Beliefs of Ibn Sabaʼ and his Deviation
February 25, 2026The Stance of the Ahlul bayt Towards Ibn Sabaʼ
February 25, 2026BACK⇒ Return to Table of contents
Ibn Sabaʼ Propagates his Beliefs in al Mada’in
‘Abdullah ibn Sabaʼ found a fertile ground for the propagation of his beliefs and deviation after being exiled, as now he was at a safe distance from the sword of Sayyidina ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu. He began positioning his followers and propagating his beliefs amongst the soldiers of ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu in al Mada’in. When they received news of the martyrdom of ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu, he and his followers refused to accept it. Let us now read through these events as narrated by al Khatib al Baghdadi, who reports with his chain of narration to Zahr ibn Qais al Ju’fi, regarding whom ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu has said that whoever wishes to see a living martyr should look at him. He narrates:
بعثني علي على أربعمائة من أهل العراق وأمرنا أن ننزل المدائن رابطة قال فوالله إنا لجلوس عند غروب الشمس على الطريق إذ جاءنا رجل قد أعرق دابته قال فقلنا من أين أقبلت فقال من الكوفة فقلنا متى خرجت قال اليوم قلنا فما الخبر قال خرج أمير المؤمنين إلى الصلاة صلاة الفجر فابتدره ابن بجرة وابن ملجم فضربه أحدهما ضربة إن الرجل ليعيش مما هو أشد منها ويموت مما هو أهون منها قال ثم ذهب فقال عبد الله بن وهب السبئي ورفع يده إلى السماء الله أكبر الله أكبر قال قلت له ما شأنك قال لو أخبرنا هذا أنه نظر إلى دماغه قد خرج عرفت أن أمير المؤمنين لا يموت حتى يسوق العرب بعصاه
‘Ali dispatched four hundred men of Iraq under my command to al Mada’in. I swear by Allah, we were resting at sunset on the road when a person came to us, with his steed worn out. We asked him from where he had come and he replied that he had come from Kufah. We asked him when he left and he replied that very day.
We asked him if there was any important news and he replied, “Amir al Mu’minin came out to perform the Salat al Fajr and he was attacked by Ibn Bajrah and Ibn Muljam. One of them stabbed him. People survive even worse attacks than this and others die of even less.” He then left.
‘Abdullah ibn Wahb al Sabaʼi then raised his head towards the sky and said, “Allah Akbar! Allah Akbar!”
We asked him what was wrong and he replied, “Even if he had informed us that he had seen the brains of Amir al Mu’minin coming out of his head, I would still be certain that he will not die until he shepherds the Arabs with his staff.”
In the narration from al Jahiz in al Bayan wa al Tabyin it is reported that he said:
لو جئتمونا بدماغه في مائة صرة لعلمنا أنه لا يموت حتى يذودكم بعصاه
If you bring before us his brains in a hundred bags, we will still not be convinced that he has died. He cannot die until he gathers them with his staff.[1]
Returning to the narration of al Khatib al Baghdadi:
فوالله ما مكثنا إلا تلك الليلة حتى جاءنا كتاب الحسن بن علي من عبد الله حسن أمير المؤمنين إلى زحر بن قيس أما بعد فخذ البيعة علي من قبلك قال فقلنا أين ما قلت قال ما كنت أراه يموت
By Allah, we only slept the night, when the letter of al Hasan ibn ‘Ali reached us, which read, “From the servant of Allah, Hasan, Amir al Mu’minin to Zahr ibn Qais. Take the pledge from those by you on my behalf.”
We then said to him (i.e. ‘Abdullah ibn Wahb), “Now what do you have to say about your claim?”
