WHO WAS ABDULLAH IBN SABA?
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QUESTION: Some people deny the existence of Abdullah ibn Saba the jew, I ask you to answer my question in detail in order to clarify the actual reality.
ANSWER: The existence of Abdullah ibn Saba the jew is an actual reality which is established via authentic reports infact these reports are overwhelmingly abundant.
Ahlus Sunnah Wal-Jama’ah
(1) Imaam Ahmad bin Zuhair bin Harb
commonly known as Ibn Abee Khaithamah said, “Alee (RadhiAllaahu Anhu) said, “What association do I have with that evil black one ie Abdullah ibn Saba? as he would speak ill of Abu Bakr and Umar (RadhiAllaahu Anhuma).” (Taareekh al-Kabeer of Ibn Abee Khaithamah pg.580 no 1398, its chain is authentic.)
(2) Hujjiyyah al-Kandee
narrates from Alee (RadhiAllaahu Anhu) who said on the minbar, “That black ibn al-Sawda (referring to Ibn Saba) lies on Allaah and his Messenger (Sallalaahu Alayhee Was-Sallam).” (13th Juzz from the Hadeeth of Abu Taahir Muhammad bin Ahmad bin Abdullah bin Nasr adh-Dhuhalee no 157, its chain is authentic, Taareekh Ibn Abee Khaithamah no1398, Taareekh Dimishq 31/6)
(3) Ubaidullaah bin Uthbah (Ibn Masood)
said, “I am not from the Saba’ais nor am I from the Hurroorees.” (the Saba’i ie the one who follows Abdullah ibn Saba the shee’ah and the Hurroorees ie the Khawaarij) (Musannaf Ibn Abee Shaybah 11/299-300 no.31227, no.31761 in another edn. and its chain is authentic)
(4) Imaam Yazeed ibn Zaree’a (d.192H)
said about a narrator, “Mentioned to us (Muhammad ibn Saa’ib) al-Kalbee and he was a Saba’i (a follower of Abdullah ibn Saba ie a sheaa’ah)” (al-Kaamil of Ibn Adiyy 6/2128, its chain is authentic and in another edn 7/275)
(5) Muhammad ibn Saa’ib al-Kalbee
said, “I am a Saba’i” (adh-Dhu’afa of Uqailee 4/77 and its chain is authentic, al-Majrooheen of Ibn Hibbaan 2/253 and its chain is also authentic)
In explanation of who a is Saba’i Imaam Abu Ja’afar al-Uqailee says, “A type of Raafidhah (Rejectors of the 3 Khaliphs) and they are the followers of Abdullah ibn Saba.” (adh-Dhu’afa al-Kabeer of Uqailee 4/77)
(6) Imaam Aamir bin Sharjeel ash-Shu’bah (d.104H)
said, “I have not seen a more stupid group of people than these Saba’is” (al-Kaamil of Ibn Adiyy 6/2128, its chain is authentic and in another edn 7/275)
(7) Imaam Ibn Shihaab az-Zuhree
said concerning a trustworthy narrator whose name was Abdullaah bin Muhammad bin Alee bin Abee Taalib, “As for Abdullaah he was a followers of the Saba’is.” (Taareekh al-Kabeer of Bukhaari 5/187 and its chain is authentic.)
The Saba’is refer to a group from amongst the Raafidhah Shee’ah (Tahdheeb al-Kamaal 10/513)
(8) Haafidh Ibn Hibbaan
said, “As for Kalbee he was a Saba’i and he was from amongst the followers of Abdullah ibn Saba.” (al-Majrooheen 2/253)
(9) Ibraheem ibn Ya’qoob al-Juzjaanee
said, “And they are the Saba’is who disbelieved (ie committed Kufr) and became extremists by claiming Alee was Allaah, except that he (ie Alee) burnt them alive.” (Ahwaal ar-Rijaal pg.37)
(10) Imaam Yahyaa Ibn Ma’een
said concerning a narrator the student of A’amash, Abu Salmaan Yazeed, “He was a Saba’i.” (Taareekh Ibn Ma’een narrated from ad-Dooree no.2870)
And there are numerous statements which establish the reality and existence of Abdullah ibn Saba. The books of Ahlus Sunnah wal-Jama’ah also mention the existence of Abdullah ibn Saba. (for example refer to Taareekh Dimishq of Ibn Asaakir 31/3, Meezaan al-Ei’tidaal 2/426, Leesaan al-Meezaan 3/289, and in another edn 4/22)
Books that have been written on the different sects also mention Abdullah ibn Saba and the Saba’is for example refer to Abul Hasan al-Ash’arees book al-Maqaalaat al-Islaamiyeen pg.86, al-Millal wan-Nihal 2/11 of Sheherastaanee and al-Fisl Wal-Millal Wal-Ahwaa wan-Nihal 4/180 of Ibn Hazm)
Haafidh Ibn Hazm al-Andalloosee said, “They say the Saba’is, the followers of Abdullah ibn Saba al-Humairee al-Yahoodee said something similar about Alee bin Abee Taalib (RadhiAllaahu Anhu)” (al-Fisl Wal-Millal Wal-Ahwaa wan-Nihal 4/180)
Abul Hasan al-Ash’aree said, “From the 14th type of extremism we find is with the Saba’is who are the followers of Abdullah ibn Saba who claim Alee (RadhiAllaahu Anhu) never died and he will return to this world before the day of Judgement.” (al-Maqaalaat al-Islaamiyeen pg.86)
Haafidh Dhahabee said concerning Abdullah ibn Saba, “He was from the extremist heretics and misguided.” (Meezaan al-Ei’tidaal 2/426)
Abdullah ibn Sabas existence is also a reality according to the shee’ash sect themselves and we will present 10 evidences for this.
