salvation in all Times After Allah described the condition - and punishment - of those who defy His commands, fall into His prohibitions and transgress set limits by committing prohibited acts, He stated that the earlier nations who were righteous and obedient ...

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَٱلَّذِينَ هَادُوا۟ وَٱلصَّٰبِـُٔونَ وَٱلنَّصَٰرَىٰ مَنْ ءَامَنَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرِ وَعَمِلَ صَٰلِحًا فَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ

Innal lazeena aamanoo wallazeena haadoo was saabi'oona wan Nasaaraa man aamana billaahi wal yawmil Aakhiri wa 'amila saalihan falaa khawfun 'alaihim wa laa hum yahzanoon

Indeed, those who have believed [in Prophet Muhammad] and those [before Him] who were Jews or Sabeans or Christians - those [among them] who believed in Allah and the Last Day and did righteousness - no fear will there be concerning them, nor will they grieve.

جو لوگ خدا پر اور روز آخرت پر ایمان لائیں گے اور عمل نیک کریں گے خواہ وہ مسلمان ہوں یا یہودی یا ستارہ پرست یا عیسائی ان کو (قیامت کے دن) نہ کچھ خوف ہو گا اور نہ غمناک ہوں گے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Salvation promised for Four Communities having faith and good deeds In the second verse (69), Allah Almighty addresses four traditional religious communities, persuades them to have faith and act righteously whereupon He promises salvation for them. The first of those are: الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا (those w...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: Surely those who believe and those of Jewry this constitutes the subject of the clause namely the Jews and the Sabaeans a sect among them and the Christians and what follows substitutes for the above subject whoever of them believes in God and the Last Day and behaves righteously — no fear shall bef...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): There is no Salvation Except through Faith in the Qur'an Allah says: O Muhammad, say, يَـأَهْلَ الْكِتَـبِ لَسْتُمْ عَلَى شَىْءٍ (O People of the Scripture! You have nothing...) meaning no real religion until you adhere to and implement the Tawrah and the Injil. That is, until you believe in all the...

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَٱلَّذِينَ هَادُوا۟ وَٱلصَّٰبِـِٔينَ وَٱلنَّصَٰرَىٰ وَٱلْمَجُوسَ وَٱلَّذِينَ أَشْرَكُوٓا۟ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَفْصِلُ بَيْنَهُمْ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَٰمَةِ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ شَهِيدٌ

Innal lazeena aamanoo wallazeena haadoo was saabi'eena wan nasaaraa wal Majoosa wallazeena ashrakooo innal laaha yafsilu bainahum yawmal qiyaamah; innal laaha 'alaa kulli shai'in shaheed

Indeed, those who have believed and those who were Jews and the Sabeans and the Christians and the Magians and those who associated with Allah - Allah will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection. Indeed Allah is, over all things, Witness.

جو لوگ مومن (یعنی مسلمان) ہیں اور جو یہودی ہیں اور ستارہ پرست اور عیسائی اور مجوسی اور مشرک۔ خدا ان (سب) میں قیامت کے دن فیصلہ کردے گا۔ بےشک خدا ہر چیز سے باخبر ہے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Commentary In verse 17 it is stated that Allah will decide among the believers and non-believers of different faiths on the Day of Resurrection, because He knows everything. What that decision would be, has been related in the Qur'an at several places, namely that the good Muslims will enjoy a life ...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: Truly those who believe and those of Jewry namely the Jews and the Sabaeans a sect from among them and the Christians and the Magians and the polytheists — God will indeed judge between them on the Day of Resurrection by admitting the believers into Paradise and all others into the Fire. Assuredly G...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Allah will judge between the Sects on the Day of Resurrection Allah tells us about the followers of these various religions, the believers (Muslims) and others such as the Jews and Sabians. We have already seen a definition of them in Surat Al-Baqarah and have noted how people differ over who they a...

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