Difference between revisions of "Abdullah ibn Saba"

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This page is work in progress to identify who was Abdullah ibn Saba, what was his role during the formative years of Islam, and why he took the name "ibn Saba"
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'''Abdullah Ibn Saba''' (ca. 600 CE), also known as '''Ibn Sauda''' (because his mother was a black Ethiopian), is historical figure whom some Sunnis state was a Jewish convert that laid the foundation for the later sect of the Shiites, although this is disputed.
  
==Who was Abdullah ibn Saba?==
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==Life==
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Abdullah ibn Saba was originally from the city of [[Sana`a]] in [[Yemen]]. He was [[Jewish]] [[Rabbi]] who claimed a conversion to [[Islam]] during the caliphate of [[`Uthman]]. He moved to [[Kufa]] and started adversely criticizing the Calif's administration. Thence he went to Egypt, where he founded an antiothmanian sect, to promote the interests of Ali. On account of his learning he obtained great influence there, and formulated the doctrine that, just as every prophet had an assistant who afterward succeeded him, [[Muhammad]]'s vizier was Ali, who had therefore been kept out of the califate by deceit. He was able to promote a dissatisfaction with Uthman's government among his followers.
  
==What was his role?==
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Tradition relates that when [[Ali|Ali ibn Abi Talib]] had assumed power, Ibn Saba became an adherent of the emerging [[Shi'ite]] persuasion, and a strong supporter of Ali. He called for the divinity of `Ali. He initially did not openly preach these beliefs, but he later abandoned his secret and started a vigorous campaign.<ref>Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 25, p. 286</ref> However, when Ibn Saba claimed that Ali is himself God by addressing him with the words, "Thou art Thou!", Ali declared him a heretic and burned some of his followers to the stake and expelled him to [[Madain]] (a city with Persian population).
  
==Why he took the name "ibn Saba"?==
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After Ali's assassination Abdullah Ibn Saba is said to have taught that Ali was not dead but alive, and had never been killed; that a part of the Deity was hidden in him; and that after a certain time he would return to fill the earth with justice. Till then the divine character of Ali was to remain hidden in the [[Shi'a Imams|Imams]], who temporarily filled his place. It is easy to see that the whole idea rests on that of the Messiah in combination with the legend of [[Elijah]] the prophet<ref>Bibliography: Shatrastani al-Milal, pp. 132 et seq. (in Haarbrücken's translation, i. 200-201); Weil, Gesch. der Chalifen, i. 173-174, 209, 259.</ref>.
  
==Who are the Sabians?==
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==Legacy==
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Accourding to Sunni historical references, Abdullah Ibn Saba enticed the Muslims to kill Uthman <ref>http://www.anwary-islam.com/companion/usman_bin_affan.htm</ref>. He also made mischief in the armies of Ali and his opponents in the battle of Camel, forcing the battle to start, althogh both parties did not want it.
  
This word has been used to refer to a variety of people
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He is considered by [[Sunni]] writers as the originator of [[Shi'ah Islam|Shi'ism]] itself<ref>http://islamicweb.com/beliefs/cults/shia_answering.htm</ref>, although on account of his extremism this is considered by Shi`ites as an insult.<ref>[[Moojan Momen]], An Introduction to Shi`i Islam, Yale University Press, 1985;p. 46</ref> The [[Apostle Paul]] and ‘Abdallah ibn Saba' were in classical times said to have been "Jewish agents" who infiltrated Christianity and Islam to destroy them from within.<ref>http://www.geocities.com/~abdulwahid/ahlibayt/history_of_shiism.html</ref>
  
''monotheistic''
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Hafiz [[Ibn Hajar]] threw more light on the dialogue between `Ali and ibn Saba on this occasion: "Abul Ijlas says that I heard `Ali telling `Abdullah ibn Saba: "By Allah, I have not hidden any secret from anyone which the Holy Prophet told me. I heard the Holy Prophet saying that there would appear thirty liars before the last day, and you are one of them." Once Suwaid ibn Ghafalah visited `Ali during his reign and told him that he had passed a few people amongst whom was ibn Saba speaking ill of Abu Bakr. They claimed that you also held the same opinion." `Ali retorted: "I have nothing to do with this black filthy creature. I seek refuge from Allah that I hold any opinion other than the best for Abu Bakr and `Umar." He then exiled ibn Saba saying that he could not tolerate to live with him in one city. `Ali then ascended the pulpit, and after relating the story said: "I will lash anyone who prefers me over Abu Bakr and `Umar, the lashing of a slanderer." <ref>Lisan al-Mizan, vol. 3, p. 290</ref>.
  