Shee’ah
(1) Imaam Abu Abdullaah (Ja’afar bin Muhammad bin Alee as-Saadiq)
it is narrated from him that he said, “May the curse of Allaah be upon Abdullah ibn Saba who claimed lordship for Alee, and I swear by Allaah Alee obeyed Allaah, may there be destruction on whoever lies upon us. Verily there will be a group who will say things about us which we do not say about ourselves, we are free from them, we are free from them.” (Rijaal Kashee pg.107 no.172)
The narrators in this chain are trustworthy according to the shee’ah books of narrators and they are all reliable according to them. (Refer to the First Volume of Tanqeeh al-Maqaal)
(2) Hishaam bin Saalim
It is narrated from him who said, “I heard Abu Abdullaah (ie (Ja’afar bin Muhammad bin Alee as-Saadiq) talking about Abdullah ibn Saba and Alee (RadhiAllaahu Anhu) infront of his students about his (ibn Sabas) claim of Lordship for Alee, “Alee (RadhiAllaahu Anhu) asked him to repent but he refused so he burnt alive in the fire.” (Rijaal Kashee pg.107 no.171, with an authentic chain according to the Shee’ahs)
(3) Imaam Kashee
The Imaam of the shee’ah with regards to narrators, “Some of the people of knowledge have mentioned Abdullah ibn Saba was a jew and then accepted Islaam and began to love Alee (RadhiAllaahu Anhu). He was an extremist when he was a jew and he would say Yousha’a bin Noon was Moosaas (Alayhis Salaam) administrator. When he became a Muslim after the demise of the Messenger of Allaah (sal)he would say something similar about Alee (RadhiAllaahu Anhu). He was the first person to give fame to the statement to the obligation of Alee (RadhiAllaahu Anhu) to be the Imaam (ie Imaamah), he manifested disallegiance from his (ie Alees) enemies and openly opposed them and declared them to be disbelievers, and this is the reason why those who oppose the shee’ah say the roots of shee’ism and Rraafidhah emanated from judiasm.” (Rijaal Kashee pg.108-109)
(4) Imaam Abu Muhammad Hasan bin Mooswee an-Naubakhtee
Who is from amongst their famous Imaams, said, “The students of Alee (RadhiAllaahu Anhu) and a group of scholars from amongst his followers said Abdullah ibn Saba was a jew and then later accepted Islaam and began to love Alee (RadhiAllaahu Anhu). When he was a jew he would say such things about Yousha’a bin Noon. After the demise of the Messenger of Allaah (Sallaalahu Alayhee Wasallam) he would say something similar about Alee (RadhiAllaahu Anhu). He was the first person to give fame to the statement to the obligation of Alee (RadhiAllaahu Anhu) to be the Imaam (ie Imaamah), he manifested disallegiance from his (ie Alees) enemies and openly opposed them, and this is the reason why those who oppose the shee’ah say the roots of Raafidhah emanated from judiasm.” (Firq ash-Shee’ah pg.22 of an-Naubakhtee NOTE this edn was printed with the verification and notes of Sayyid Muhammad Saadiq Aal Bahr al-Uloom from Maktabah Murtadhawiyyah and Matba’a Haidariyyah in Najaf, Iraaq)
(5) Imaam Maaqaanee
This famous Imaam of the shee’ahs says in his book of narrators, “Abdullah ibn Saba is cursed and Alee burnt him.” (Tanqeeh al-Maqaal 1/89 no.6872)
(6) Abu Ja’afar Muhammad bin al-Hasan at-Toosee (d.460)
he wrote, “Abdullah ibn Saba returned back to kufr (disbelief) and showed extremism” (Rijaal at-Toosee pg.51)
(7) Hasan bin Alee bin Dawood al-Hallee
he said, “Abdullah ibn Saba returned to back to kufr and he showed extremism, he calimed prophecy for himself and he used to say Alee was Allaah.” (Kitaab ar-Rijaal 2/254)
(8) – (10)
Refer to al-Maqalaat wal-Firq of Sa’ad bin Abdullah al-Ash’aree al-Qummee pg.21 cited from ash-Shee’ah Wat-Tashee’ah (pg.59) of Ustaadh Ehsaan Elaahee Zaheer Rahimahullah)
Qamoos ar-Rijaal of Tustaree (5/463) cited from ash-Shee’ah Wat-Tashee’ah
Mua’ajam Rijaal al-Hadeeth of Khulaa’ee (10/200) cited from Shee’at of Dr. Muhammad al-Bandaaree pg.56).
Summary
We find the existence and reality of Abdullah ibn Saba the jew is real and established in the reliable books of Ahlus Sunnah and also in the Shee’ah books of narrators and there is no doubt in this. Hence those from amongst the misguided and arch liars from the 14th and 15th century who denying the existence of Abdullah ibn Saba is without any evidence and on basis of this being a lie. it is rejected.
Devils Deception of Shiism 