He replied, “I believed that he will not die.”[2]
Al Hasan ibn Musa al Nawbakhti reports:
ولما بلغ عبد الله بن سبأ نعي علي بالمدائن قال للذي نعاه كذبت لو جئتنا بدماغه في سبعين صرة وأقمت على قتله سبعين عدلا لعلمنا أنه لم يمت ولم يقتل ولا يموت حتى يملك الأرض
When the obituary of ‘Ali reached ‘Abdullah ibn Sabaʼ in al Mada’in, he said to the one who brought him the news, “You have spoken a lie. Even if you came with his brains in seventy bags and you bring seventy just witnesses testifying to his death, we know that he has not died nor was he killed and he will not die until he controls the world.”[3]
The Narration of ‘Abdul Jabbar al Hamdani Regarding the Standpoint of Ibn Sabaʼ and his Followers
‘Abdul Jabbar al Hamadhani al Mu’tazili (d. 415 AH) comments while discussing the standpoint of ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu towards Ibn Sabaʼ:
واستتابهم أمير المؤمنين فما تابوا فأحرقهم وكانوا نفرا يسيرا ونفى عبد الله بن سبأ عن الكوفة إلى المدائن فلما قتل أمير المؤمنين عليه السلام قيل لابن سبأ قد قتل ومات ودفن ما كنت تقول من مصيره إلى الشام فقال سمعته يقول لا أموت حتى أركل برجلي من رحاب الكوفة فأستخرج منها السلام وأصير إلى دمشق فأهدم مسجدها حجرا حجرا وأفعل وأفعل فلو جئتمونا بدماغه مسرودا لما صدقنا أنه قد مات ولما افتضح بهت وادعى على أمير المؤمنين ما لم يقله والشيعة الذين يقولون بقوله الآن بالكوفة كثير وفي سوادها والعراق كله يقولون أمير المؤمنين كان راضيا بقول الذين حرقهم وإنما أحرقهم لأنهم أظهروا السر ثم أحياهم بعد ذلك قالوا وإلا فقولوا لنا لم لم يحرق عبد الله بن سبأ قلنا عبد الله ما أقر عنده بما أقر أولئك وإنما اتهمه فنفاه ولو حرقه لما نفع ذلك معكم شيئا ولقلتم إنما حرقه لأنه أظهر السر
Amir al Mu’minin urged them to repent but they did not, so he had them burnt alive. They were a small group. ‘Abdullah ibn Sabaʼ was exiled from Kufah to al Mada’in. When Amir al Mu’minin [‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu] was martyred, Ibn Sabaʼ was asked, “Amir al Mu’minin has been killed; he is dead and has been buried; what was it you used to say regarding him going to Syria?”
Ibn Sabaʼ replied, “I heard him say, ‘I will not die until I stretch my legs in the vast expense of Kufah and establish peace in it, and I travel to Damascus and destroy every brick of its Masjid.’ Thus, even if you were to bring his severed head before me, I will still not believe that he has died.”
When he was disgraced (by the truth being revealed) he was baffled (and could not reply).
He would ascribe to Amir al Mu’minin untrue statements. At the present moment, there are many Shia in Kufah who say the same as he did. Amongst them and amongst those of Iraq; all say that Amir al Mu’minin approved of his statements and of those whom he burnt, and he only had them executed because they revealed his secret, but he brought them back to life thereafter. They say, “If what you say is indeed true (that ‘Ali disapproved of these beliefs) then inform us why he did not execute Ibn Sabaʼ as well?”
We reply that ‘Abdullah ibn Sabaʼ did not admit to the same beliefs as they did, but rather was accused of them and was therefore exiled. Then too, if he had burnt him with the rest, it still would not help as then you would say that he did so only because he disclosed his secret.[4]
The Reaction of Ibn Sabaʼs Followers When They Learnt of ‘Ali’s Martyrdom
As for the followers of Ibn Sabaʼ, they did not confine themselves to mere denial; rather, they advanced to Kufah openly proclaiming the unfounded doctrines of their mentor and guide, Ibn Sabaʼ.
Sa’d ibn ‘Abdullah al Qummi, who is considered to be reliable by the Shia, has reported in al Maqalat wa l-Firaq:
أن السبئية قالوا للذي نعاه كذبت يا عدو الله لو جئتنا والله بدماغه ضربة فأقمت على قتله سبعين عدلا ما صدقناك ولعلمنا أنه لم يمت ولم يقتل وإنه لا يموت حتى يسوق العرب بعصاه ويملك الأرض ثم مضوا من يومهم حتى أناخوا بباب علي فاستأذنوا عليه استئذان الواثق بحياته الطامع في الوصول إليه فقال لهم من حضره من أهله وأصحابه وولده سبحان الله ما علمتم أن أمير المؤمنين قد استشهد قالوا إنا لنعلم أنه لم يقتل ولا يموت حتى يسوق العرب بسيفه وسوطه كما قادهم بحجته وبرهانه وإنه ليسمع النجوى ويعرف تحت الدثار والثقيل ويلمع في الظلام كما يلمع السيف الصقيل الحسام
The followers of Ibn Sabaʼ said to those who brought the news of ‘Ali’s demise, “You have spoken a lie, O enemy of Allah! Even if you were to bring, by Allah, his severed head and seventy reliable witnesses to testify to his death, we would still not believe you. We know that he has not died nor was he killed and that he will not die until he shepherds the Arabs with his staff and takes control of the earth.”
