Muhammad said: The root of the word is from their saying: "Saba'a nabuhu" (his canine tooth emerged) when it appears; so the meaning of the Sabaeans is that they exited from one religion to another.
As for "al-tahawwud" (Judaism), its root is "al-ta'awwud" (returning); it is said of the one who returns: "ha'id" (one who returns) and "mutahawwid" (one who practices Judaism).
"For them is their reward," meaning: whoever believes in Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, and acts according to his Sharia. "And there shall be no fear upon them, nor shall they grieve." Muhammad said: The reading is "wa la khawfun 'alayhim" (no fear upon them) in the nominative case (raf'), and the accusative case (nasb) is permissible, and it has been read with both. [Ayah 63-64]
قَالَ مُحَمَّد: وأصل الْكَلِمَة من قَوْلهم: صَبَأَ نَابُهُ إِذا خرج؛ فَكَانَ معنى الصابئين: خَرجُوا من دين إِلَى دين.
والتهود أَصله: التعود؛ يُقَال للعائد: هائد، ومتهوِّد.
﴿فَلهم أجرهم﴾ يَعْنِي: من آمن بِمُحَمد ﷺ وَعمل بِشَرِيعَتِهِ ﴿وَلا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ﴾ قَالَ مُحَمَّد: الْقِرَاءَة ﴿وَلا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِم﴾ بِالرَّفْع، وَالنّصب جَائِز وَقد قُرِئَ بهما. [آيَة ٦٣ - ٦٤]