* [[Sabians of the Qur'an|TSabians of the Qur'an]], a monotheistic community granted religious equality with Jews and Christians.
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==Historicity==
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In recent years some scholars have questioned the existence of Abdullah Ibn Saba.<ref>[http://www.e-prism.org/images/CurrentTrends_4_-_Nov06.pdf Current Trends in Islamist Ideology page 58].]</ref> [[Taha Husayn]], an Egyptian scholar believed that Ibn Saba was a fictitious character invented by groups opposed to Shi'ism.<ref>in his book al-Fitnat al-Kubra, Vol. II, p.90</ref> Ali al-Wardi, professor of history at [[Baghdad University]] wrote that "it is claimed that Ibn Saba' incited unrest, but no such person ever existed."<ref>cited in Haykal, Hayat Muhammad, p. 136</ref>
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Most modern twelver Shia deny the existence of Ibn Saba. The first book of [[Murtadha Askari]] in this field, titled "Abdullah Ibn Saba’" which was published in [[1954]]. He theorized that [[Sayf Ibn Omar al-Tamimi]] made up Abdullah ibn Saba.<ref>[http://www.al-shia.com/html/eng/ser/ulama/ola-askari.html]</ref>
  
* [[Theosebeia|Sebomenoi/Sebeoi]] a monotheistic community God Fearers referred to by Greek manuscripts from the Hellenistic-Roman period, generally considered the same as [[Ger Toshav]], and also the same as the TSabians of the Qur'an.
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==Notes==
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''gnostic'' (angel worshiping)
 
  
* [[Mandaeism|Mandaeans]] a gnostic community that seceeded c.60CE from the Sabians who eventually came to be mentioned in the Quran. Mandaean is the term used for the laypeople of the community, and Nasorean is the term used for the priesthood directly descendedfrom the 1st C. BC Notzrim. They are in Lower Babylonia, in the territory of Wasiṭ and Bassora, near Khuzistan. ca. 1st c. CE to the present day;
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[[Category:Asian Converts to Islam|Saba, Abdullah Ibn]]
  
''polytheistic''
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[[ar:عبد الله بن سبأ]]
 
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[[id:Abdullah bin Saba]]
* [[Harranians|TSabians of Harran]] (Harranians), a the exonym (ca. 9th and 10th c. CE) for the [[Yazdânism|Yazdâeans]] gnostic people who incorporated astrology and "worship of the heavenly host," who have lived in northern Mesopotamia from ancient times. A gnostic religious belief of the Kurds, usually assumed to be derived from the Mandaeans. [[Yazidism]],  [[Alevism]] and [[Yarsanism]] are sects within Yazdânism.
 
 
 
* [[Sabians of Maimonides]] usually understood to be the TSabians of Harran, although may be a composite of Sabaeans, Harranians, Mandaeans and Zoroastrians.
 
 
 
* [[Sabaeans|SHabians of Sheba]], (Sabaeans) an ancient polytheistic people living in what is now Yemen. ca. 10th to 6th c. BCE
 
 
 
''nationalistic''
 
 
 
* [[Sabaian|SHabaian]] refer to the monotheistic followers of [[Abdullah ibn Saba|Abdullah ibn SHaba]].  A derogatory term for the Shiah, reflecting the claim that Shi'ite Islam was invented by Abdullah ibn Saba, a Yemenite or Persian Muslim-Jew who lived in the time of Caliph Uthman. He may have been a true Quranic Sabian opposing reforms to islam made by the Caliphate. Even so modern Shiah islam shares more in common with Sunni islam than with Seboghatullah.
 
 
 
===Sabian Nation===
 
 
 
====Biblical Saba====
 
 
 
Saba is rendered three times in Genesis' [[Table of Nations]]:
 
* Genesis 10:6 renders Kush's descendants as סבא [[Sevaite Nation|Seva]], שבא [[Khushite-Shevaite Nation|Sheva]].
 
* Genesis 10:21 renders Yoqtan's descendant as שבא [[Shevaite Nation|Sheva]]
 
The latter is generally identified with the Yemenite nation of Sheba associated with the Queen of Sheba (named Makeda in Ethiopian tradition and Bilqis in Islamic tradition) referred to in 1 Kings and 2 Chronicles, the New Testament and the Qur'an.
 
