Document Type : Research Paper
Abstract
Studying religions solely from an external perspective cannot lead to true understanding and results only in a superficial grasp of religious depth. Therefore, it is necessary to consider the internal dimension of religions as well, so that the nature of a religion may be examined in relation to the degree of its historical authenticity. With the rise of Islam, attention toward the Sabians—one of the celestial religions present in the Arabian Peninsula and adjacent regions at the dawn of Islam—increased among Muslims. The Qur’an mentions this religion alongside Judaism, Christianity, and Zoroastrianism among the People of the Book. However, a considerable portion of historical and early Islamic exegetical sources identifies the Sabians as star‑worshipers. Yet the religious life and beliefs of the Sabians in the present era—especially in areas such as monotheism, prophethood, and resurrection—are inconsistent with this depiction. On the one hand, the Qur’an calls humanity toward monotheism, and on the other hand, it grounds the philosophy of prophethood in this very principle. This raises the question of how the Qur’an could place a group of polytheistic, star‑worshiping people among the People of the Book. This study seeks to answer how the Sabians came to be portrayed as star‑worshipers in Islamic historiographical texts despite their recognition as a divine religion. Using a descriptive–analytical method and emphasizing Sabian sources as well as Islamic historical texts, the study aims to offer a documented response.
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