(3) Theories such as this amount to nothing more than...

(3) Theories such as this amount to nothing more than obstinate calumnies perpetrated to conceal the truth; or at the very best they spring from complete ignorance of the true culture of Shiism and its rich heritage. Dr Taha Husayn, a well-known Egyptian and therefore Sunni scholar, writes: “The fact that the historians make no mention of Ibn al-Sawda’ i.e., ‘Abdullah b.

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 b.

Saba ‘ had any basis in historical fact, his cunning and guile could not have failed to show himself 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.” (4) Similarly, Dr.

Ali al-Wardi, professor of history at Baghdad University, writes: “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.

The whole story is reminiscent of the claim made by the Quraysh at the beginning of the Prophet’s mission, (PBUH&HP), that he received his teachings from a Christian slave by the name of Jabr and based his preaching on the instruction he received from him.” (5) Muhammad Kurd ‘Ali, another Sunni scholar, writes: “Some of the well-known who at the dawn of Islam followed Imam Ali, (PBUH), became known as the Shi’ah.

What can be deduced from the written sources is that certain shortsighted people regarded Shiism as a collection of innovations and fabrications stitched together by a person known as Abdullah b. Saba’ or Ibn al-Sawda’. However, there can be no doubt that this view of things is pure superstition and fantasy, for this Abdullah b. Saba ‘ the Jew exists only in the world of the imagination.