The True Sabians
There
is one and only one group that are the true Sabians, the Sabians of the
Qu’ran, the Sabaeans of the Bahai, the Sabians from whom the Harranians
stole the name, the Mandaeans. The Sabeans of South Arabia are a
separate group and appear to have nothing to do with the Sabians
(Mandaeans) or Sabaeans of Harran.
The Mandaeans were in
existence before the birth of Jesus. Their baptism rituals have
remained pretty much unchanged for the last 2,000 years. They were
known by the name Nasoraeans or Nazoraeans. They had no kingdom to
claim their own nor were they a state religion. Their theology existed
in many cities throughout the Palestine and Mesopotamian area.
The
Nasoraean (Mandaean) theology existed before Jesus. The theology spilt
into many sections. Some groups retained the name Nasoraeans but chose
to follow Jesus and some retained the name Nasoraeans but chose to
follow Jewish laws. Some of the Nasoraeans names were changed. The
names Sabaeans, Masbuthaeans Sampsaeans, and Basmothaeans, all reflect
the same origin Subbi- those who baptize. Click here for more details
on the Pre-Christian Nazoreans (Mandaeans).
It
is a common belief that the word Sabian (Sabaean) comes from Sabi'un
("Convert"), meaning one who 'converts' from the worship of many gods
to the worship of the “One True God”. Arab lexicographers explain the
word sabi as being derived from the verb, which means “arise,
apostatize” or “incline, turn away from the (true) religion”. Thus
giving the meaning “ those who take on a new religion other than their
own” just like Mohammed did. Abu Jafar Muhammad ibn al-Tabari
(838-922) is credited with being the first who wrote of this meaning.
In his commentary book on the Qu’ran he examines the etymology of the
word Sabi’un and is the first to give the meaning of sabi as someone
who takes on a new religion other than his own.
Western
scholars do not accept this definition and while they differ on the
etymology, they do all agree that the word Sabi’un is not of Arab
origin. The most logical theory is that the word used by the Arabs was
originally Mandaic (the language of the Mandaeans). In Mandaic the verb
“sb” was developed from the Syriac verb. In Mandaic the ayn of the
Syriac is changed into the alaf in Mandaic. The Arabs then borrowed the
word root “sb” from the Mandaeans.
The Harranians, who
worshiped the planets and the stars and sacrifice to these deities, had
successfully managed to have their religious practices validated in
order to exist within the bounds of Islamic society. The effects are
felt even today with the new age groups claiming to be based on these
ancient practices of astrology and “spells” and thus using the terms
Sabaeans or Sabians in the titles of their sects. These constant
reminders of what the Harranians stood for, astrology, planet worship,
and even human sacrifices, still taint the TRUE Sabians, the Mandaeans.
Today
there are several books and articles in which the Sabians (Sabaeans,
Sabeans) have been explored, discussed, and arrived at a decision. It
amazes me how many of these articles side with the Harranians being the
Sabians of the Qu’ran because of the most flimsy evidence. If seems as
though people are willing to believe Abraham would have been one and
Mohammed would have condoned the practices of the Harranians in the
worship of the moon god Sin as well as the other various Mesopotamian
deities. Yet many writers ignore the massive amounts of evidence both
circumstantial and direct that supports and confirms the Mandaeans as
the original Sabians (Sabaeans).
This article will deal with all
the various Sabian groups and the evidence that will stack up to
validate the claim that the Mandaeans are the True Sabians.
Subject: The True Sabians 
Thu May 31, 2007 2:12 pm