Is Abdullah ibn Saba a real historical figure or a fictional one, as the Shi'ah claim?
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The questioner : This morning in London, I heard that Abdullah ibn Saba was the subject of a question posed to Nicola Ziada, a history professor at the American University. He was asked, "What is the truth about this Abdullah ibn Saba?" This question
The Shaykh : is asked of him.
The questioner : He was asked, and he answered that Abdullah ibn Saba is also called Abdullah ibn Wahb and Abdullah ibn al-Sawda. He stated that, in summary, he is a label for a fictional entity, a hero of the story of the dispute over the caliphate, which people invented to provide a reason. So, are there multiple names for Abdullah ibn Saba, and is he
The Shaykh : No, he is a real person, without a doubt, but the Shi'ah
The questioner : Yes
The Shaykh : One of the Shi'ah wrote a book in the modern era proving that this Abdullah ibn Saba is a fictional character, because the Shi'ah trace their lineage to him. He has a very brief biography in the History of Damascus by al-Hafiz Ibn Asakir al-Dimashqi. This man appears to have adopted the Shi'ah view on this matter, so he presented the summary of the Shi'ah opinion regarding this person.
As for him, without a doubt, he has a real identity, and his origin is Jewish. He is the one who led some of the Shi'ah astray during the time of Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), deluding them into believing that he was the embodiment of the divine and that the divine had entered into him. Therefore, when Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) burned some of them, and they saw that he was actually about to burn them, they increased in their claim of faith that he was the divine, because only the Lord of Fire burns with fire.
It is a historical fact, and there is no doubt about his existence, except that some of the later Shi'ah, when they saw that they had a connection to this ancient figure, tried to sever this connection and delude the entire Islamic world into thinking that this is a fictional character. I think this is a Christian
The questioner : Yes, he says ...
The Shaykh : A Christian; his name indicates that. It appears that he adopted this opinion.
The questioner : And Abdullah ibn Wahb and Abdullah ibn al-Sawda are names for the same entity.
The Shaykh : I do not remember about Ibn Wahb, but as for al-Sawda, yes.
The questioner : Abdullah ibn al-Sawda.
The Shaykh : Yes, indeed. There is no god but Allah, other than Him.
The Shaykh : is asked of him.
The questioner : He was asked, and he answered that Abdullah ibn Saba is also called Abdullah ibn Wahb and Abdullah ibn al-Sawda. He stated that, in summary, he is a label for a fictional entity, a hero of the story of the dispute over the caliphate, which people invented to provide a reason. So, are there multiple names for Abdullah ibn Saba, and is he
The Shaykh : No, he is a real person, without a doubt, but the Shi'ah
The questioner : Yes
The Shaykh : One of the Shi'ah wrote a book in the modern era proving that this Abdullah ibn Saba is a fictional character, because the Shi'ah trace their lineage to him. He has a very brief biography in the History of Damascus by al-Hafiz Ibn Asakir al-Dimashqi. This man appears to have adopted the Shi'ah view on this matter, so he presented the summary of the Shi'ah opinion regarding this person.
As for him, without a doubt, he has a real identity, and his origin is Jewish. He is the one who led some of the Shi'ah astray during the time of Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), deluding them into believing that he was the embodiment of the divine and that the divine had entered into him. Therefore, when Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) burned some of them, and they saw that he was actually about to burn them, they increased in their claim of faith that he was the divine, because only the Lord of Fire burns with fire.
It is a historical fact, and there is no doubt about his existence, except that some of the later Shi'ah, when they saw that they had a connection to this ancient figure, tried to sever this connection and delude the entire Islamic world into thinking that this is a fictional character. I think this is a Christian
The questioner : Yes, he says ...
The Shaykh : A Christian; his name indicates that. It appears that he adopted this opinion.
The questioner : And Abdullah ibn Wahb and Abdullah ibn al-Sawda are names for the same entity.
The Shaykh : I do not remember about Ibn Wahb, but as for al-Sawda, yes.
The questioner : Abdullah ibn al-Sawda.
The Shaykh : Yes, indeed. There is no god but Allah, other than Him.