Abd Allah ibn Saba'
Abdullah Ibn Saba (ca. 600 CE), also known as Ibn Sauda (because his mother was a black Ethiopian), is an allegedly historical person whom some Wahhabi Sunnis state was a Jewish convert that laid the foundation for the later sect of the Shiites. Recent research questions if he existed. See Umayyad tradition of cursing Ali and Misconceptions about the Shi'a.
Life
Abdullah ibn Saba was originally from the city of Sana`a in Yemen. He was Jewish Rabbi who claimed a conversion to Islam during the caliphate of `Uthman. He moved to Kufa and started adversely criticizing the Calif's administration. Thence he went to Egypt, where he founded an antiothmanian sect, to promote the interests of Ali. On account of his learning he obtained great influence there, and formulated the doctrine that, just as every prophet had an assistant who afterward succeeded him, Muhammad's vizier was Ali, who had therefore been kept out of the califate by deceit. He was able to promote a dissatisfaction with Uthman's government among his followers.
Tradition relates that when Ali ibn Abi Talib had assumed power, Ibn Saba became an adherent of the emerging Shi'ite persuasion, and a strong supporter of Ali. He called for the divinity of `Ali. He initially did not openly preach these beliefs, but he later abandoned his secret and started a vigorous campaign.[1] However, when Ibn Saba claimed that Ali is himself God by addressing him with the words, "Thou art Thou!", Ali declared him a heretic and burned some of his followers to the stake and expelled him to Madain (a city with Persian population).
After Ali's assassination Abdullah Ibn Saba is said to have taught that Ali was not dead but alive, and had never been killed; that a part of the Deity was hidden in him; and that after a certain time he would return to fill the earth with justice. Till then the divine character of Ali was to remain hidden in the Imams, who temporarily filled his place. It is easy to see that the whole idea rests on that of the Messiah in combination with the legend of Elijah the prophet[2].
Sunni View
Accourding to Sunni historical references, Abdullah Ibn Saba enticed the Muslims to kill Uthman [3]. He also made mischief in the armies of Ali and his opponents in the battle of Camel, forcing the battle to start, althogh both parties did not want it.
He is considered by Sunni writers as the originator of Shi'ism itself[4], although on account of his extremism this is considered by Shi`ites as an insult.[5] The Apostle Paul and ‘Abdallah ibn Saba' were in classical times said to have been "Jewish agents" who infiltrated Christianity and Islam to destroy them from within.[6]
Hafiz Ibn Hajar threw more light on the dialogue between `Ali and ibn Saba on this occasion: "Abul Ijlas says that I heard `Ali telling `Abdullah ibn Saba: "By Allah, I have not hidden any secret from anyone which the Holy Prophet told me. I heard the Holy Prophet saying that there would appear thirty liars before the last day, and you are one of them." Once Suwaid ibn Ghafalah visited `Ali during his reign and told him that he had passed a few people amongst whom was ibn Saba speaking ill of Abu Bakr. They claimed that you also held the same opinion." `Ali retorted: "I have nothing to do with this black filthy creature. I seek refuge from Allah that I hold any opinion other than the best for Abu Bakr and `Umar." He then exiled ibn Saba saying that he could not tolerate to live with him in one city. `Ali then ascended the pulpit, and after relating the story said: "I will lash anyone who prefers me over Abu Bakr and `Umar, the lashing of a slanderer." [7].
Shi'ite View
Shi'ites maintain that Abdullah ibn Saba is a fabricated personality, created by extremist Sunnis in order to vilify the Shi'ahs and to direct blame away from prominent historical personalities for many unpleasant events in the history of Islam, such as the murder of Caliph Uthman; the Battle of Basrah and the Battle of Kerbala.The Shiites Under Attack
Scepticist Muslim View
In recent years some of the Sunni scholars have questioned the existence of Abdullah Ibn Saba. Taha Husayn, a well-known Egyptian Sunni scholar has written that:
"The fact that the historians make no mention of Ibn al-Sawda' i.e., 'Abdullah ibn Saba' being present at the battle of Siffin together with his followers proves at the very least that the whole notion of a group of people led by him is a baseless fabrication. It is one of those inventions that acquired currency when the conflict between the Shi'is and other Islamic groups intensified. In order to underline their hostility, the enemies of the Shi'ah tried to insert a Jewish element into the origins of their sect. If the story of 'Abdullah ibn Saba' had any basis in historical fact, his cunning and guile could not have failed to show itself at the battle of Siffin. "I can think of only one reason for his name not occurring in connection with that battle: that he was an entirely fictitious person, dreamed up by the enemies of the Shi'ah in order to vilify them."[8]
Ali al-Wardi, professor of history at Baghdad University has writtene:
"Did Ibn Saba' actually exist or was he an imaginary personality? For those who wish to study the social history of Islam and draw the appropriate conclusions, this is an extremely important question. It is claimed that Ibn Saba' incited unrest, but no such person ever existed.[9]"
Most modern twelver Shia deny the existence of Ibn Saba. The first book of Sayyed Murtadha Askari in this field, titled "Abdullah Ibn Saba’" which was published in 1954. He theorized that Sayf Ibn Omar al-Tamimi made up Abdullah ibn Saba.[10]
Non-Muslims View
Most Western academics do not accept the existence of Ibn Saba Current Trends in Islamist Ideology page 58.
Notes
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- ^ Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 25, p. 286
- ^ Bibliography: Shatrastani al-Milal, pp. 132 et seq. (in Haarbrücken's translation, i. 200-201); Weil, Gesch. der Chalifen, i. 173-174, 209, 259.
- ^ http://www.anwary-islam.com/companion/usman_bin_affan.htm
- ^ http://islamicweb.com/beliefs/cults/shia_answering.htm
- ^ Moojan Momen, An Introduction to Shi`i Islam, Yale University Press, 1985;p. 46
- ^ http://www.geocities.com/~abdulwahid/ahlibayt/history_of_shiism.html
- ^ Lisan al-Mizan, vol. 3, p. 290
- ^ in his book al-Fitnat al-Kubra, Vol. II, p.90
- ^ cited in Haykal, Hayat Muhammad, p. 136
- ^ [1]