I have only two reference to the Sabeans of antiquity: Augustine and the Koran - who were they?

Question

Sabeans are mentioned in the Koran. Recently I discovered a reference to a "sabean Herasy" in Augustines , "City of God". I have never heard ot this particular herasy nor am I familiar with the nature of the Sabean practices. However, in the 5th century Rome and 7th century Arabia this sect was noteable. In contradiction to Augustine, the Koran welcomes the Sabean provided they too recognize and practive faith in a manner similar to the Koran.

Thank you Tribble Macher and Jeancommu... as your contributions were salient and well thought. MJ seems to have struck at the heart of my inquiry.

St. Augustine was in error as too the Roman Catholic Church. I am left recognizing the fact that ancient Chaldean or Zoroaster sects have the germ of something valuable in the dusty remains of their Theologies.

Answer 1

Who were the Sabeans? Why did Muhammad regard them as believers in the true God? The Sabeans are mentioned at least 3 times in the Quran:
1) 2:62 - "Believers, Jews, Christians, and Sabeans; whoever believes in God and the last day and does what is right, shall be rewarded by their Lord; they have nothing to fear or regret."
2) 5:69 - "Believers, Jews, Sabeans and Christians; whoever believes in God and the last day and does what is right, shall have nothing to fear or to regret."
3) 22:17 - "As for the true believers, the Jews, the Sabeans, the Christians, the Magians, and the pagans, God will judge them on the day of Resurrection. God bears witness to all things."
Although what is known about the Sabeans is not comprehensive, enough has been written about them to determine a basic understanding of their practices and beliefs. Most of the writings are from Islamic sources. Some of the writers are Ibn Hazm in 'Fisal wa-Milal', Ibn al-Nadim in the 'Fihrist', Shahrastani in 'The Treaty on Sects', and Masudi in 'Muruj al-Dhahab.
Ibn Hazm, writing in 'Fisal wa-Milal', identifies the people then known as 'Harranians' as the 'Sabeans' mentioned in the Quran. Hazm writes that they honored the seven planets and the twelve constellations, they have 5 times of prayer, (the same times as the Muslims pray), they fast in Ramadan, they venerate and turn to the Kaba in prayer. Hazm also says they also worshipped the stars and idols. Hazm further claims that Allah sent Abraham to turn them away from pagan worship, but Abraham didn't succeed.
Comparing all the early writings on the Sabeans, we find that they inhabited Syria, and spread from there, they were definitely pagans, having a mixture of Babylonian and Helenic religion. The 'prophets' they professed to follow were Hermes and Agathodaemon, who they identified in Shahrastani's time with Seth and Idris (O.T. Enoch). Gods who were worshipped were the gods of the 7 week-days, the god of the Jinn, the lord of the Hour, the god who makes arrows fly, the god Tammuz (a variation of the one previously mentioned), Hamam the prince, the father of the gods, the god 'North', the lord 'Fortune', etc. They also kept the Eid of their own. Further, the Sabeans made star worship a chief characteristic of their system.
So, did Islam get the 5 times a day prayer? --From the star worshipping Sabeans. What about fasting during Ramadan? - from the Sabeans. The Eid? - from the Sabeans.
It seems very odd to me that Muhammad, the man who's central doctrine was the oneness of God, would include pagan worshippers as those who were believers in the true God. If Muhammad were truly a prophet, how could he have made such a big mistake? How did astral worshippers get included into the Quran as those that worship the true God? How could Muhammad's 'revelation' be in such error?
It is noteworthy that just as Muhammad incorporated the pagan veneration of the Kaba and black stone into Islam, so he incorporated the Sabean times of prayer, Eid, and fasting into Islam.
Once again, Muhammad didn't fully know the subject he was synthesizing into Islam. I have read nothing about their doctrine that would have led Muhammad to include them as followers of the one true God he preached about. Perhaps he learned a small portion about their religion, and believed it to be right. Little did he know that under that veneer of words, lay many theological differences.

Answer 2

Descendants of Seba, son of Cush. (Gen. 10:7)
Descendants of Sheba, the son of Raamah (Gen.10:7, 10:28, 25:3) Rich queen of Sheba visited Solomon. Sabeans destroyed Job's flocks and herds and servants. (Job 1:15) They were known as travelling merchants.(Job 6:19, Psalm 72:10,15; Isaiah 60:6; Jeremiah 6:20, Ezekiel 27:22; 38:13 and Joel 3:8)
Also usually equated with the city in southern Arabia, modern Marib in Yemen. Some scholars even think far south near Medina on the wadi esh-Shaba. Sabeans could have become a general term for foreign or nomadic merchants. Sheba produced and traded incense.

Answer 3

Sabians (Arabic: صابئين‎) are adherents of religions derived from the beliefs of a community which was based in the area of ancient SubarTu. There are two kinds of Sabians, agnostic Sabians (Sābi'Å«na Hunafāh) and gnostic Sabians (i.e. the Sābi'Å«na MushrukÅ«n Sabians of Harran and Mandaean Nasaræan Sabeans). They are not to be confused with the Sabaeans of Sheba whose etymology is completely unrelated being spelled with an initial Arabic letter "Sin" instead of the initial letter "Sad" (though the issue was confused because at least one tribe of Sabaeans, the Ansar, are known to have adopted the religion of the Saabi`ah Hunafa`).

The Sabian faith is also known as Seboghatullah, meaning "submersion in the divine mystery".