The Sabians of Moses Maimonides Writing

ASUTA
The Journal for the Study and Research into the
Mandaean Culture, Religion, and Language.

Volume 5 Special Issue Online edition

Sabians,
Sabaeans, or Sabeans

The Sabaeans of the
Moses Maimonides writings

One of the most complete descriptions we have on the Harranians, during the Islamic period, is from Moses Maimonides. Moses ben Maimun was a Jewish commentator and philosopher. He was in Cordova in 1135. After sojourning with his parents in Spain, Palestine, and Northern Africa, he settled down at Cairo, Egypt, in 1165. There he received the office of court physician.

Figure #19

Moses Maimonides

He also became the head of the Jewish communities in Egypt and devoted himself to the exposition of the Talmud. He died at Cairo, December 13, 1204, and was buried at Tiberias in Palestine. (60) He is best known for three works: his commentary on the Mishna, his code of Jewish law, and his Guide of the Perplexed. In the Guide of the Perplexed, written originally in Arabic and to
Maimonides 15 years to write, he urges the search for a rational philosophy of Judaism. It is this work that stimulated philosophers and religious scholars for generations afterward. (61)

Maimonides uses the Sabians as an example in his discussions. To Maimonides the Sabians are the typical pagans, in particular astrologers. He does not worry about where the word comes from or who the Sabians really are- that is not important in his discussions. He uses this typical stereotype pagan worship as the basis for his theory. That Sabaeaniasm (idol worship) evolved into Abrahamic tradition and then into Mosaic law. It is apparent in reading his book that he is referring to the Sabaeans of Harran. But it is also evident that information he provides that there are really several theological thoughts merged into one. It is also evident that one of those theologies merged with the Harranian theology is the Mandaeans. It appears that some of the traditions and practices of the Harranians were adopted from the Mandaeans. In this part of the article we are going to examine this claim.

There are several thoughts on who the Sabians were that Maimonides wrote about. One writer even suggests that the Sabians were factious:

"Maimonides chose an ethnic group known as the Sabians who were not Egyptian but presumably either Persian or Zoroastrian, as the source of the Mosaic Laws. It should be noted that the Sabians are a fictional entity but the question remains as to whether Maimonides knew that they never existed." (62)

Other writers determined that the Sabaeans in Maimonides’ book were Zoroastrians (magi) or just your general pagan theology:

Maimonides believed the Sabians to be adherents of a more or less universal astrological polytheism. (63)

There are a number of theories as to who might have constituted this mysterious monotheistic community. However, from the point of view of Maimonides this is a moot point since his usage of "Sabians" clearly does not refer to a monotheistic community. Maimonides uses the category "Sabian" as a general typification of pagans, and astrolaters in particular. … In all likelihood, the Quranic "Sabians" and the "Sabians" who appear in Maimonides refer to completely different ethno-religous groupings. The former may refer to one of the various baptizing Judeo-Christian sects, or to the Mandeans who have survived into modern times. However the "Sabians" of Maimonides seem to be based on the Sabians of Harran, who were a sect of Hellenistic astrolaters who survived into early medieval time. It is doubtful whether Maimonides could have had any knowledge of this Sabian community, which was other than literary. He does make references to Sabian customs continuing to "our time" (late 12th C.CE); however the context indicates that he is referring to "the remnants of the Magians". (64)

What I believe has happened in Maimonides’ book is that he wrote what he knew or heard about the Harranians and that he was unaware that their religion, as he conceived it, was a fairly late creation. He wrote his book assuming that the Harranian religion was the same for the previous thousands of years. While the Harranian religion did remain pretty much unchanged from 2000 BC up till the invasion of Greek ideas and the coming of the Christian era, the Harranian theology at the time of Maimonides was vastly different from the Harranian theology just a few hundred years earlier. By the 11th century the Harranians had been bombarded by Christian and Mandaean influences that distorted the original Harranian theology. So what can we determine from Maimonides’ writing is Mandaean and what is Harranian—that is our purpose. I will cover 10 of the most prevalent notions that show definite Mandaean influence.

#1
Maimonides proposed that Sabaeanism evolved into Abrahamic monotheism which then evolved into Mosaic prophecy. Maimonides uses the term Sabaean depicts the typical “pagan” culture would have existed before Abraham brought the message of the one god. Why does he use the Sabaeans as this general term denoting all “pagan” worshippers? There could be several reasons for this. One would be the fact that the term “Sabians” as indicated in the Qu’ran had already degraded into being a generalized term for all religions, other than Islam, Jewish, and Christianity, that fit into generalized descriptions of a qualified religion under Islamic law.