They then proceeded to the door of ‘Ali, calling out to him and seeking permission to enter as one convinced of him being in the house would. Those of his family, companions, and children present in the house said to them, “Subhan Allah! Do you not know that Amir al Mu’minin has been martyred?”
They replied, “We know fully-well that he has not been killed nor has he died and he will not die until he shepherds the Arabs with his sword and whip just as he led them with his arguments and proofs. He hears our supplications and knows what lies beneath the heavy veils and he gleams in the darkness just as a polished sword.”[5]
Among them was a man named Rashid al Hijri, who exposed his beliefs before al Imam ‘Amir al Sha’bi, who narrates:
دخلت عليه يوما فقال خرجت حاجا فقلت لأعهدن بأمير المؤمنين عهدا فأتيت بيت علي عليه السلام فقلت لإنسان استأذن لي على أمير المؤمنين قال أوليس قد مات قلت قد مات فيكم والله إنه ليتنفس الآن تنفس الحي فقال أما إذ عرفت سر آل محمد فادخل قال فدخلت على أمير المؤمنين وأنبأني بأشياء تكون فقال له الشعبي إن كنت كاذبا فلعنك الله وبلغ الخبر زيادا فبعث إلى رشيد الهجري فقطع لسانه وصلبه على باب دار عمرو بن حريث
I went to him one day and he related to me, “I left with the intention to perform Hajj and I said to myself that I will take a vow to do so in the presence of Amir al Mu’minin.
So, I went to his house and called out, ‘Give me permission to enter, O Amir al Mu’minin!’
Someone replied, ‘Has he not passed away?’
I replied, ‘You claim that he has died; but by Allah, at this very moment he breathes as one alive.’
A reply came, ‘If that is the case, then you are aware of the secret of the family of Muhammad salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.’
I was then permitted to enter and I entered upon Amir al Mu’minin, who informed me of events that were going to transpire.”
Al Sha’bi said to him, “If you are lying, then may the curse of Allah be upon you.”
News of this reached Ziyad, who had Rashid al Hijri arrested, his tongue severed, and hanged at the door of ‘Amr ibn Hurayth.[6]
Al Hafiz al Dhahabi narrated this in Tadhkirat al Huffaz, where he reports that Rashid said:
فقلت لإنسان استأذن لي على سيد المرسلين فقال هو نائم وهو يظن أني أعني الحسن فقلت لست أعني الحسن إنما أعني أمير المؤمنين وإمام المتقين وقائد الغر المحجلين قال أوليس قد مات فقلت أما والله إنه ليتنفس الآن بنفس حي ويعرف من الدثار الثقيل
I asked a person there to permit me to see Sayed al Mursalin (the leaders of the messengers).
The reply came that he is asleep. He thought I was referring to al Hasan.
I said to him, “I do not refer to al Hasan but to the Amir al Mu’minin, the Imam of the pious, and the leader of the radiant steeds.”
They said, “Has he not passed away?”
I replied, “By Allah! He breathes as one alive at this very moment and he knows what lies beneath the heavy veils.”[7]
This is why al Imam Sha’bi would say:
ما كذب على أحد في هذه الأمة ما كذب على علي
Falsehood has not been ascribed to anyone else in this Ummah as it has been ascribed to ‘Ali.[8]
Ibn Hibban has said about this very same Rashid, “He believed in al Raj’ah.”[9] Al Tusi listed him amongst the companions of ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu and said his full name to be Rashid al Hijri al Rayyash ibn ‘Adi al Taʼi.[10] Rashid is considered to be amongst the lieutenants of the Imams, and specifically a lieutenant of al Hussain ibn ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu.[11]
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[1] Al Jahiz: Al Bayan wa al Tabyin, 3/81.
[2] Tarikh Baghdad, 8/488.
[3] Firaq al Shia, pg. 43; Qamus al Rijal, 5/463.
[4] Tathbit Dala’il al Nubuwwah, 2/539-550.
[5] Al Maqalat wa l-Firaq, pg. 21.
[6] Al Majruhin, 1/298; Mizan al I’tidal, 2/52.
[7] Tadhkirat al Huffaz, 1/84.
[8] Tadhkirat al Huffaz, 1/82.
[9] Al Majruhin, 1/298; Mizan al I’tidal, 2/53.
[10] Rijal al Tusi, pg. 41.
[11] ‘Ali ‘Aziz al ‘Alawi: Al ‘Alawiyyun Fidaʼiyu al Shia al Majhulun, pg. 31. Lieutenant used here is a translation of the Arabic word bab, which is a term used to refer to one who liaises with the Imam.