636 - Abu Zur'ah narrated to us, 'Amr ibn Hammad narrated to us, Asbat narrated to us from al-Suddi regarding "Indeed, those who believed and those who were Jews and the Christians and the Sabaeans, whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day," he said: This verse was revealed concerning the companions of Salman al-Farisi. While he was speaking to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), he mentioned his companions and informed him of their state, saying: They used to fast, pray, believe in you, and testify that you would be sent as a Prophet. When Salman finished his praise of them, the Prophet of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said to him: "O Salman, they are among the people of the Fire." That weighed heavily upon Salman, so Allah the Almighty revealed this verse: "Indeed, those who believed and those who were Jews and the Christians and the Sabaeans, whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day." Thus, the faith of the Jews was that whoever held fast to the Torah and the Sunnah of Moses until Jesus came; and when Jesus came, whoever among them held fast to the Gospel and the laws of Jesus was a believer whose [faith] was accepted, until Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) came. Whoever among them did not follow Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and did not leave what he was upon from the Sunnah of Jesus and the Gospel was among the perishing. It was narrated from Sa'id ibn Jubayr similarly.

His saying: "And the Sabaeans"

Abu Muhammad said: They differed in its interpretation into eight opinions, among which are:

[The First Opinion]

637 - Abu Sa'id al-Ashajj narrated to us, Abu Nu'aym narrated to us, Sharik narrated to us from Salim from Sa'id ibn Jubayr who said regarding the Sabaeans: A status between the Jews and the Christians.

And the second opinion:

638 - Muhammad ibn Isma'il al-Ahmas narrated to us, Waki' narrated to us from Sufyan from Layth from Mujahid who said: The Sabaeans are a people between the Magians, the Jews, and the Christians; they have no religion. It was narrated from 'Ata' similarly.

And the third opinion:

639 - 'Isam ibn Rawwad narrated to us, Adam narrated to us, Abu Ja'far narrated to us from al-Rabi' from Abu al-'Aliyah who said: The Sabaeans are a sect of the People of the Scripture who read the Psalms. It was narrated from al-Dahhak, al-Suddi, al-Rabi' ibn Anas, and Jabir ibn Zayd.