 
 
====Modern Scholarship====
 
 
 
;Ethiopia
 
 
 
The location of Sheba has become closely linked with national prestige, as various royal houses have claimed descent from the Queen of Sheba and Solomon. The most vigorous claimant has been Ethiopia and Eritrea, where Sheba was traditionally linked with the ancient Axumite Kingdom. As Ethiopia has remained a Christian state, the connection to Sheba has been an important one, especially to the former ruling family, the Solomonic dynasty. Ethiopist Donald Levine argued in favor of one Ethiopian tradition that "Sheba is Shewa!" 
 
 
 
;Eritrea
 
 
 
Alternatively there is evidence of a region in northern Tigray and Eritrea which called itself Saba. But most scholars would call it Ethiopian Saba, and indicate that it supports the assumption that Sabean culture existed both in Ethiopia and Yemen, without one colonizing the other.
 
 
 
;Both sides of the Red Sea
 
 
 
Recent archaeological evidence has not supported the Ethiopian claim strongly. Most scholars today believe that, at most, the kingdom of Sheba controlled some coastal regions of Ethiopia and Eritrea but was centered on the southwestern tip of the Arabian peninsula, modern Yemen. Linguistic evidence also points to a close historical relationship between the two sides of the Red Sea, as South Semitic languages are found only in two places: southern Arabia (modern Yemen and Oman), and the Horn of Africa (modern Eritrea and Ethiopia). Additionally, the modern Ge'ez alphabet developed from the old South Arabian alphabet.
 
 
 
;Yemen
 
 
 
Modern scholars tend to think a link to the Sabaeans of southern Arabia, who inhabited the same region, is the most probable.
 
 
 
;Other places
 
 
 
Ruins in many other countries, including Somalia, Sudan, Egypt, Eritrea, and Iran, have been credited as being Sheba, but with only minimal evidence. There has even been a suggestion of a link between the name "Sheba" and that of Zanzibar.
 
 
 
====M. C. de Perceval====
 
 
 
M. C. de Perceval proposed a theory, that in South Arabia there were two distinct races, Cushite and Joktanide, the former Sabeans ([[Seba]]), the latter Shabeans ([[Sheba]]). The first he identifies with the Adites; and the extinction of the Adites in Arabia (as held by Mahometan tradition) he attributes to the emigration of the entire Cushite race, and their transplantation from Arabia into Abyssinia (Ethiopia). The theory is ingenious, but devoid of proof; and in itself improbable. As for the Adites, it has been shown by Sprenger that they lived near the Thamudites, north of Mecca: they were therefore entirely distinct from the Sabeans of Yemen.
 
 
 
====Maimonides====
 
 
 
Maimonides in his Guide to the Perplexed discusses the Sabians as the typical pagans of the world before Abraham.  The customs he describe have some similarity to Harranians, Mandaeans and Zoastrians. In other places he implies Sabians are the descendants of the ancient kingdom of Sheba. During the reign of the Queen of Sheba, monotheism was adopted, but rapidly fell into polytheism.
 
 
 
===Sabian Religion===
 
 
 
====Russian Orientalist Daniel Chwolson====
 
 
 
Chwolson argues as follows: since Muhammad could not include a pagan community in the People of the Book, to which Jews and Christians surely belonged, the Harranians are fabricating history when professing themselves Sabians (and in this sense the famous story of the meeting/dispute between Caliph al-Ma’mùn and the Harranians contained in al- Nadìm’s Fihrist chapter X plays a decisive role; on the other hand, if the Harranian people are not the Sabi’ùn mentioned in Suras II, V and XXII laconic verses, there is no doubt that the Prophet had somebody else in mind: but who are the members of this unknown monotheistic community? The phonetic likeness Subbi-Sàbi’ùn provides Chwolson with the answer he wishes. The small baptismal group of Mandaeans who lived in Muhammad’s times (as they do now) in the marshy South- Mesopotamian region, and who were called sometimes by the nickname Subbi or Subba by their neighbours. In fact, the Mandaeans grew out of a sesession from the [[Petrine Sebomenoi]] around 60CE.
 
 
 
====Alberto Fratini and Carl Prato====
 
 
 
Alberto Fratini and Carl Prato present an opinion that the Sabians of the Qur'an are exactly equivelent to the Ger Toshav of rabbinic tradition, and in this sense an Arabic translation of the word Theosebeia or God Fearers. The distinction between monotheistic or polytheistic is arbitrary and relates to the level of adoption of monotheistic Theosebeia by a pagan community. This allows for the possibility of calling Harranians sabians at the pagan end of the spectrum.
 

Revision as of 12:24, 13 July 2007

Abdullah Ibn Saba (ca. 600 CE), also known as Ibn Sauda (because his mother was a black Ethiopian), is historical figure whom some Sunnis state was a Jewish convert that laid the foundation for the later sect of the Shiites, although this is disputed.

