2: 62 [al-Baqarah, Medina 87]
Asad Verily, those who have attained to faith [in this divine writ], as well as those who follow the Jewish faith, and the Christians, and the Sabians (note 49) – all who believe in God and the Last Day and do righteous deeds – shall have their reward with their Sustainer; and no fear need they have, and neither shall they grieve. (note 50)
This verse repeated in 5:69
The Quranic text and Ali’s version
إِنَّ
الَّذِينَ
آمَنُواْ
وَالَّذِينَ
هَادُواْ
وَالنَّصَارَى
وَالصَّابِئِينَ
...
2:62. Those who believe (in the Qur'án) and those who follow the Jewish (Scriptures), and the Christians and the Sabians,
C76. Latest researches have revealed a small remnant of a religious community numbering about 2,000 souls in Lower Iraq, near Basra.
In Arabic they are called Subbi (plural Subba). They are also called Sabians and Nasoraeans; or Mandaeans, or Christians of St. John.
They claim to be Gnostics, of Knowers of the Great Life. They dress in white, and believe in frequent immersions in water. Their Book Ginza is in a dialect of Aramaic. They have theories of Darkness and Light as in Zoroastrianism. They use the name Yardan (Jordan) for any river. They live in peace and harmony among their Muslim neighbors. They resemble the Sabi'un mentioned in the Quran but are not probably identical with them.
The pseudo-Sabians of Harran, who attracted the attention of Khalifah Ma'mun al Rashid in 830 A.C. by their long hair and peculiar dress probably adopted the name as it was mentioned in the Quran, in order to claim the privileges of the People of the Book. They were Syrian Star-worshippers with Hellenistic tendencies, like the Jews contemporary with Jesus.
There was another people called the Sabaens, who played an important part in the history of early Arabia, and are known through their inscriptions in an alphabet allied to the Phoenician and Babylonian. They had a flourishing kingdom in the Yemen tract in South Arabia about 800-700 B.C., though their origin may have been in North Arabia. They worshipped the planets and stars (Moon, Sun, Venus). Probably the Queen of Sheba is connected with them. They succumbed to Abyssinia about 350 A.C. and to Persia about 579 A.C. Their capital was near San'a. They had beautiful stone buildings, in which the pointed arch is noticeable.
(See Encyclopedia Britannica, on Sabaeans). (R).
... مَنْ آمَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ وَعَمِلَ صَالِحاً فَلَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ ...
and who believe in God and the last day, and work righteousness, shall have their reward with their Lord;
... وَلاَ خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلاَ هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ ﴿٦٢﴾
on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.
C77. CF. 2:38, where the same phrase occurs. And it recurs again and again afterwards.
The point of the verse is that Islam does not teach an exclusive doctrine, and is not meant exclusively for one people. The Jews claimed this for themselves, and the Christians in their own origin were a sect of the Jews.
Even the modern organized Christian churches, though they have been, consciously or unconsciously, influenced by the Time-spirit, including the historical fact of Islam, yet cling to the idea of Vicarious Atonement, which means that all who do not believe in it or who lived previously to the death of Christ are at a disadvantage spiritually before the Throne of Allah.
The attitude of Islam is entirely different. Islam existed before the preaching of Muhammad on this earth: the Quran expressly calls Abraham a Muslim (3:67). Its teaching (submission to Allah's will) has been and will be the teaching of Religion for all time and for all peoples.
Transliteration Innal lazina a_manu_ wallazina ha_du_ wan nasa_ra_ was sa_bi'ina man a_mana billa_hi wal yaumil a_khiri wa 'amila sa_lihan fa lahum ajruhum 'inda rabbihim wa la_ khaufun 'alaihim wa la_ hum yahzanu_n(a).
[ Asad’s note 49: The Sabians seem to have been a monotheistic religious group intermediate between Judaism and Christianity. ……..]
note 50: The above passage – which recurs in the Quran several times – lays down a fundamental doctrine of Islam. With a breadth of vision unparalleled in any other religious faith, the idea of “salvation” is here make conditional upon three elements only: belief in God, belief in the Day of Judgment, and righteous action in life. ……..]
[ Ruby’s note: I concentrate on the word “any who” or “all who” to mean the entire humankind. This condition is not only for the religious groups mentioned by name here, but it is actually addressed to the entire humanity at all times. These verses are part of the Universal concepts of Islam. And this is in line with the way an ever true religion is defined in 30:30. Without this foundation or fundamental understanding a Muslim would be misled about his/her position-mindset and duty among fellow human beings, Muslim or non-Muslim and his/her duty toward God. (see my article on this subject)
ALSO: It is asserting, in spite of the past failures and the negative attitude that exists among many of the Jewish people, that there also could be righteous people from them as well if they fulfill the above three conditions. Therefore they are not all condemned. I think if the Quran would have extended revealing today second time around,
there would have been similar verses against the Muslims as well. ]