They were polytheistic, and should not be confused with the [[Sabians]] mentioned in the Qur'an, whose name is written with the Arabic language letter ''sad'' rather than the letter ''sin''. Sabaeans of Sheba are frequently but erroneously confused (by those who know little better) with the Sabians whose etymology is completely unrelated being spelled with an initial Arabic letter "Sad" instead of the initial letter "Sin" (hebrew Shin). The issue was confused by Mohammed Marmeduke Pickthal in his translation of the Quran because at least one tribe of Sabaeans, the [[Ansar]], are known to have adopted were the religion of the Saabi`ah Hunafa` under the influence of Jewish leaders (like the Ethiopian Jew Heman ben Shalim) of the Saabi`ah Hunafa`. As a result of this, Jewish priests used to run an altar (Kraba) in Mecca (Mekraba) called The Great Altar (as talked about in the Talmud Masechet Menuchot) during the reign of the Kingdom of Sheba. Thus the Sabaeans were regarded by Jewish authorities as Noahides from the time of the First Temple, when trade routes developed under Solomon. They were chased out and the altar was taken over by the Himyar idol worshippers.