Life

Abdullah ibn Saba was originally from the city of Sana`a in Yemen. He was Jewish Rabbi who claimed a conversion to Islam during the caliphate of `Uthman. He moved to Kufa and started adversely criticizing the Calif's administration. Thence he went to Egypt, where he founded an antiothmanian sect, to promote the interests of Ali. On account of his learning he obtained great influence there, and formulated the doctrine that, just as every prophet had an assistant who afterward succeeded him, Muhammad's vizier was Ali, who had therefore been kept out of the califate by deceit. He was able to promote a dissatisfaction with Uthman's government among his followers.

Tradition relates that when Ali ibn Abi Talib had assumed power, Ibn Saba became an adherent of the emerging Shi'ite persuasion, and a strong supporter of Ali. He called for the divinity of `Ali. He initially did not openly preach these beliefs, but he later abandoned his secret and started a vigorous campaign.[1] However, when Ibn Saba claimed that Ali is himself God by addressing him with the words, "Thou art Thou!", Ali declared him a heretic and burned some of his followers to the stake and expelled him to Madain (a city with Persian population).

After Ali's assassination Abdullah Ibn Saba is said to have taught that Ali was not dead but alive, and had never been killed; that a part of the Deity was hidden in him; and that after a certain time he would return to fill the earth with justice. Till then the divine character of Ali was to remain hidden in the Imams, who temporarily filled his place. It is easy to see that the whole idea rests on that of the Messiah in combination with the legend of Elijah the prophet[2].

Legacy

Accourding to Sunni historical references, Abdullah Ibn Saba enticed the Muslims to kill Uthman [3]. He also made mischief in the armies of Ali and his opponents in the battle of Camel, forcing the battle to start, althogh both parties did not want it.

He is considered by Sunni writers as the originator of Shi'ism itself[4], although on account of his extremism this is considered by Shi`ites as an insult.[5] The Apostle Paul and ‘Abdallah ibn Saba' were in classical times said to have been "Jewish agents" who infiltrated Christianity and Islam to destroy them from within.[6]

Hafiz Ibn Hajar threw more light on the dialogue between `Ali and ibn Saba on this occasion: "Abul Ijlas says that I heard `Ali telling `Abdullah ibn Saba: "By Allah, I have not hidden any secret from anyone which the Holy Prophet told me. I heard the Holy Prophet saying that there would appear thirty liars before the last day, and you are one of them." Once Suwaid ibn Ghafalah visited `Ali during his reign and told him that he had passed a few people amongst whom was ibn Saba speaking ill of Abu Bakr. They claimed that you also held the same opinion." `Ali retorted: "I have nothing to do with this black filthy creature. I seek refuge from Allah that I hold any opinion other than the best for Abu Bakr and `Umar." He then exiled ibn Saba saying that he could not tolerate to live with him in one city. `Ali then ascended the pulpit, and after relating the story said: "I will lash anyone who prefers me over Abu Bakr and `Umar, the lashing of a slanderer." [7].

Historicity

In recent years some scholars have questioned the existence of Abdullah Ibn Saba.[8] Taha Husayn, an Egyptian scholar believed that Ibn Saba was a fictitious character invented by groups opposed to Shi'ism.[9] Ali al-Wardi, professor of history at Baghdad University wrote that "it is claimed that Ibn Saba' incited unrest, but no such person ever existed."[10] Most modern twelver Shia deny the existence of Ibn Saba. The first book of Murtadha Askari in this field, titled "Abdullah Ibn Saba’" which was published in 1954. He theorized that Sayf Ibn Omar al-Tamimi made up Abdullah ibn Saba.[11]

Notes

Template:Explain-inote Template:Inote

  1. Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 25, p. 286
  2. Bibliography: Shatrastani al-Milal, pp. 132 et seq. (in Haarbrücken's translation, i. 200-201); Weil, Gesch. der Chalifen, i. 173-174, 209, 259.
  3. http://www.anwary-islam.com/companion/usman_bin_affan.htm
  4. http://islamicweb.com/beliefs/cults/shia_answering.htm
  5. Moojan Momen, An Introduction to Shi`i Islam, Yale University Press, 1985;p. 46
  6. http://www.geocities.com/~abdulwahid/ahlibayt/history_of_shiism.html
  7. Lisan al-Mizan, vol. 3, p. 290
  8. Current Trends in Islamist Ideology page 58.]
  9. in his book al-Fitnat al-Kubra, Vol. II, p.90
  10. cited in Haykal, Hayat Muhammad, p. 136
  11. [1]
id:Abdullah bin Saba