There would have been many Islamic writers that Maimonides would have heard of or been able to reference in respect to the word Sabian being used to denote all “pagan” religions.

Abu Jafar Muhammad ibn al-Tabari (lived 838-922) is one of the earliest sources for commentary on the Quran and the history of Islam. Al-Tabari is the first to use the word sabians for idolaters in general. He also is the first to claim that Budasab (Buddah ) called his people to the religion of the Sabians and that Bishtasb and his father Luhrsab, the rulers of Persia after Kaykhusraw embraced the religion of the Sabians until Sami and Zoroaster came to Bishtab with their beliefs. (65)

Abu al-Hasan Ali ibn Husayn al-Masudi (d. 957 AD) is the first to do an in-depth study of the Sabians. He uses the term sabium to include all religious sects from China to Egypt and from Syria to Egypt. (66)

This new use of the term Sabian could be why Maimonides uses the term to denote all the “pagan” religions. But there is another possible theory. In the Mandaean theology that the Mandaeans were the first religion with Judaism being an offshoot.

“They wanted books and Melka d Anhura said, 'A book must be written that does not make trouble for the Mandai', and they sent one of the melki-T'awus Melka (I.e. Peacock King) to write the Torat (Old Testament).” (67)

Could have Maimonides heard this story and been even more influence to use the Sabaeans as the religion that existed before Judaism? Remember the Mandaeans would have been called the Sabians by most of the cultures in the area by the 12th century AD.

#2
Maimonides writes that the Sabians believed in a form of Adam. The description he recounts in his book is a typical Harranian creation in which Adam is brought into the worship of Sin.

“Adam was in their belief a human being born from male and female, like the rest of mankind: he was only distinguished from his fellow men by being a prophet sent by the moon; he accordingly called men to worship of the moon and he wrote several works on agriculture… The Sabeans contend that Seth differed from his father Adam, as regard the worship of the moon…. Adam they said left the torrid zone near India and entered the region of Babylon bringing leaves and branches…” (68)

In the text above you will notice a peculiar reference to Adam-- Adam they said left the torrid zone near India—this idea you will also find in an Mandaean oral tradition as recorded by E.S. Drower. Now where as it is possible that the Mandaeans could have picked this story up from the Harranian, I tend to go with the Mandaeans an origin.

"…the S'ubba, who are the true children of Adam Paghra and Hawa Kasia, lived in Serandib (Ceylon)."(69)

#3
Maimonides wrote that the idolaters pray to the morning sun in the east. It is for this reason that Abraham initiated the notion of facing west in all prayers. (70) I have not been able to find in any ancient Mesopotamian records a particular direction the people stood when offering prayers. In addition prayers by the 12th century offered up by the Moslems were always toward Mecca while the same can be said of the early Christians and Jews for the direction of Jerusalem. It is the Mandaeans who rise before dawn to began daily prayers. It is this habit that gave way to the term Hermeobaptists (a possible sect or name of the Mandaeans) and the idea that they pray to the sun.
#4
Maimonides wrote that that the Sabaeans held great respect for all animal life in particular the bull.

"The idolaters also held cattle in esteem on account of their use in agriculture and went even as far as to say that this is not allowed to slay them because they combine in themselves strength and willingness to do the work of a man in tilling the ground. " (71)

But what Maimonides was not aware of is that the Harranians did sacrifice bulls as well as other animals on a regular basis. We have written evidence that bulls were sacrificed to Hermes:

"Ibn al-Nadim (d. 987 AD) quotes from ‘Abu Sa’id Wadb, about a sacrifice that is held for hermes al-‘ilah (Hermes the god) in which a bull is killed." (72)

"Al-Burni (about 1050- AD) wrote about the “Feast of Hermes-Mercury” that is performed by the Harranians. Hermes has also been associated with the god Nabu (Nebo)." (73)

Figure #20

Ur-Nammu with Shekina and the Moon Goddess Ningal and the Moon God Nannar

“In the fragmentary registers on the reverse of the stone [Stele of Ur-Nammu] we have a scene of sacrifice in which a priest cuts open the prostrate body of a bull so as to read the omens on its liver; and a scene of sacrifice in which it is possible that the king himself is figured as a god. ... Ur-Nammu was deified after death if not in his lifetime." (74)

The information on the respect to animals is more in line with Mandaean beliefs. In regards to the bull in particular the Mandaean consider it a sin to slay oxen or buffalo, in particular the bull.

