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according to the celebrated Ernest Renan (La vie de Jesus,
ch. vi), signifies “Baptists.” They practised baptism, and
like the old Hassayi (Essenians, or al-Chassaïtes) and
Ibionayi (Ebionites) led an austere life. Considering the
fact that their founder, Budasp, was a Chaldean sage,
the true orthography of their name would be “Saha’ï, i.e.
“Dyers” or “Baptists.” A famous Chaldean or Assyrian
Catholicos of the fourth century, Mar Shimon, was called
“Bar Saba’ï,” “Son of the Dyers.” Probably his family
belonged to the Sabin religion. The Quran writes this name
“Sabi’in” with the hamza vowel instead of ain as it is in
the original Aramaic “Saba?i.” I am cognisant, however,
of other interpretations placed on the name “Sabian”:
some authors suppose it to be derived from “sabi?,” the
son of Sheth, and others from the Hebrew “Saba,” which
means “army,” because they used to have a kind of special
devotion to the stars as the host of heaven. Although they
have nothing in common with the Christian Churches,
except their peculiar “Sab’utha,” or Baptism, they are
wrongly called “the Christians of St. John -Baptist (pbuh) .”
The Quran, as usual, writes all foreign names as the Arabs
pronounced them [1] .

An extensive and deep research in the religion of the
Sabians, who had almost overrun the Arab nation long
before the light of Islam shone with the appearance of the
Holy Apostle of Allah, will show us several truths. There
were three forms of baptism practised by the Jews, the
Sabians, and the Christians. The Jewish baptism, which
had no origin in their sacred books, was invented chiefly
for the proselytes. Each religion had its definite baptismal
formula and a special ritual. The Jewish “kohen” (priest)

[1] Quran, 3:67-68. Abraham was not a Jew nor yet a Christian; but he was true in
Faith, and bowed his will to Allah (which is Islam), and he joined not gods with
Allah. Without doubt, among men, the nearest of kin to Abraham, are those who
follow him, as are also this Messenger and those who believe: And Allah is the
Protector of those who have faith.” (Editors).