"The sacredness of the latter animals, especially the bull, to Life and to the Sun is recalled by the uncompromising veto ion the flesh. ‘Hiwel Ziwa’, said a ganzibra to me, ‘created these animals for ploughing, for draught, and for the production of milk and for food’. " (75)

#5
Animal sacrifice was practiced regularly by the various Mesopotamian sects including that of the Harranians. It is through the blood, entrails and ultimate sacrifice itself that brought about the closeness of man and gods. Maimonides wrote concerning the notion that blood is unclean yet they partake of it.

“Although blood is very unclean in the eyes of the Sabeans, they never the less took part of it because they thought it was the food of the spirits; by eating it man has something in common with the spirits which join him and tell him of future events according to the notion which peoiple generally have of spirits.” (76)

This is a prime example of the old Harranian religion mixed up with the Mandaean religion. The Mandaeans definitely believe blood is unclean:

"…For war and the shedding of blood is against Mandaean tenets…" (77)

"…All Killing and blood-letting is sinful…" (78)

"…To kill, even according to the rites of slaughter, is a sin…" (79)

The Mandaeans do not practice animal sacrifices and even when an animal is killed for food there is great care taken with the blood and the purification of the men involved with killing the animal. Only certain men are allowed to kill an animal, usually a chicken, for food. There are two men needed for every animal slaughtered. One man serves as a witness. The men prepare themselves before hand through prayers and ritual baptisms. The chicken is killed quickly by drawing an iron knife across the throat. The men then return to the river where they once again go through a ritual baptism. (80)

This ancient Mesopotamia religious practices did include bloods and the partaking there of. The Mesopotamian religions also believed that the gods lived through the food and also took part of the blood sacrifice. (81) In addition one could gain answers to the future through the sacrifice of an animal and an examination of it’s liver.

"Through the soul of the animal, therefore, a visible means was obtained for studying the soul of the god, thus enabling mortals to peer, as it were, into the mental workshop of the gods and to surprise them at work, planning future events on earth." (82)

Figure #20

Mandaean slaughter of chicken with witness

#6
Maimonides writes that Abraham was a Sabian.

“In these books and in their chronicles, the history of Abraham our father is given in the following manner. Abraham was brought up in Kutha; when he differed from the people and declared that there is a maker beside the Sun, they raised certain objections and mentioned in their arguments the evident and manifest action of the Sun in the Universe. … In short the king put him in prison; but he continued many days while in prison to argue against them At last the king was afraid that Abraham might corrupt the kingdom and turn the people away from their religion; he therefor expelled Abraham into Syria after having deprived him of all his property.” (83)

In this story Abraham comes from Kutha not Ur of the Chaldees. Kutha is one of the locations specifically named for having Mandaeans.

“Abu al-Zanad (D. 130/747), who was from Iraq, remarks that they are a tribe who lives in ‘Kutha’ in Iraq.” (84)

In another story about Abraham as describe by ‘Ibn Sankila, quoted by al-Bruni:

“Abraham left the community simply because leprosy appeared on his foreskin and that everybody who suffered from this disease was considered impure and excluded from all society. Therefore he cut off his foreskin i.e. circumcised himself. In this state he entered one of their idol-temples when he heard a voice speaking to him: ‘O Abraham, you went away from us with one sin and you return with two sins. Go away and do not come to us again.’ Thereupon Abraham seized by wrath, broke the idols in pieces and left their community.” (85)

The story goes on to describe Abraham sacrificing his son to the planet Saturn. When the planet Saturn sees that he is truly repented Saturn allows Abraham to sacrifice a ram instead. Whereas part of this Abraham story is in line with the Jewish tradition, it also holds some unique connection with the Mandaeans tradition in the area of why he was circumcised.

“Abraham was of our people-we called him Bahram. Yes, he was a Mandai, a Nas'urai. His brother was a rish 'amma (head-of-the-people, a king-priest), and they were a family of priests. Bahram developed a sore (dumbala) and, because of it, he was circumcised. He was very troubled when this happened, for being thus he could no longer act as a slaughterer or priest. For the Mandai do not accept maimed persons, or those who have lost a finger, ear, or part of any member as their priests. These are henceforth unclean.

He dared not tell his brother, but his brother discovered what had happened and said to him: 'It is written that you may not be a priest any more. No doubt the origin of your sickness was in darkness, and you committed a fault; for, to the pure, no sickness may come.” (86)

The True Sabians

The Sabaean Religious Order

The Sabian Assembly

The Sabeans of the Old Testament

The Sabaeans of the Bahai Writings

The Sabaeans of Harran

The Sabaeans of the Moses Maimonides writings

The Sabians of the Koran

Final Thought

References

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